Help on the S-Bend

I did rally's all last summer and got pretty good at them but I want to go for more. I want to be able to do an S-Bend this summer. Does anyone have any instructions for me getting started?

I would say you need more than just a summer of raleys for an S-Bend - maybe learn a 911(rotation is the same way), HS Front, or go practice them at a cable park - another choice is just to grab your balls and take the punishment that WILL accompany learning one behind a boat
The basic instruction is cut like your normal raley, or harder, and as you leave the wake (don't leave early) look under your back armpit, putting your head under your outstretched arms - keep your eyes open, and do not, I mean do not pull on the rope or take your head from under your outstretched arms until you see the water again - when you complete the full rotation and spot the water, pull in like a normal raley
Some numbnuts might say you look the other way, as in under your front armpit, but they are WRONG - that would just be a big laid out backroll

i agree that trick almost killed me.

I could depend how how much of a natural you are too. Allen landed it his 2cnd try I think. After 15 or so S-bends, he nearly landed his Vulcan on the first attempt. He's like a cat though. Always landing on his feet

i have no tips for this trick, but i'm curious. the s-bend is basically a raley w/ an overhead bs 3, right? has anyone done one w/ an overhead fs 3 instead?

Joe: I thought we talked about that. Wouldn't it be a laid out BR? Froggy does one in Relentless. One of his last tricks.

Joe, that's kind-of what Rhett said: It's basically a stretched out back roll. Both ways it would look cool, but a real S-bend is way more tech.

Allens advice (he landed it his third try): start small. Even wake to wake, so the falls aren't as bad, then take it big.

Rhetts idea of learning a HS front is a good one too. A lot of guys trip themselves into the rotation

"has anyone done one w/ an overhead fs 3 instead?"

That's called a "Hinterberger".

Dunno bout the boat, but just about everything is done on the cable. I've even seen a Double-S to blind (2 1/2 spins). And the guy still only got 2nd.

Try an S-Bend on a wakeskate first, charge it as hard as you would for a big raley, this way the falls don't hurt as bad, no board to make you eat s$$t, if your left foot forward, try and look over your right shoulder after you've extended your arms, you'll end up with you face in your armpit, vs a versa for right foot forward.

I'm not sure trying it without the board is a good idea. If you are good enough to try an s-bend, then getting the board back under you isn't the issue. Most people who get slammed on s-bends get stuck facing the sky because they pull their head out from between their arms. On that type of fall, having a board on your feet won't hurt. Also, with an s-bend, it's nice to have the weight of the board helping to extend you.

As other have pretty much said, 1) go into like you're doing a big raley, 2) as you extend out, look under your trailing arm and keep that ear pinned agaist your bicep, and 3)bring it down like you would a raley once you see the water.

It is also good (and bad) to know a hs front flip when learing an s-bend. The good is that in the event you chunk the wake or take off low, you can ball up and front flip out of the s-bend to save yourself a major headache. The bad is that (my biggest problem) your s-bend can start looking like a laid out front flip if you do not concentrate on keeping it extended until the point that the board is once again parallel with the water.

Use the Double as a stater for learning the trick, it helped for me. Also what Rhett said!

Thanks for the advice guys. I think an S-bend is a tight trick, and I can't wait to get on the water. I think I'll be able to pick it up pretty quick. I'm pretty natural at picking up things. once again thanks.