Making Swiyching easier

a always have trouble switching on the surface and end up doing a faceplant. FYI (faceplants hurt real bad) So any help would be nice Thanks bunchies!

(Message edited by wakekid72501 on August 19, 2006)

(Message edited by wakekid72501 on August 19, 2006)

easiest way to do a surface 180 from my experience is to make a toeside cut then make a hard heelside cut the other way and in the process bring the back of the board around. after doing this enough, you get a good feel for the water and the mechanics, and you can make the switch without having to do the cuts. i'm sure there are a lot better ways to learn that look a lot cooler, but i took so many faceplants i kinda quit caring. so far neither my friends i instructed nor i have faceplanted with this method once.

all about the handle position. to get to switch start with the handle in close to your lead hip, then push it across your body to the other hip. Once you are switch , if it feel like it is hard to keep the board switch, keep pushing that handle to that new hip, even a bit past or behind. As far as that awkward feeling of riding, you just need to ride switch as much as possible to recruit the motor neurons in your musscles and gain muscle memory. It only feels awkward because you never use that halfe of your legs when you ride normal

What really helped me was when I was working on edging. Basically I was plowing water with my heel edge and going left to right, using the edge of the board and weight transfer to change directions. When I over exaggerated weight distribution from toes to heels it was easy for me to do surface 180's. Good luck.

When learning this, slower boat speeds help too. Try spinning 180's while the boat is planing, or slow the boat down entirely.

lipslide

get up riding switch and just pratice and get the feel for it. This will help the surface 180 feel more comfortable

It has helped me a bunch to take my fins off. The board is a lot looser but I quit "grabbing" the fins and I can spin the board a lot easier. Now if I could just get it to spin around and backslide.

Backside Lipslide: let go of the handle with your back hand and turn your head AND your shoulders away from the boat. At the same time try to push your back leg around. PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON YOUR TOES AND LIFT YOUR HEELS when you're facing away from the boat to avoid catching your back edge and slamming into the water. It dosn't feel too good. Try this at slower speeds...it doesn't hurt as bad when you fall.

for surface 180's keep your knees really bent and your toes up. Hold the handle at your lead hip and bring it across your body to your other hip

Good Luck!