Trick: Half Cab

Description: Jumping the wake switch heelside, and rotating the board 180 degrees into your regular position.
When you are doing the Half Cab, think of it as a Heelside Wake Jump landing switch, except you're the opposite foot forward. Meaning, if you ride left foot forward, tell yourself that you're right foot forward and do a Heelside Wake Jump landing switch. This will help your form when you're in the switch position.

How to perform this trick: Start by edging out approximately 15 to 20 feet; turn slowly, keeping the line tight, and hold your edge into the wake with a medium cut. Rise to the top of the wake and wait until you're at the peak of your trick before rotating your board 180 degrees. The key thing to remember with this trick is to stay in the switch position longer than you think, once your board leaves the water. To rotate your board, pull the handle across your body from one hip to the other. If you rotate your board too early, it will force you to go off axis or even catch an edge. Keep the handle close to your hips and make sure the board is pointing in the right direction when you land.

Trick: Heelside 180

Description: Jumping the wake heelside and rotating the board 180 degrees.
The Heelside 180 is a little more difficult than the Toeside 180. When you're edging toeside, there is a lot of tension on your back arm, which makes it very easy to spin. When you're edging heelside, you don't have the same tension on your arm to help you spin. Therefore, you're the one who has to make it happen.

How to perform this trick: Start off by jumping the wakes a few times to remind yourself how it feels. Then go ahead and attempt the 180. The approach and take off to this trick is exactly the same as the Wake Jump, so don't change a thing. When you leave the wake and are at the highest point of the trick, initiate the 180 by rotating your board and pulling the handle to your back hip. This should give you the 180 degrees you're looking for. When you land, it is important to fully complete your rotation and to keep the tip of your board pointing in the direction that you're traveling. If you find yourself slipping out, it simply means you're either under-rotating the 180, or you are landing with your back falling into the wake. Visualize your chest falling toward the shore (away from the wake). Remember to use your knees to absorb the landing and you shouldn't have any problems landing this trick.

Trick: Toeside 180

Description: Jumping the wake toeside and rotating the board 180 degrees.
It is much easier to learn a wake 180 toeside than it is to learn it heelside. This may sound crazy, but you will understand when you try it. When you're cutting toeside, you really load your back arm with tension. So, when you leave the wake, the tension from your back arm will naturally rotate your body and board, which will make the 180 much easier.

How to perform this trick: Edge outside the wake 10 to 15 feet, turn slowly and cut into the wake with a medium edge. It is important to be strong and hold the handle low, while keeping your chest closed to the boat. Hold that position and rise all the way to the top of the wake. When you leave the wake, you will feel the tension on your back arm and the boat will naturally want to spin you; this is when you can ignite the 180. In the air, take the handle from your leading hip and pull it across your body to your other hip. This will rotate your body and board 180 degrees. On your landing, use your knees as shock absorbers and maintain your momentum moving in the direction that your board is traveling.

Trick: Toeside Wake Jump

Description: Cutting toeside up one wake and landing down or past the second.
Jumping the wakes toeside is always harder than heelside. This is caused from the amount of tension on your back arm. Because you're standing sideways on the board, when you edge toeside, your chest is facing away from the boat. Based on the position of your body, there is a great amount of pressure on your back arm. So when your board leaves the water, the tension from your back arm will pull your chest and hips around, squaring you up with the boat. This is not want you want, and could be a good indication that you're not keeping your chest and hips closed or away from the boat, especially if you find yourself slipping out when you land.

How to perform this trick: Start by edging outside the wake 15 to 20 feet; turn slowly and cut toward the wake with a medium edge. Be strong and keep your chest and hips turned away from boat, as well as try to push the handle behind you. At this point, lock yourself into that position. At the base of the wake, start to push with your legs. Rise all the way up the wake to the point that your legs are straight, or as straight as you can get them. Once you are in the air, hold your position and keep the handle as far behind you as possible. This will prevent the boat from pulling you around. On your landing, keep the tip of the board pointing in the direction that you are moving, and use your knees as shock absorbers.

