Landing the backroll

I'm getting a good edge through the wake and getting plenty of rotation. My problem is that when I land, I am leaned way back on the board and the rope gets jerked away. Is it a handle position problem?

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/milanboys/2003_0812_184639AA.AVI

Yes, it's a handle position problem. Watch it in slow motion and you'll see that the handle goes up high almost in front of your face as you leave the wake. It should be in tight at your waist - letting it out slows your rotation.

You are also letting off of your edge before you hit the wake. Start with a slower cut and then hold your edge through the wake.

Bill is right! The handle should never get that far away from your body. Keep it close to your hips.

What length (of rope) are you riding at? Try riding at a short length until you get the feel for the rotation and are stomping the landings, then go big.

Also check out: http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/78062.html?1060753739



(Message edited by dcervenka on August 12, 2003)

Thanks guys. I see what the handle is doing now in slow motion. I think I'll be able to get it next time I go out.

Right now, I'm using 65' and can clear the wake by a long way just jumping.

Guys another question:
Should you stand up at the top the wake to backroll and then look over your lead shoulder or just throw your edge around and over you and not try to pop?

Josh, even though you can easily clear the wake at 65 feet, you may still want to try a shorter rope the first few times you do a backroll. If you case the wake it can really hurt (plus more chance of injury) and the shorter rope will really help. Also, if you ride fairly fast (22 - 23) you might want to try slowly down a little. This will help prevent you from letting off of your edge and that will ensure you get good pop.

1- Shorten your rope.
2- Make sure you keep your eyes open. You'd be surprised how many people don't.
3- Progressive edge - start easy and progressively cut harder, so that your hardest cut is through the top of the wake. You are starting hard and leaving flat.
4- Keep your handle in tight to your hips.
5- Look at the boat on the landing.
6- Is that a non-stretch rope? If not, get one.

Thanks. I will shorten the rope and see how that works out. Is there a possibility that because i'm leaning back so much going into the wake that it might cause me to land with that same position?

Matt - thanks for the tips. It is a non-stretch rope.

I have tried the backroll at least 50 times and although I am going higher, have a slower rotation, and am landing on the board, I get crushed on the landings. I have watched my video in slow motion and I am keeping the rope tight to my hip. I have noticed that the board sometimes lands a little sideways but not always. I am definitely landing flat on the board - that may be my problem. Seems as though my knees are getting driven up through my shoulders. I am using a 65 foot non-stretch rope at a speed of 22-23. I know I am close to finally stomping this mother - I think I just need a tweak. Thanks.

Land on your heel edge and keep cutting into the flats. That should soften your landings and help you stay over the board. Also, I tend to find that people who land on their boards, but who can't stand the trick, have their eyes closed and are not spotting the landing and adjusting appropiately for the impact. Make sure your eyes are open!

thanks guys for all the help. hopefully i'll get a chance to try it out again this weekend.

so is there any point in the backroll where u want to move ur handle??? i went to a wakeboard school and they said to bring my handle up to my leading side and back behind me as i hit the peak of the wake....... i have also been told by others that u kinda need to do a circular motion with the handle through the roll. is it as easy as just keeping your handle in front to my waist the whole time?

I just landed my first backroll last week, I was in a similar situation to a lot of you guys, getting right around and landing, then sliding out. One of the things I was doing wrong was clsoing my eyes and not spotting my landing, just keep the handle in close and keep your eyes OPEN and spot the landing, I couldn't believe how much difference this made. The next night I was out I landed four in a row.