After learning the fundamentals of wakeboarding, make sure you learn some basic wakeboarding tricks. If you are skilled enough, you can also learn some advanced tricks. Unlike other water sports like kitesurfing and surfing, wakeboarding has a steep learning curve, and there is a lot to be learned. Hence, it is necessary to be equipped with the proper skills and equipment from companies like Water Skiers Connection in order to succeed. Here are ten tricks you can do on a wakeboard.
1. Crossing the Wake
As you ride along, be sure to turn your chest and shoulders so that they are more open toward the boat, and look where you are headed. Begin to move the handle to the inside of your front hip from the outside as you move your weight onto the heels. Allow the board to glide over the water surface as much as you can and make sure to bend your knees. Don’t attempt steering with the rope and move from your lower torso. Keep the rope near the hip and arms straight. You will then start crossing the wake. When you are ready to change sides, press on to the toes and push the knees toward the water surface. Then turn the hips and shoulders to face the new direction.
2. Surface 180
Surface spins are great wakeboarding tricks. You remain on the water surface, and hence it is ideal to become more comfortable on the board prior to doing the spin. Keep the elbows locked in and bend the knees before turning the board with the hip. This can be done by placing weight on the heels. Remember not to look down. Finally, the board will turn to face the other direction to let you ride in switch. There are two kinds of this trick; backside and frontside. When doing the frontside, you will have to turn your chest toward the boat as you do the spin. Backside involves moving the chest away from the boat.
3. Surface 360
The surface 360 involves stringing together your back 1s and front 1s. In the case of a frontside 180, slide the back foot around to get it to the front. Then perform a backside 180 and start leaning backward from the rope’s pull in order to lean away from the boat. This will assist you in avoiding the back edge as you rotate. Then take your outside hand to the back and grab the handle. Now start taking your back foot to the front.
4. Ollie
Ollie is a perfect wakeboarding trick for beginners as it is a foundation for more complicated tricks. You can always jump over a buoy to do it. Be sure to bend the knees as you get closer to the buoy and move your weight to the back leg. Then lift the front leg as you pop with the back leg simultaneously. Some individuals like letting go with the rear hand since it assists in keeping the body in a sideways position. Make sure you bend your knees to absorb the landing.
5. Jump the Wake
To perform this trick, begin by cutting pulling in the opposite direction of the wake as far as you can. The moment you feel that the boat is beginning to pull you back, return to the direction of the wake. Bend the knees and pull the rope towards the front hip to go towards the wake. This will ensure the line is tight and the arms are ready for landing. Stand tall as you leave the wake. This will offer the pop you require to obtain some air. Then bend the knees as you land. Don’t stop and edge outside the other wake.
6. Tail Grab
To do the tail grab, be sure to keep the hips and handle forward. Then do the wake jump or Ollie. Don’t bring the board to you until you are in the atmosphere. Remember not to bend the waist, but bend the knees and pull them towards the chest. Be sure to release prior to landing. If you grab the board before getting air, it will change the position of the buoy, and you might crash.
7. Front Flip
This is a cartwheel style and end over flip. It is an advanced trick, which is a classic invert since you can grab in various ways to both add style to the trick and make it your own. Before doing this trick, it is important that you can make big wake jumps heelside, perform cartwheels on a trampoline or the ground and be okay to go upside down while you move.
8. The Elephant
The elephant is a wakeboarding trick that features a scarecrow as well as a rewind 180 done forwards from backward. The trick resembles the scarecrow only that there is pulling of the board prior to the landing as opposed to a landing switch. To do this trick properly, you need to rotate and appear like you are performing a scarecrow as opposed to a toeside front roll. Prior to doing this trick, it is essential that you can perform toesides that need hard edging, big scarecrows, and large wake jumps toeside.
9. The Cow Mobe
This trick involves a toeside front roll as well as a frontside 360. It is an easy move trick that can be done on a wakeboard, and if done properly, the watchers will be impressed. The trick can be performed without the need for gaining plenty of air. You can even opt to perform it without a mid-air handle-pass if you are a beginner. Before attempting this trick, it is ideal that you are great at rotating scarecrows quickly and can easily perform toeside 360s while passing the handle and also without passing it.
10. The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow features a front roll as well a frontside 180. It can be performed either big or small. The most difficult part of the trick is the pop and approach of the wake. You need to have the ability to edge hard, master the toeside 180, and continuously toeside prior to doing the trick.
In the end, here’s a test for you. Let’s see if you recognize the moves and tricks. Focus on these, not on the girls! 😉
