Are you tired of the same old wakeboarding routine? Do you want to push yourself to the next level and learn new tricks? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to take your wakeboarding skills to the next level and master new tricks.
Before we dive into the specific tricks, let’s first discuss the importance of proper technique. Having the correct form and technique will not only make executing tricks easier but also make them look more stylish and impressive.
Proper Form and Technique
To start, you should always have a strong and stable base. Keep your knees slightly bent and your back straight while holding the handle with both hands, arms straight in front of you. Your shoulders should be aligned with your hips and your weight evenly distributed between your feet.
When carving, you should lean back towards the boat with your weight on your back foot and use your front foot to steer. Keep your arms straight and let the handle pull you towards the boat. This will give you more speed and allow for smoother transitions.
Ollie
The ollie is a fundamental trick in wakeboarding and can be used as a building block for more advanced tricks. To perform an ollie, start by carving towards the wake and crouching down. As you approach the wake, push down on your back foot and jump off the wake. While in the air, pull your knees towards your chest and level out your board. Land with both feet at the same time, knees bent, and continue riding.
180
Once you have mastered the ollie, you can move onto the 180. Start by carving towards the wake and performing an ollie off the wake. While in the air, twist your body 180 degrees and land with your board pointing in the opposite direction. It’s essential to use your shoulders and upper body to initiate the rotation and keep your eyes on the landing spot.
Back Roll
The back roll is a classic wakeboarding trick that will impress any audience. To start, carve towards the wake and make a progressive cut towards the wake’s top. As you reach the wake, stand tall and throw your head back. This will initiate the flip. Tuck your knees towards your chest and keep your eyes on the landing spot. As you come around, extend your legs to land smoothly.
Front Flip
The front flip is an advanced trick that requires a lot of speed and skill. To execute a front flip, carve towards the wake and make a hard cut towards the top of the wake. As you reach the wake, tuck your knees towards your chest and throw your head forward to initiate the flip. Keep your eyes on the landing spot and extend your legs to land smoothly.
Toeside Back Roll
The toeside back roll is a challenging trick that requires excellent balance and coordination. Start by carving towards the wake on your toe edge. As you reach the wake, stand tall and throw your head back. This will initiate the flip. Tuck your knees towards your chest and keep your eyes on the landing spot. As you come around, extend your legs to land smoothly.
Switch Tricks
Switch tricks are when you perform a trick in the opposite stance of your regular stance. It’s essential to practice both regular and switch stances to become a well-rounded wakeboarder. Start by practicing riding switch and then move onto switch tricks such as the switch 180 or switch back roll.