Boot Position on Board

[swatguy]

Yea that is the absolute worst part of the wake to land on. Totally eats u alive. Keep trying. If it hasn't been mentioned or you've been told its not cool and will injure you more you were mid informed........get a helmet with some ear flaps. Will save you a couple of those dingers and a blown eardrum. For 60 bucks or so they are worth every penny.

I can only speculate. But you landed on the top, stuck it but then got a little air out the other side and either the board turn 90 degrees or you dipped the nose. Either way THAT IS THE HARDEST FALL you can take. You go from 24mph -0 in a blink of an eye. It's scary and will be in your head a bit. Just know that is as bad as it can get.

[LisaJ]

I've never seen someone wearing a helmet on the lake, but I'm new to this sport. I already saw online today that I should be wearing one. I'm planning to get one ASAP!

[BrianT]

Swatguy, I wouldn't agree with the statement of 24 mph to 0 in the blink of an eye..... How many newbies are going 24mph? that is WAY to fast for someone starting out. LisaJ, I would recommend 16mph or so.

[snork]

just because the boat is go'n 20 mph doesn't mean the boarders not go'n 24 mph
helmets aren't for everyone, improper fit will cause more injuries than without, plus some will let their guard down thinking the helmet will save them ars then bam shiot happens.
if you're case'n the wake short'n the rope length or speed up the boat 1+ mph or what feels comfortable, proper speed is when the board rides on top of the water not plow'n.
keep your head up LisaJ everyone will have to endure initiation crashes.
there's several TT members in your area that I bet will be more than happy to lend a helping hand
I'm in the Dallas area if you're ever in this part of the country give me a holla

[d2jp]

Originally Posted by LisaJ

I just said this morning that it's time for a "real life" professional instructor to help me before I develop some bad habits that are hard to undo............



Wonder if there are any instructors in the Lake Tillery, Mount Gilead, NC (my Mastercraft lives at Lake Tillery) or the Raleigh area (I live outside of Raleigh)?

Here ya go, Adam Fields on beautiful Lake Gaston not too far from RDU:
http://afwake.com/

[swatguy]

Originally Posted by BrianT

Swatguy, I wouldn't agree with the statement of 24 mph to 0 in the blink of an eye..... How many newbies are going 24mph? that is WAY to fast for someone starting out. LisaJ, I would recommend 16mph or so.

Even at 16 mph you are traveling faster than the boat while your edging and cutting against the wake. I wasn't being exact just throwing a "for instance". The 24 mph meant her cutting into the wake not the boat speed.

I don't want to get in a helmet vs non helmet war or debate as a quick search will beat it to death. All I will say is this. In my 10 yrs plus of driving comps, visiting comps, monitoring the wakeboard forums as well as the ensuing debates I have never heard of one instance in which a properly fitted helmet caused injury. I have heard on more than one occasion wher a helmet helped and have experienced several wrecks on some bigger tricks in which it has helped myself. Especially on my backsise eardrum smack....I am purely offering advice not mandating it. It's always up to the rider.

[LisaJ]

Thanks guys for all the input. I respect each and every answer and my family is discussing all topics. The helmet issue was raised at the supper table and my 22 and 20 year old sons had already researched and discovered that if I didn't wear a properly fitted helmet, I could cause more injury to myself.

Glad ya'll discussed speed and rope length. It's been puzzling to me to know what I'm SUPPOSED to be doing. But, I'm starting to figure out the recipe that fits me. I was on a long rope, 65' and and a speed of 20.5 to 21 mph. I shortened the rope up to the first loop (~55') but I do feel that 21 mph is still a little fast for my comfortable level. The comment above about finding a speed that make the board plane off (not plowing) makes perfect sense to me. But, do you think I can shortened the rope up just a little more since I don't have that strong of a jump (I've never been able to flat footed jump-played volleyball for 6 years and had to do a flat footed spike for lack of timing and no height of jump...lol). I still have plenty of clean wake between me and the boat at ~55'.

I'm really loving this new sport and working at it very hard. I find it so exciting and love watching all the younger guys on the lake doing spectacular tricks on their boards.

Lake Gaston is close to Raleigh. I'm going to look up Adam Fields.