wake physics

Trick: Scarecrow

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Thu, 2 Aug 2007 00:28:00 -0700

Description: A laid out toeside Front Roll with 180-degrees rotation.

How to perform this trick: It is very important to have a strong toeside edge with your weight evenly distributed on both feet as you approach the wake. The Scarecrow requires more speed than most rolls do, so be sure to edge out wide. Turn slowly and aim your front hip at the wake so that you are able to build on your edge. The most common mistake on the Scarecrow is aiming your front hip at the boat and twisting at your waist. If you do this, it will take the weight off your front foot and prohibit you from having a good, strong edge. Timing is a key element with this trick since you will be approaching the wakes with lots of speed. At the base of the wake you must rise, in order to give yourself maximum lift. As you start to rise, ease off your edge and let the boat pull you forward into the trick. At the same time, throw your back shoulder down and into the second wake. This will help ensure that your body position is correct. Keep your arms straight throughout this trick to give you a quicker snap (rotation) off the top of the wake. At this point, hang on to the handle with two hands and let the boat do the rest of the work. The tension from the rope should pull you around and allow you to complete the Scarecrow. When you come down out of the trick, you should be able to spot and prepare yourself for the landing. On your landing, use your knees and continue to edge out.

Trick: Switch Heelside Back Roll

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 14:43:00 -0700

Description: Heelside Back Roll, starting switch and landing switch.
Since you will be starting and landing this trick from the switch position, it is important to have learned how to do a switch Heelside Wake Jump with sufficient pop. It is also important to have learned the Half Cab Roll before you attempt this trick. The Half Cab Roll is easier and will set you up for the Switch Heelside Back Roll. The challenging part of this trick is to edge up the wake and to land in the switch position. This trick is a mirror image of the Heelside Back Roll.

How to perform this trick: Approach the wake the same way you would if you were going to do a switch Heelside Wake Jump — about 15 feet outside the wake. As you rise up the wake, throw your head toward the tail of your board, the same as you'd do on a Heelside Back Roll. Put your ear to the shoulder that is farthest away from the wake (trailing shoulder). This will help ensure that you have the proper end-over-end rotation. Try to keep the handle close to your body off the top of the wake and throughout the rotation. This makes the rotation and the landing happen with less effort.

Trick: Half Cab Roll

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 07:16:00 -0700

Description: A switch Heelside Roll to Revert.
It's important to know how to control the switch heelside edge before doing this trick. It will also help to practice some Half Cab 180 (wake-to-wake) so that you are comfortable and have sufficient pop. Once you can do this easily the trick will become simple. It is a mirror image of the Heelside Back Roll to Revert.

How to perform this trick: Cut outside the wake 10 to 15 feet. Turn slowly and be sure to build on your edge as you go in toward the wake. As you rise up the wake, throw the tail of your board (which is now the tip) up and away from the boat, and turn your head in the same direction. This will help you initiate your spin so you can land forward. However, it's also important to emphasize that you need to stay in the switch position as you edge up the wake, in order to maximize your height. One common mistake with the Half Cab Roll is being impatient and rotating the board to the forward position while edging up the wake. As you rotate the last half of the roll, let go with your back hand and push the handle down toward your front hip. This will help you to completely finish the 180-degree rotation. Now you should be able to spot your landing. Remember to keep the tip of the board pointing in the direction that you are traveling.

Trick: Tantrum to Revert

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Description: A Tantrum with 180-degrees rotation, landing switch.