Trick: Heelside Wake Jump

Description: Cutting heelside up one wake and landing down or past the second.
This trick is a very important trick to learn properly. Almost every flip or roll is based on a wake jump. Your legs are the key element in successfully completing the Heelside Wake Jump. The term "rise" is used because it describes what your legs should do. Rising means extending your legs from the bottom of the wake all the way to the top (crest). There shouldn't be any sudden kicking motion; you want to try and feel pressure on your legs all the way up the wake.

How to perform this trick: Cut outside the wake 15 to 20 feet; turn slowly and approach the wake with a medium edge. Your legs should not be bent more than 45 degrees; they should be bent the same as if you were going to jump up high off the ground. Hold your edge through the wake, keeping the line tight. Then, at the base of the wake, simply rise all the way to the top (to the point where your legs are straight or as straight as you can possibly get them). The straighter your legs are off the top of the wake, the higher you will go. Once you have left the wake and you are in the air, you can bend your knees if you want. Some people like to bend their knees because they feel that it gives them more control. Be strong with your arms when you leave the wake, and don't let the handle get away from your body. When you come down for your landing, remember to use your knees to absorb the impact.

Trick: Power Slide

Description: Sliding sideways on your toeside edge in the flats (creating a wall of spray).
his trick is best performed with lots of speed while coming off your heelside edge. If you are right foot forward, you will start in the trough on the right side of the wake (or vice versa if you are left foot forward).

How to perform this trick: Edge away from the wake aggressively on your heelside edge. Then, initiate the slide when you're at maximum speed. You should be approximately 30-40 feet out in the flats. Be careful not to edge out too wide because you'll start to lose speed. To initiate the slide, think of doing an extremely hard carve and transfer your weight from your heelside edge to your toeside edge. At the same time, let go with your back hand and point it down, back toward where you just came from. This will help prevent you from catching your heelside edge and should help you release your fins and rotate your board 90 degrees. You should then be able to easily slide on your toeside edge. The most important key to the Power Slide is committing to the trick. If you don't, you'll catch your heelside edge. The more pressure you apply to your toeside edge when you're sliding, the larger your spray will be. Have fun and stay away from the fishermen!

Trick: Ollie 180

Description: Ollieing up rotating board 180 degrees.
This trick is an Ollie with a 180. Practice a few Ollies while trying to catch as much air as possible and still be in control. After you feel comfortable doing some of these Ollies, you're ready to try this trick.

How to perform this trick: You'll need to cut outside the wake 10 to15 feet. There are two parts to this trick. The first half of this trick is done the same as a regular Ollie (try to get as much height as possible). The second part of this trick is when the board has completely left the | water. Rotate your hips while pulling the handle into your trailing hip and turn the board into switch position. Remember not to spin the 180 too soon, as the board has a fin and spinning too soon will force the board to catch an edge. On your landing, make sure the board is completely around (180 degrees) and use your knees to absorb the impact.

Trick: Lipslide to 180

Description: Coming out of a Lipslide, rotating the board 180 degrees.
It is advised that you learn a Lipslide before attempting this trick. It is the exact same trick, except you're going to rotate your board 90 degrees into the switch position (versus back to your regular position) when coming out of the Lipslide.

How to perform this trick: When you are in Lipslide position, your board will be at a 90-degree angle to the boat on the crest of the wake. At this point, there should not be any difference whether you come down the wake in your regular or switch position. So, approach this trick exactly the same as you would approach a Lipslide. When you're Lipsliding on the crest of the wake and you feel ready to complete the trick, simply push your back foot (or the tail of your board) forward while coming out of the trick. Now that you're in a switch position, a good way to return back to your regular position is to do a Half Cab (defined later in the book).

Trick: Lipslide

Description: Riding up the wake and sliding on the crest of the wake.
This is one of the most popular and fun tricks to do, no matter what your riding level. A Lipslide is performed by turning your board 90 degrees on the crest of the wake. This trick is designed to start outside the wake. In fact, you can approach this trick in a similar way to your approach to Surfing the Wake.

