How To Ride A Wake Board

By now you’ve learned to get up on a wake board. Now, it’s time to learn how to ride a wake board. Have you ever been on a skate board? How about roller skates? If I had to compare it to a land movement, I’d pick the skate board. If you can keep your balance while cruising down the road on a skate board, you should have no problem riding the wakes!

You have learned how to get up on a wake board. Now you need to pick a front foot. This will be referred to as your “lead foot”. For most of us, this will be your left foot. For those of you who find that your right foot is the lead, this is sometimes to referred to as “goofy foot”. To find out if you are “goofy foot”, try putting forward the foot that makes you feel the most balanced. In other words, if someone were to push you from behind, which foot would you step forward with to gain balance? This is your lead foot and the front foot on your wake board.

When you are learning how to ride a wake board you want to remember to keep all of your weight on your back foot. You want to ensure that the nose of your board does not catch the water or you will become face first with the water and this is not cool. Lean into your turns and cut the board harder for faster speed. Do not pull on the rope, this was cause a shift in balance and your board may catch and flip you into the water.

JUMPING

There are 3 basic components in achieving a successful jump while wake boarding. After you have learned how to ride a wake board, next you want to learn how to jump! Make sure you leave yourself room and go on the far outside of the wake and allow the boat to start pulling you in. Begin:

1. Edging and building speed at the top of the wake 2. Use your legs, you come into the wake with your knees bent and your handle in front of your hip. **Remember the placement of the handle is very important. 3. As you clear the wake, straighten your legs as if you were standing, this will give you lift and enable you to catch some air!

When you land, be sure to bend your knees to absorb the impact. Continue on and edge outside of the wake. As you become more confident in your wake boarding abilities and you have learned how to ride a wake board and began jumping. You may be ready for some airborne tricks!