How to perform this trick: Start this trick by cutting out as wide as you can; the wider you cut out, the easier and less work you'll have to do. Although, just because you're out wide, it doesn't mean that you should cut into the wake any harder. The width just allows you to generate speed without trying too hard, and enables you to lock into position in order to execute the trick. Cut into the wake with a medium to hard edge. Hold this edge all the way into the base of the wake. At this point, there are two components that make this trick possible. If you combine these two, you will be able to do the Tantrum. (1) At the base of the wake, quickly change your edge from your heels to your toes, as if you were going to Surf the Wake aggressively. This will cause you to trip backwards over the wake. At the same time you're changing your edge, let go with your back arm so you can square up your back and shoulders to the wake (so they are parallel to the wake or shoreline). The faster you change your edge, the faster you will flip. (2) Rise (push with your legs) all the way up the wake and take your head straight up (not back) towards the sky. This is what gives you the height to complete the trick. It is important to keep your head squared up with your body; do not turn your head and look away from the boat. If you do these two things properly, you will do the Tantrum and be able to spot your landing on the last half of the trick. The rest is all up to you. If you have access to a trampoline, hop on and practice some back flips before taking to the water. That way, you'll be more accustomed to the Tantrum, and able to learn it faster.

Trick: Tantrum

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:20:00 -0700

Description: Edging in hellside and throwing the true Back Hip.
Before attempting the Tantrum to Revert, you need to know how to do a Tantrum. They are the same trick, except you're adding a 180.

How to perform this trick: Approach this trick the same way that you would from the time that you turn toward the wakes until the time you get to the wake (exactly the same approach as with the Tantrum). The key to this trick is to switch hands and grab the handle with your back hand immediately after you leave the wake. If you try to rotate the 180 on the way down from the Tantrum, you will have a difficult time finishing the 180 rotation in time. The earlier you switch hands, the more time you will have to rotate the board to revert. On your landing, you may experience the board slipping out on you, and you may feel as if your body is falling back toward the wake. This just means you're under-rotating the flip. When you add the 180 to the Tantrum, it will slow down your rotation. Try to over-rotate the flip. This will help give you the proper rotation you need to land over your board and complete the trick in time.

Trick: Toeside Front Roll

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:55:00 -0700

Description: Edging in toeside and rolling forward.
It is strongly advised that you learn a Tantrum before you learn this trick. The Tantrum is easier and will give you an understanding of how the Front Roll works. It is the same trick except on a Tantrum, you edge in heelside, and with a Toeside Front Roll, you edge in toeside.

How to perform this trick: Start by edging out half the distance that you would on a Tantrum (15 to 20 feet). Turn slowly and cut into the wake with a medium to hard edge. Then, at the base of the wake, start to rise and change your edge from your toes to your heels. Like the Tantrum, changing your edge will give you your rotation (ability to flip). At the peak of the wake, throw your head down and between your legs. This will ensure that your body is moving in the right direction, and will help you compact your body to make it easier to roll. At the same time that you're throwing your head down, let go with your back hand. This will allow you to land in the same position as your take off. At this point, all you have to do is spot your landing. Remember to keep the tip of the board pointing in the direction that you are traveling. If you find yourself coming up short on your rotation and landing on your rear, it means one of two things. You're either edging through the wakes and not changing your edge, or your edge change is too slow. Don't forget, the faster you change your edge, the faster you will flip.

Trick: Toeside Back Roll to Revert

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 13:02:00 -0700

Description: Toeside Back Roll with 180-degree rotation, landing switch.
The Toeside Back Roll is the root of this trick, so you must learn it first. The difference between the two is that you have to start wider and м edge in harder when approaching the wakes.

How to perform this trick: Start 20 to 25 feet outside of the wake, turn slowly and lock yourself into a reasonably hard edge all the way into the base of the wake. At the base of the wake, start to rise (pushing with your legs), just as you would with the Toeside Back Roll. Once you leave the wake, you will feel pressure on your back arm. Using that pressure, pull the handle into your trailing (back) hip with your back arm. You may find it easier to rotate this trick if you let go with your front hand and pull yourself to revert using only your back arm. Either way, this will help you to initiate the 180 and allow you to land switch. You will be able to spot your landing easily with this trick. Remember that you're landing switch and to keep your momentum moving out, away from the wake.

