I'm getting better at jumps...

I think...

let's see a before and after. I would say if you wanna go higher u need to learn the meaninging of a progressive edge and stand tall at the wake. I doesn't look like you are standing tall the way you are liek that in the air.

I'm no instructor, but I have (finally) gotten to the point that my HS jumps are getting to feel good.

I'd say that Richie is right. It looks like you probably have plenty of speed, but you arent "standing tall" (I've always hated that term), but it really does describe what you should do. Seeing that your knees are bent, means that you are probably "sucking up the wake" with your knees.

For me, I found that when I took less of an outward cut (just like 7-8 feet or so from the wake vs. 10-15 feet)and really over-emphasized my edge into the wake to get enough speed and kept the edge up-and-through the wake, and dug my heals in at the top by straightening my legs (locking them), I got more air. Try it...once you hit the "pop" you'll know it.

On the other hand, I been riding behind Carter's, Neelley's, Gid's, Dale's, and Balint's boats mostly so I can slack on proper technique...They all have gigantic wakes!

Sh&% Dog! I just saw your website. Never mind what I said before...just Kick that wakes A$$!

lol dan. you've been riding carter's wake? that's impressive. i assumed the reason they remade the movie "get carter" as because they never found him!

demi, the others are right. dont know your level of study of wakeboarding is, but it looks like you're falling into the same trap many of us did. you look like you're trying to jump the wake. in wakeboarding, unlike so many other things we do that we "jump" in, you don't actually jump to jump. you just stand up.

it's a basic difference that isn't intuitive - i had problems with it (hell, still do). i kept treating the wake like a ramp with a bike or something. first you think you want your board flat to ride off the ramp, and then you think you should jump or ollie off the top.

but what you want to do is act like you're standing on one end of a see-saw and someone is about to jump onto the other end - or like when a kid jumps off the hands or shoulders of an adult when they launch them in a swimming pool.

if in either of these cases you're not standing straight, your legs and body will absorb the force generated and you won't going flying anywhere near as far.

same with the wake. if you keep your edge (which creates the force), when you stand tall at the wake, all the force created by the change in the level of the water beneath your board (the rise of the wake), will be transferred thru the board to you - and up you'll go.

of course, you were probably just pulling your legs up for a grab in this pic and we've got it all wrong - but if not, there ya go!

regardless, you're definitely getting more height than the last pics you posted so you're progressing nonetheless!

"but what you want to do is act like you're standing on one end of a see-saw and someone is about to jump onto the other end - or like when a kid jumps off the hands or shoulders of an adult when they launch them in a swimming pool."

Best way I've ever heard it explained! CS...Where were you like 4 years ago!

As for Carter...he's been spotted near bakersfield playing in a mud puddle once or twice lately. We should go find him next week (wink wink!).

Excellent feedback!

I've been trying to "jump" at the wake and always pull my knees up for height.

I'm going to the lake today and I'll work on this.

Thanks.

Demi,

Is that your setup in your profile pic? How tall are you? Just an observation but it looks like your stance is really narrow. You may want to try going way wider on your stance. This will add control to your riding.

nice eye jrod. i agree, that stance looks wickedly narrow.

Board looks a little small also? But maybe that's just the angle of the pic.

Here's another way of looking at it that really helped me add pop....

Instead of just standing tall at the top of the wake I imagine I am pushing down on the top of the wake. It is the same motion as standing tall (not a jumping motion). The body mechanics are the same the only difference is the emphasis is pushing down on the board to stand tall vice just straightening your legs and back. To make this work you really need a progressive edge and remember your pushing down on the wake to stand tall not "jumping" or "ollieing" the wake.

Hope this helps. Aloha!

I had a knee injury today and I still rode. I didn't do much different...

I'll evaluate my binding (width) next time I ride.

Again, great feedback.

Demi

Demi, buy the "Higher Education" DVD from www.bumpfilms.com

It is the best education video. Watch the beginner stuff over and over.