Terminology:

These are some common terms used in everyday wakebarding that can be useful to know (I myself faced a bit of confusion when I was starting out and people would just assume I knew what they were talking about):

• Wake– the two waves on either side of the boat created by the boat. Larger wakes can allow riders to get higher in the air, when used correctly.

• Edging– when you use you body to move side-to-side behind a boat or behind cable. Taking a “hard” edge means that you are edging fast and with more intensity, which takes practice  and is used when attempting to get higher off of the wake or want to move farther in a short period of time.

• Regular– riders who have a “regular” stance ride with their left foot forward.

• Goofy– riders with a “goofy” stance ride with their right foot forward.

• Heelside– term for the stance you are in when you edge with your chest facing the boat and you are leaning on your heels in order to move towards the wake (easier way to attempt wake jumps and tricks). For a regular rider, it is a heelside edge/jump when you are moving from the right side of the boat towards the wake.

• Toeside– leaning forward on your toes to get momentum to move forwards (when you are on the other side of the wake moving towards the wake).

• Pop– what is often used to describe the movement you make in order to boost off of the wake and into the air, similarly to jumping on a trampoline. Some riders try to jump from one wake to the other merely on speed, but pop is necessary to get appropriate height.

• Wake-to-wake– term used to describe a jump from one wake to the other. Considered a big first step in wakeboarding as it allows riders to begin attempting tricks.

• Grabs– there are many different kinds of “grabs,” but they are basically just grabbing the board when jumping or doing a trick to add style. (Similar to snowboarding)

• Spins– while in the air jumping from one wake to the next, spinning in the air. Includes 180s, which are most basic, then 360s, 540s, 720s, 900s, and 1080s, the latter two which are extremely rare and left to the pros.

• Inverts– any kind of flip behind a boat. Most basic are bankroll (which is similar to a cartwheel but in the opposite direction) and tantrum (which is like a backflip).

 

Helpful Links and Videos:

How to get up on a wakeboard:

Tips:

Beginner Tricks:

Helpful Websites:

http://www.wakeboardingmag.com : This website helps you keep up-to-date with all things wakeboarding! It also includes How-To videos and can keep you updated with what the pros are doing.

http://www.learnwake.com : This interactive website allows you to, once subscribed, send in your very own videos to get advice on your riding from actual professionals.

If you have any questions, email me!