Trick: Toeside Back Roll

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:29:00 -0700

Description: Edging in toeside and rolling the board end-over-end.
The most important aspect of this trick is what you do with your legs. You want to rise (push with your legs) all the way up to the top of the wake to the point where they are straight. This will give you maximum height and allow you to complete your flip in plenty of time. This is true with all tricks, but it is especially crucial with the Toeside Back Roll.

How to perform this trick: Cut 10 to 15 feet outside of the wake. Turn slowly and build on your edge all the way up the wake. Because you have to build on your edge up the wake does not mean you have to edge harder. Just make sure that your finish is harder than your start. At the same time you're rising up the wake, push the board in front of you and pull the handle in close to your hips. Try to hold the handle there for the first two-thirds of the flip. This will help you maintain the correct body position. Then, on the last third of the flip, simply let go of the handle with your back arm and keep your chest closed or away from the boat. The tip of your board should stay pointing in the direction that you are moving. An important key to this trick is to keep the handle low throughout the flip, so that the boat doesn't pull you out of position. This will also help you rotate more easily. Be prepared to spot your landing and use your knees as shock absorbers.

Trick: Heelside Back Roll to Revert

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:16:00 -0700

Description: Heelside Back Roll with 180-degree rotation, landing switch.
You should definitely learn the Heelside Back Roll before attempting this trick. It is the same trick, except you're adding a 180, landing switch.

How to perform this trick: Edge about 10 feet outside of the wake (a little less than on your Heelside Back Roll). Turn slowly and cut into the wake with an increasingly progressive edge. The key to this trick is when you rise up the wake, you need to throw the tip of your board away from the boat, and turn your head in the same direction. This will force you to land revert. When you rotate the last half of the roll, let go with your front hand and hang on with your back. This will help ensure that you won't have any problems landing in the switch position. On your landing, be strong with the arm that you are hanging onto the handle with, and keep the tip of your board pointing in the direction that you are traveling.

Trick: Heelside Back Roll

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:43:00 -0700

Description: Edging in heelside and rolling the board end-over-end.
The Heelside Back Roll is the first invert that you should learn. This trick is very easy if you can jump the wake properly. It is essential to approach this trick exactly the same way you would approach a Heelside Wake Jump. The only other thing you have to incorporate differently is the movement of your head.

How to perform this trick: When you're at the point where you rise up the wake, throw your head toward the tail of your board. To ensure that your head is moving in the right direction, try to put your ear to your back shoulder (similar to the way you would hold a telephone between your ear and shoulder). This will help you avoid throwing your head back and away from the boat, and force you to throw your head to the side (at a 90-degree angle to the boat). Start by cutting 15 to 20 feet outside of the wake or as wide as you would cut on your Heelside Wake Jump. Turn slowly and cut into the wake gradually, building on your edge with control. Rise up the wake (pushing with your legs) while simultaneously throwing your head to the tail of your board; then freeze. Try to spot your landing and it will happen naturally. It might take a few times before you feel comfortable with this trick, but it will come with practice and patience.

Rolls & Flips. Introduction.

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 04:27:00 -0700

Wakeboarding is a blast and there is nothing more satisfying than landing your first invert. There are two important elements when first attempting any of these tricks. (1) All of these tricks are based off a wake jump, whether you're edging in heelside or toeside. It is important not to get ahead of yourself and be thinking of other things when approaching the wakes. Remember to approach the wakes (whether you're edging heelside or toeside, easy or hard) the same as if you were going to just jump the wake. This will help enable you to stay in control and maximize your height, which will give you the proper air time you'll need to complete the trick. (2) It is very important that you are mentally prepared to attempt these tricks. You may act and/or hope that you are ready for the trick, but in reality, you may not be. Being 100% mentally ready for any trick that you attempt will help you totally commit to the trick, which is what's required. This will save you a lot of hard falls and allow you to learn the trick much faster. (3) Be sure that your riding is at the appropriate level before attempting any of these tricks.