How to perform this trick: Edge up the wake as if you were going to surf it. You're going to want to edge up the wake a little longer and more aggressively than when you performed Surf the Wake. This will help you blow out the tail of your board to enable you to Lipslide. Once the board starts to slide, it is very important that you bend your knees and rock to your heels, leaning away on the line (away from boat). This will prevent you from catching your toeside edge and taking a nasty fall. Once you're Lipsliding, it is then just a balancing act. When you decide that the show is over, simply start to straighten your board as you come down the wake. Remember to keep your weight on your heels until you're back in regular position.

Trick: Ollie

Description: Catching air without using the wake.
An Ollie is not too hard of a trick to perform as a beginner. When first trying this trick, it is best to edge outside the wake heelside.

How to perform this trick: With a mild and consistent edge, cut out approximately 10 feet. Then simply push with your legs as if you were going to jump off the ground. You want to try to have the tail of the board leave the water last. In order to do this, two-thirds of the way through your leg extension, you'll need to pull your front leg up while simultaneously pushing with your back leg down. Once your board has left the water, you can then bring your back leg up to the same position as your front leg. At this point, prepare to land with both feet at the same time. However, it is important not to let the tip of your board drop. And make sure that the tip of the board is pointing in the direction that you are moving when you land, or you may not enjoy the fall. The rest will be self-explanatory.

Trick: Air (1 Wake)

Description: Air (1 Wake).
Using one wake to catch some air

How to perform this trick: Cut out 5 to 10 feet from the wake. Turn slowly so that there is no slack in the rope and gently cut in toward the wake. When you're at the base of the wake, think about rising (pushing with your legs) all the way through the top of the wake. When you're in the air, the tension from your back arm is going to cause your body to rotate so you would be opening up to the boat. To avoid this, be sure to keep the handle close to your leading hip. This will keep you in the right position and keep the board pointing in the direction that you're moving. Remember, we're only jumping one wake, so don't attack this trick too hard. When you're in the air, prepare yourself for the landing. Use your legs as shocks to absorb the impact and you will ride away.

Trick: Surface 180 & Riding Switch

Description: Rotating the board 180 degrees on water.
There are two ways to do this trick: (1) Take the fins off your board so that the board will rotate easily, and you won't catch your edge. (2) If you decide to keep your fins on, then slow the boat speed down to about 10 m.p.h. before trying to rotate your board. This will also help prevent you from catching an edge. If you try to rotate the board at high speeds, the board will reach 90 degrees and the fins will act as brakes, which will result in a nasty fall.

How to perform this trick: Now, to actually do this trick, stand comfortably centered over your board. Be careful not to lean too far away from the boat. Rotate the board with a push-pull motion using your feet. This is done by pushing your rear foot forward, and pulling your front foot back. As you rotate your board, try to pull the handle into your leading hip and remember to keep your knees bent. Now that you are riding switch, stand on the board comfortably as if you were riding in your regular position. Relax and don't get freaked out because you're riding switch. To return to your regular position, simply repeat this same process.

Trick: Surf the Wake

Description: Carving up and down the wake.
This is a great trick to photograph. Snap the shot when your spray is at its highest point. Then blow it up and throw it on the wall.

How to perform this trick: How to perform this trick: You should begin this trick 5 to 10 feet outside of the wake. Approach the wake toeside with a medium edge. Then, at the base of the wake, let go with your back hand and simply change your edge from toeside to heelside. Repeat this up and down the wake, and you will officially be Surfing the Wake. It is much easier and quicker to repeat this motion if you keep your upper body as still as possible. Use only your legs and the board to do the surfing. The harder you change your edge, the faster you'll surf the wake — and the higher your spray will be!

Trick: Cross the Wakes

Description: Riding over both wakes.
Think of crossing two wakes just the same as crossing one wake twice. It's the exact same concept. Have your knees bent, arms straight (or slightly bent) and keep the tip of the board pointing in the direction that you are traveling. The first time you try this trick, you should cut into the wakes heelside.

