Just relax. I repeat the phrase so many times in my head while floating in North Atlanta’s Lake Allatoona that I turn it into a jingle — just to try to re-relax. But once Yamaha’s 212X starts to accelerate, all nerves kick into full gear, and it only takes a split second for me to lift out of the water … only to slam right back down again. It’s my first time wakeboarding and face-planting, all in one. After a flood of lake water bombards my eyes, mouth and ears, I ask myself, “What have I gotten into?” One thing is for sure: It’s not as easy as the pros make it look. Nevertheless, pro wakeboarder Zane Schwenk reassures me after the experience that a few simple tips will help make the process a little smoother the next time around.
Practice Makes Perfect
Before even touching the water, there are a few drills a first-timer should practice on land, a key step I skipped because I’m just that good … or so I’d thought. First, you need to know what foot to have in front while riding.
“My best advice is to use whichever one feels the most comfortable,” says Schwenk. “Eventually you’ll be able to ride either regular (left) or goofy (right).” I’m a “regular,” but on the first run, I don’t have to worry about this step because I never actually make it to the riding stage.
Next, get a handle and sit down with someone holding the rope on the other end to act as the boat. Sit facing the other person with feet spread shoulder-width apart, knees together, arms straight and always looking forward. The other person should give a strong, constant pull on the rope until the rider stands up. While in the sitting position and as your partner starts to pull, let the chest come forward to the knees. “It’s important to keep your arms around your knees at this point,” says Schwenk. “Relaxing the shoulders is also vital as the boat starts to take off.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /font>
Then let your bottom slide up to your ankles, keeping your chest against the knees and your arms straight at the same time. “Remember, let the boat do the work,” says Schwenk. “Any pushing or straightening of the legs will cause more pressure and make getting up a lot more difficult. This should look like a baseball catcher position. On the water, this is a ‘safe zone,’ which is a position the wakeboarder can always return to in any situation.”
Now, from the “catcher position,” slowly rise, keeping your chest up while looking at the boat the entire time. As the rider rises, the handle should be pushed in front of the hip, which is the same as the designated front foot. Once up, keep the handle in front of the leading hip with your chest still up and knees slightly bent at all time. Schwenk says, “Practicing on dry land makes getting up on the water much easier, so go through the motions repeatedly.”
Game Time
I wipe out on the first run, so after I regain consciousness and my daredevil spirit, it’s time for take two. In addition to trying to relax, I should have focused on the boat and remembered to “let the boat do all the work.” Once I grab the handle out of the water, I’m back in position, hugging both knees. I give my driver, Andrew Cullen — who’s the marketing communications manager at Yamaha and my personal cheerleader — a thumbs-up, and we’re off. I let my chest come to my knees and roll up into the catcher position, then briefly stand up. Right when I’m on the verge of riding a wicked wave, I tumble over.
A quick learner, I at least close my eyes and my mouth this go-round.
So what’s the problem? Since the face-plant wasn’t so bad, I have time to coherently re-evaluate why I was unable to stay up. Maybe I need to remain in the “safe zone” longer? Then friend and Yamaha Public Relations Representative Courtney Hutton, who’s also an occasional wakeboarder, shouts that I’m not turning the board once I get up. This is where Schwenk’s tip for pushing the handle in front of my hip to ride “regular” would have made perfect sense. But even though my mind is ready and willing to take another crack at it, my body is already feeling some serious fatigue. I call a timeout to let some other fellow ’boarders have at it.
While taking a breather on board, I ponder whether to attempt the turning-the-board stunt or call it quits. However, the third time is always the charm … right? After witnessing some successful get-ups, I’m ready for action one last time. The boat takes off, and I rise out of the catcher position, feeling myself on top of the water. This may be it — yeah right. If anyone in my entourage had blinked their eyes, they would have missed my brief moment of wakeboarding nirvana and just caught the finale face-plant and its aftermath. However, when it’s all said and done, I’m pleased to have had the experience and can’t wait to get back out there to complete the mission. Now, I’ll have plenty of time on land to nail down my form.
The author watches a fellow 'boarder getting up during a day out on Lake Allatoona.
Follow Through
Unfortunately, I never quite made it through Schwenk’s tips about what to do after rolling out of the catcher position, but for those beginner wakeboarders who do, remember to put the handlebar in front of the lead hip while keeping the knees bent and the back straight, all while relaxing. Schwenk adds, “Looking at the boat can greatly help in keeping the chest up, so avoid looking down at the water.” And for amateur ’boarders that endure multiple forward and backward falls before catching that first wave, check out this month’s “Back to Basics” (p. 44) to learn the safest ways to land.
One day, I’ll redeem myself. Until then, there’s one consolation after this experience: Schwenk also mentions that ladies, for the most part, stand up slower as the boat is taking off, which really helps with the whole “safe-zone” positioning, while guys sometimes try to resist the boat’s pull. Translation: Next time out, I should be in just the right zone to catch “ mad” wake.
Get-Up Gear
1 PFDs. The most
important piece of gear is your life jacket. A Coast Guard-approved vest, Type III, is the best
thing to use. Schwenk recommends the neoprene life vest because it’s comfortable, fits to the body
well, and doesn’t hold the water in when you stand up. Also, make sure it’s the right size. Don’t
ride a wakeboard without one!
2 Boards. Schwenk says larger boards with one or more large rear fins tend to be more forgiving and give the wakeboarder more direction. There are all kinds: beginner, intermediate and advanced pro-level boards, and even little boards for little riders less than 100 pounds.
3 Bindings. Use ones that feel comfortable and are easy to get in and out of.
4 Handle And Rope. A wakeboard handle is wider than a ski handle, so passes and spinning are a lot easier to handle. A low or non-stretch rope is recommended. Ropes usually start at 65 feet and run up to 75 to 80 feet. Beginners want to start at about 65 feet. You want something with a sticky grip and a little bit of float to easily grab when the boat comes back around.
5 Gloves. Beginners are likely to grasp the handle with a super-tight grip, so gloves can help alleviate that pain of holding on for dear life. — C. Morrow