Trick: Shifty

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 14:56:00 -0700

Description: Change the direction of your board and body in the air and bring it back to original position to landing.
A Shifty can be combined with many grabs and spins to increase the style and difficulty of a trick. The most common way of learning the Shifty is to approach it from a heelside edge.

How to perform this trick: Make sure to cut out wide and take this trick really big to ensure that you have ample time to finish and land the trick. It's important to initiate the Shifty immediately after leaving the wake so that you have time to return the board back to its original position. When you leave the wake, hang on to the handle with your front hand and move the handle around to your back. This should cause your board and body to rotate so that your back will be facing the direction that you are traveling. Once you've extended the Shifty and reached your maximum height, simply bring the handle back around to the front of your body. You'll then land in the same position from which you took off. This will probably be the first way that you will learn the Shifty. However, there are many different ways to rotate this trick with grabs and spins. Be sure to incorporate grabs into your Shifty once you've got it dialed in.

Trick: Stiffi

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:16:00 -0700

Description: Straighten both legs while grabbing your board.
A Stiffy is performed with an Indy or a Mute grab, since you must grab the toeside edge of your board in between your feet.

How to perform this trick: You can approach this trick from a heelside or toeside edge, to combine it with an Indy grab. Make sure you take the trick up and grab your board before you attempt to straighten you legs. If you attempt the Stiffy before you have a hold on your board, it is very difficult to reach. Once you've mastered this, try a Heelside 180 with a Mute-Stiffy. If you're feeling flexible, you can also add this grab to the Roast Beef.

Trick: Tweak

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:05:00 -0700

Description: Bone your board to the side.

How to perform this trick: A Tweak is the next level of a Bone. You simply Bone the tip or tail of the board to one side and tuck in the other foot in the opposite direction. For example, to Tweak out a Stalefish you would Bone the tail of your board in front and away from your body by extending your back leg and tucking your front foot under your body. This gives the appearance of the board traveling sideways through the air while it's Boned out. It looks great and gets chicks — or dudes as the case may be! A Method is a grab you'll often see Tweaked out.

Trick: Poke

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 05:06:00 -0700

Description: A quik-defined Bone.

How to perform this trick: The dictionary definition of this verb is 'to thrust at with a sharp instrument'. A Poke is the same as a Bone, but is more abrupt and defined. A Poke looks best when the grab is taken to maximum height and then Poked out. This displays the control that a rider has and adds style to the trick.

Trick: Bone

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:12:00 -0700

Description: Push the tip or tail of the board away from your body.

How to perform this trick: In order to Bone your board, simply extend or straighten one knee and bring the other toward your chest. If you extend your front knee, this would be called a Nose-Bone. By extending your back knee, you would be doing a Tail-Bone. You can either Bone the board down or out depending upon the grab. Be sure you completely leave the wake before you start to Bone out any trick.

Trick: Crail

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:36:00 -0700

Description: Rear hand grab on toeside edge in front of your front foot.
This is probably the most difficult but most stylish of all grabs because you are reaching across your body and it is an unnatural position. Since you are grabbing the board with your back hand, you can approach this trick from either a heelside or toeside edge. However, it is best to learn this particular grab from a heelside edge, as most riders have a stronger Heelside Wake Jump.

How to perform this trick: To initiate this grab, bring your front knee up toward your body and as close to your back shoulder as possible. At the same time, straighten your back leg to Bone out your tail. This should bring the front of your board under your body and you can then point the nose up to make it easier for you to reach

Trick: Roast Beef

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 03:51:00 -0700

Description: Rear hand grab on heelside edge between your feet, while reaching between your legs.
Like all grabs performed with your back hand, you can approach this from either the heelside or the toeside edge. The Roast Beef is a versatile grab since you are grabbing it at the center of the board.

How to perform this trick: When you attempt to grab this trick, reach down with your back hand in between your feet and grab your heelside edge. You now have the option to Bone your nose or tail in any direction. For added style, you may also want to twist your palm down with the arm you are grabbing the board with. This is not the most common grab, but it will help you to home in on your grabbing skills.

