"GROM"

So guys and girls I just got my first board at the age of 20 and I havent had alot of boat time but I feel Im progressing OK. Ive got in touch with both Shaun and Travis at the Boarding School and am most likely going to go out there this winter while its snowing here in Iowa. My question to you all is if you could give me some advice on gear, progression, culture, what would it be?

God Bless,
Tyler

"life's too short to ride a cheap board" - me

"it's just water... not concrete or dirt... so just throw it" - parks

"wakeboarding is like riding a bicycle... it still hurts when you crash" - good friend

Whenever I get a pull its behind a 07' Moomba XLV. But fellas I just rode in a brand new X star and I gotta tell ya I think Im missin out.

IMO a X-star wake is just ok till you reach that 3000+ pound mark and then it is mind blowing and amazing.

Ren, is there another way to ride it?

As far as progression goes, if you are ever trying to land something and start getting very frustrated/tired, quit while you're ahead. It's a lot easier to injure yourself when you are worn out and angry. And not being injured or angry means a much better day on the lake. So if you're ever feeling flustered, work on something else for awhile or let someone else take a set. Just my $0.02.

My boy just got a new 24ssv Supra that should help with the boat time.

Ya, I don't know anybody with a wakeboarding except one person and I've ridden behind it once... I'm trying to learn backrolls w/out ballast, towers, and a ski boat... If you learn proper technique, when you graduate to a larger wake you'll be flying!

Gear: (in order of most influential AND cheapest to most expensive... typically)
1. Good Rope - good NON-stretch rope made from either dyneema or spectra. don't settle for anything else. The rope is what connects you to everything, so yes, it is important to have a good one. and the cheapest way to up your ride
2. Good Boots - this will influence your ride more than the board they are connected too, because well, they are what connect you to the board. if you are not getting the comfort and combination of flex and leverage, etc. that you want/need then you wont be able to controll the board as well
3. Board that matches your style.

It all comes down to being "connected." make that connection perfect, with a good rope and boots and board.

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Progression:
Don't favor one side for another. Stay balanced. what i mean by this is; jump toeside and heelside, not just heelside. work on riding switch, not just riding one way. do your best to be balanced, equally strong.

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culture:
well uhh.... go read some more threads on here and check wakeboarding mag and alliance wake mag etc etc.

dont be afraid to take a progression day off if youve had some rough ones, sometimes i need a day of boardslides and easy skills to relax me and remind me of why i love wakeboarding

Only because you mentioned culture: "grom" refers to a child rider rather than a newbie/convert..part of the culture includes lingo ("steeze", "heelside sack-slapper", "butter", "secret stash")...enjoy the ride and watch out because it is addictive.

I know GROM refeers to child rider, but what does it stand for? where does the word come from?

This might help. I don't know.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=grom

Culture makes me think of the old popping the handle rule; if you let it go and stay up on the board you have to do the robot while sinking in the water.

And progression, no bag of tricks is complete without a sexy fashion air!

What Dan said +1

you can always pretend to ride the horse and twirl the rope over your head if your sinking in