If you’re new to wakeboarding and are preparing to get started for the first time, learning to stand up is going to be one of the first things you learn.
Cause if you can’t get up on a wakeboard, then you really can’t do wakeboarding.
You’ll actually want to practice on the dock, or land, preparing your stance and how you’ll stand up once out in the water.
You need to know where to put your feet, what stance you prefer, and how to position your body for getting up.
Below we’ll give you tips on getting up on your wakeboard for the first time.
Regular vs Goofy Stance For Wakeboarding
As a noob to this sport, I’m sure that regular stance and goofy stance mean absolutely nothing to you.
But, you need to know which you prefer.
So, let’s cover the basics of each to help you make that decision.
Since you stand on a wakeboard sideways, like when you’re riding a skateboard, you need to know which foot is your dominant one.
This is foot that will be at the front of the board and determine which direction you face while wakeboarding.
- Regular stance is when your left foot is in the front and your right foot is in the back.
- Goofy stance is when your right foot is in the front and your left foot is in the back.
It’s called “regular” because it’s the stance most commonly used by wakeboarders.
Positioning Your Body For Wakeboarding
It is vital that you know the best way to position your body to get out of the water and up on the wakeboard without falling.
You should be lying in the water on your back with your knees bent and pulled in towards your stomach.
You should be as relaxed as possible and your wakeboard should be floating nearby.
With your palms facing down toward the water, you should hold onto the tow rope with your arms straight and relaxed.
As the boat starts to move, you will feel the natural pull on the tow rope.
When you feel this happen, make a conscious effort to put your weight on your heels. As you do this, your body should naturally start to rise up out of the water at an angle.
Once you’re up, you then have to shift your body so that you are perpendicular (not parallel) to the boat in the water.
The Deep Water Start
Another common way for beginners to get up on the wakeboard is called the Deep Water Start.
For this start, your board should be under the water and you should be balancing on it with slightly bent knees.
Arms should be out in front of you holding on that tow rope, with your palms downward facing at the water.
When the boat starts, the pressure on your heels should move you up out of the water.
You can easily get on the water’s surface by creating a 10-degree angle as you rise out of the water.
The Dock Start
Also popular with beginners, the Dock Start gets you from the dock to the water on your wakeboard.
Experienced wakeboarders enjoy this method when the water is cold.
For this start, you need:
- a private dock
- a private boat with driver
To enter the water this way and stand up on your wakeboard, you’ll need to be sitting on the private dock’s edge facing the boat with your feet in the bindings of your board.
Your knees should be bent and the tow rope should be in your hands, with your palms downward facing at the water.
Lean back just the slightest bit and prepare to be pulled out onto the water.
As the boat starts, be sure to put more weight on the back foot and position the tow rope handle down near the hips.
How To Stay Standing Up On A Wakeboard
Once you’re out in the water, you should want to remain standing instead of falling into the water.
To stay up on the wakeboard, you need to evenly distribute your weight on the board.
However, your dominant foot should have a bit more pressure than the other foot.
Don’t ever look down at your feet. Keep your head up and your eyes focused ahead to remain standing.
Mistakes Beginners Make When Getting Up and Staying Up
Here are some common mistakes beginners make when trying to get up on a wakeboard:
- Don’t bend your arms when you get pulled by the boat.
- Don’t straighten your legs too stiffly as you come out of the water.
- Don’t put too much pressure on your toes when coming up out of the water.
- Don’t stand up too quickly from the water.
There are many elements to consider when you are first learning how to get up on a wakeboard for the first time.
You need to know how to get up out of the water, how to stand, and much more.
We hope these tips for getting up and staying up on the wakeboard help you!