| Wake
Crossing and Jumping |
Wake Crossing
After
you got your balance and mastered the technique
of edging, you are ready to cross the wake.
Making a crossing is simple. The key is
to steer with your knees.
Approach
the wakes slowly at first with your knees
slightly bent. Steer with your knees by
pointing your knees in the direction you
want to go and maintain that angle.
Be
ready for extra lift at the wake. Lean forward
and raise the handle just before the crossing
so as to keep your board down and avoid
bucking. Ride over the wake. It's a funny
feeling!
|
Wake Jumping
Once
you are comfortably crossing the wake, it's
time for you to attempt wake jump.
|
 1.
Start with a progress edge and have your body
compact and your knees slightly bent. Keep
both hands on the handle during the process
for greater control. |
 2.
When approaching the crest of the wake, lean
forward slightly to keep the board down. |
 3.
Just before reaching the crest, put slightly
more weight on your rear foot. Once you hit
the crest, pull both knees up to your chest
allowing the board to elevate while pulling
the handle to the middle of your hips. |
 4.
While in the air, stay directly over the board
by keeping the handle at your hips and your
eyes on the horizon and also watch the second
wake - the landing wake. Try to land going
down the ramp of the second wake. Be ready
for landing impact i.e. resist the tendency
to lean forward and push on your feet. |
 5.
Absorb the impact by bending your knees. Meanwhile,
keep your elbow slightly bent and the handle
down so that you can extend your arms to help
absorb the pull of the rope. |
 6.
Land slightly on your heelside edge so you
are cutting out away from the wake. This helps
to spot out towards the shore when landing.
|
| The
trick for attaining good height is to keep
your legs slightly bent and straighten them
as you feel yourself coming off the wake.
This provides the "pop" that you
will need to jump. Don't ease up the pull
on the rope when you approach the wake. This
will undermine the critical engery which throws
you into the air. Cut hard and late too. |
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