Trick: Stalefish

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 04:56:00 -0700

Description: Rear hand grab on heelside edge in between your feet, while reaching behind your back leg (this is like Melan with your back hand).
The Stalefish looks great and can be approached from either the toeside or heelside edge, since you're grabbing the board with your back hand.

How to perform this trick: When you are at the highest point of your wake jump, reach down and grab your board behind your back leg and in between your feet. Because you grab the Stalefish in between your legs, it is a versatile grab. It gives you the option to Tweak or Poke the board in almost any direction. The most common way to do this trick is with your back leg Tweaked out toward the direction that you are going, and with your front knee tucked into your chest.

Trick: Slob

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:34:00 -0700

Description: Front hand grab on toeside edge in front of your front foot.
The Slob is a grab that has earned its name out of laziness, not because it's an ugly grab (if done right). To master this grab with a wake jump, you should approach it from a heelside edge since you will be grabbing the board with your front hand.

How to perform this trick: Be sure to go up and attain maximum height before you bring your front knee toward your chest and reach for the board. You'll often see this grab performed with frontside spins, since your front hand will be free to initiate the handle pass. This may be the first grab that you want to attempt with a Heelside 180.

Trick: Melan

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 03:07:00 -0700

Description: Front hand grab on heelside edge in between your feet, while reaching behing your front leg.

How to perform this trick: The Melan is a grab that's best approached from a heelside edge because you are grabbing the board with your front hand. Remember to take the wake jump to maximum height before you bring your knees up to your chest to initiate the grab. The Melan looks best when you Poke out your front leg while keeping your back leg tucked into your chest.

Trick: Method

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 09:03:00 -0700

Description: Front hand grab on heelside edge in front of your front foot.

How to perform this trick: When learning the Method, it's best to approach it from a heeiside edge since you are grabbing the board with your front hand. To initiate the grab, bring your board up bending only at the knees. Once you're comfortable doing the Method grab and want to add some style, try this: Tweak out the board by extending your back leg out and tucking your front knee down. This keeps the base of the board exposed to the direction you are traveling (the shore) as well as keeping it parallel to the water.

Trick: Nose

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:09:00 -0700

Description: Front hand grab on nose of the board.

How to perform this trick: The Nose grab is just the opposite of the Tail grab and it is done just like it sounds. It's best to first master this grab from a Heelside Wake Jump, since you will be hanging on to the handle with your back hand. As you reach the maximum height of your wake jump, bring your front knee toward your chest. This will get the nose of your board within reach and allow you to grab it. Since your front knee is bent, it then makes it very easy to Bone out the tail of your board.

Trick: Tail

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:55:00 -0700

Description: Rear hand grab on tail of the board.
Since you are grabbing with your back hand and hanging on to the handle with your front hand, this trick can be approached from either a toeside or heelside direction.

How to perform this trick: Once you've jumped the wake, bring your back knee up toward your chest. This will help you bring the tail of your board closer to your body and allow you to grab the board with more ease. Also, by sucking your back knee up to your chest, it will help you Bone (explained later in this book) out the nose of your board. When you are in the air, be sure to keep the board pointing in the direction that you are moving. Remember to always leave the wake and go up before you reach for the grab.

Trick: Mute

noreply@blogger.com (shikaka) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:24:00 -0700

Description: Front hand on toesie edge in between feet.
Because you are grabbing the board with your front hand and initially hanging on to the handle with your back hand, the Mute grab is best learned from a Heelside Wake Jump.

How to perform this trick: You'll want to approach this trick like a Heelside Wake Jump, trying to get maximum height. Then, just like the description says, reach down with your front hand and grab the toeside edge of the board in between your feet. This grab looks best when you wrap your front arm around the outside and behind your front knee, while still grabbing the toeside edge of your board between your legs. This will also help to Tweak out your board for added style. The Tweak is explained later in this book.