Video:
Tantrum to Blind - AVI File (730k)

Pre-Requisites: Before attempting the Tantrum to Blind you must be able to do solid Tantrums. You must also be able to do a heelside backside 180, also known as a Blind 180. You should be able to do the backside 180 late. In other words, be able to do a wake jump, and, at the very last second, yank it to blind.

How To: You'll want to start by cutting out around 15-20 feet. The object is to go as high as possible, but still stay wake to wake. Make a semi-strong cut with two hands on the rope. As you approach the wake, let go with your back hand, but still keep going up the wake. You want to take off at the very top of the wake. Try taking the Tantrum straight up, not out. Again, you want the maximum height possible, but still want to go wake to wake.

Start your Tantrum and while you are flipping you'll see the water again as you reach about the 3/4 point of the trick. As soon as you see the water, start yanking the handle to the small of your back. This trick is spun with the strength of your arm pulling the rope into your back. You DO NOT spin this trick by turning your head in the direction that you are spinning. Your head should never turn the whole time you are in the air.

There are two ways that you can do the landing. If you want to pass the handle as soon as you hit the water, or maybe a split second afterwards, then keep your head straight between your shoulders on the landing. If you want to stick the trick blind and stay blind, then you look away from the boat as you land. The video clip is great, because it shows Kyle landing blind for a second (with his head looking away from the boat), then passing the handle as he turns his head.

Pro Tips:

• It is better to over-rotate the flip than to under rotate it. It is much easier to land on your toes than to land on your heels. If flipping harder doesn't seem to help you get onto your toes, then try pulling the 180 later than you usually do. When you pull the 180 too early, it puts you on your heels. Also, if you pass the handle too early, it'll put you on your heels.
  
  
• If you want to do this trick way out into the flats, this is the way I learned it. I told some other pros this method and it worked for them too. The whole trick is body positioning on the landing. It is NOT harder to land blind out in the flats. If you think it is, then you are doing the trick wrong.

  I take about a 15 foot cut (short approach) and haul butt into the wake. Take off at the very top of the wake and go as big as possible. I do the trick the same way I do the wake-to-wake version. The key is to land over your toes. When I cut really far out and try to do the trick, I end up stretching my body out too much and can't get onto my toes for the landing. You need to cut like a madman from a short approach. Don't pay attention to the big cut that Darin Shapiro takes when he does it. That way is much harder.
  
  

• Grabbing Indy. Indy Tantrum to Blind is a milestone style trick. It is a classic that looks great. When I do it, I think about taking the Tantrum to Blind even more straight up (when I pop off the wake) than when I usually do my tantrum to blind. Grab Indy as soon as possible. Then do the trick like normal.

  If you can't get the grab, you need to either work on your Indy Tantrums (you shouldn't even have to think when it comes to grabbing the Indy Tantrum) or you need to pop straight up on takeoff more. When you jump out (back) at takeoff, you pull your upper body away from the board and it makes it much harder to get the grab.

  This trick is easier done on the double up since the double up forces you to do more of an upward pop and you have plenty off time to do everything in the air.

Video Rider: Kyle Schmidt
Kyle Schmidt coaches at the Wakeboard Camp in Clermont, Florida. He is landing some pretty sick tricks right now including grabbed Corkscrew 900's, grabbed Crow Mobes, and Indy Tantrums to blind. Kyle's Sponsors are Liquid Force, UGP, Blur Optics, The Wakeboard Camp and Performance Ski and Surf.

Author: Mike McLin
Mike is sponsored by Neptune, Malibu, Reef, Rainbow, and Performance Ski and Surf.

 Return To WakeWorld Trick Tips