How to perform this trick: Start by edging out about 10 feet. At this point, you'll hardly have to edge at all. The natural pull from the boat will get you up and over the first wake, and your momentum should carry you over the second wake. If it doesn't, after crossing the first wake, apply a little pressure to your heelside or toeside edge (depending upon which way you're traveling). This will give you a little more speed in order to get you over the second wake. Remember to keep the board pointing in the direction that you are traveling (especially toeside) and you should be fine.

Technorati Profile

Trick: Stand on Board (5 Seconds)

Description: Standing on the board for five seconds.
The great thing about this trick is that if you can perform it, you can officially wakeboard. If you can stay up on the board for five seconds, you can stay up as long as you want.


How to perform this trick: There are three key points to performing this trick:
(1) Always keep your knees bent.
(2) Keep your arms straight, or as straight as possible, and try to avoid pulling the handle into your chest.
(3) Keep the tip of the board pointing in the direction that you are moving. Remember, you are standing sideways on the board and the tension from your back arm will make your chest open to the boat. Again, this will cause you to either slip out or catch the toeside edge of your board — exactly what you do not want to happen. It will help if you think about rotating your hips so that your leading hip is pointing at the boat. This will also ensure you that your body is at a 90-degree angle to the boat. At this point, simply freeze, hold your position, and enjoy the ride.

Trick: Deep Water Start

Description: Getting out of the water.
The first time you're in the water with a wakeboard on your feet, it may feel very awkward. It will seem hard to get into control and feel as if you're comfortable enough for the boat to go forward. The best thing to do is just lie back, relax and let the board naturally float sideways in front of you, while keeping both hands on the handle. The boat driver should put the boat in and out of gear in order to keep the line tight but hardly moving. The driver doesn't want to pull the wakeboarder forward; he only wants to apply enough tension so that the rope is just off the water. Again, it is very important to have a good boat driver who can work with you, or it could make things difficult.

How to perform this trick: When you're ready to take off, bend your knees, keep your arms straight, and freeze. Be sure not to pull on the handle or straighten your legs, as either of these will cause you to fall back. As the boat starts to take off, gradually straighten your board so that the tip of the board is pointing at the boat, or in the direction that you are moving. This is the most important element to remember when first learning how to wakeboard. Otherwise, because of the way that you are standing on the wakeboard (sideways), the tension from your back arm will force your body to open up, with your chest facing the boat. This can also cause your board to rotate and not allow your board and fins to track. The consequences will be one of two: (1) your board will slip out, or (2) your board will catch the toeside edge... and we all know how uncool that is! To avoid this, push the handle across to your leading hip and keep your hip and handle in line with the boat. It is very important to be conscious of the direction your board is pointing. Follow these tips closely and you will be well on your way to becoming a World Champion!

Beginner.

Wakeboarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world. Ninety percent of individuals who get pulled behind a boat are on a wakeboard. Not only is it easy and fun, but also you can wakeboard behind any watercraft that is strong enough to pull you out of the water — and the possibilities of the sport are endless.


There are a few things to keep in mind when wakeboarding for the first time:
(1) Be sure to have the proper equipment and always wear a personal flotation device (life jacket).
(2) In order to properly set up the board, the most important thing is to have your board perfectly symmetrical (bindings are exactly the same at both ends of the board). Place each binding in either of the middle two holes and make sure they are in the equivalent hole on both ends of your board. For the angle of your bindings, start by placing them on your board at 90 degrees. Then slightly open them up one hole or a couple of notches, so that your feet are in a duck position. From here, you can play around with a stance that best suits you.
(3) The length of your rope should range between 60 to 70 feet (you may want to lengthen the rope as you get better).
(4) The speed of the boat depends upon the size of your wake and the length of your rope. Generally, if you have a big wake or a long rope, you would want to slightly increase the speed. A good starting speed is probably around 21 m.p.h.
(5) It is critical to have an experienced boat driver to make things easier and safer for you.


Keep the above points in mind and you'll surely have an excellent and safe start with the fun and thrilling sport of wakeboarding!