How fast, How much weight, and how far back do you ride?

[Shooter]

You do look like you are nose high in the photo. Is your "pop" an ollie or just a jump to get more upward movement? Try a few without the "pop". Hold the edge through the wake. Put a bit more weight on your back foot if you feel like you busting through the wake instead of riding up it. The pop is probably your problem. I have had slumps where I developed bad habits (mostly getting lazy with my edge). Go back to the basics for a day to redevelop the correct form.

[Craft]

Agreed. Try learning on a smaller wake and with the rope shortened up a bit. Learning to edge through and kick across a small wake will help you a lot.

Walk before you Raley.

[sperbet]

95 SS, 3000ish, photo is 24-25 mph, 85', rider is 6'1"

[Mikeski]

Gotta agree somewhat with HW here. Empty the tanks, learn how to generate your own lift then fill em back up when the skills have evolved. It will make you a better rider in the long run. Can you ollie?

[seth]

01 210 with about 3500lb ballast and 4 people. 80ft PP says 23 but probably faster. Heelside rider 5'8 and toeside rider (me) 6'3.

[seth]

Heelside rider

[Fwat220]

"Can you ollie" Is that a real question? Can you ollie?

I can ollie just fine. I started with a shorter rope (60'), slower speed (22.5 mph), and the tanks empy and evolved to 70' rope, 24 - 24.5 mph, and 1600 lbs. I just have slipped a little and am not popping as well as I would like to. I didn't get a chance to ride this weekend (no spotter), but we are getting some early morning turns in on Thursday. I will post some photos when I get back.

Seth, that is a beautiful lake!

[seth]

Yeah that is Lake San Antonio in central California. Those pics were taken last weekend. We got a big rain event ~14" in a day and the hills are starting to turn green in October! October is the best month for wakeboarding in Cali, air was 88, water was 64, and only a few boats on the lake!

[Fwat220]

Same here in AZ. October - November and March - April are the best. Water is around 70 and the air is 70s - 80s. Things green up and the lake is dead. Wonderful

[Fwat220]

Got back from the lake and here are some photos. The rope was 60', the speed was 23 mph, the ballasts were full(1600 lbs). Hit the flat a few times. I concentrated on keeping my edge through the wake and building pop. Back to basics. I would have to say it was successful. I may even use this rope length again next week for the first set. I think I got just as high in the air as I did with the longer rope, but of course less distance. Thanks for the advice.

[bchesley]

I can tell how bent your knees are that they are absorbing some of your pop or you are letting off of your cut just a little. You need to work on standing tall all the way through the wake. Secondly you need to hold the rope closer to your leading hip because you look pulled off balance some in the first picture. Work on those two items and your consistancy will get better.

[jward]

Yep, stand tall. On a regular w2w there is no need to bring your knees up. That just shows that your are absoring that pop. Also. work on keeping those shoulders back. Doesn't matter how close you keep that handle in if you are just going to lean in with the shoulders.

[Fwat220]

I am absorbing some pop with my knees. I think I absorbed less during this last trip when I was trying to keep my edge. I have long legs. I am like 3/4 legs. I can and have gone wake to wake without bringing up my knees and it looks pretty funny. I did get pulled forward a few times yesterday. Unfortunately I had three or four at the end of the day that felt really good that we did not get photos of. Loftier (if that is a word). I was coming down in the flat or down the face of the other wake rather than hitting the top of the other wake. Super soft landings. I cased a few toe-side yesterday as well. With the longer rope I get about 3/4 of the way across. That was cool until I landed. Again, thanks for the advice. Next trip out I will keep the rope in and hold my edge better.

[Hollywood]

The bigger the wake, the longer it's going to take to learn how to wakeboard (well). Your ego is getting in the way of your progression.

[Boardboy]

For what it's worth. I am an intermediate rider that's been riding for years and a few month's ago I came upon a website called learnwake.com that is moderated by Kyle Schmidt and Mike Mclin that is loaded with
tons of wakeboard information,video clips,instruction and full access to "the Book"dvd series online that can dramatically improve your riding. You can even upload videos of your riding and have them critiqued by Kyle to help you improve. In particular, there is a wealth of information on edging, pop and wake jumping as well as intermediate and advanced tricks and virtually anything "wakeboard" you can imagine. All for a subscription fee for only $10 dollars a month.
Practice of course is great but educated practice with direction will help you improve quickly. I have checked out a lot of the other instructional videos and no one breaks it down like Kyle for quick success.
I have no affiliation whatsoever with Kyle or the site. I am posting this purely because the information has improved my riding dramatically and I think any non-pro rider can benefit greatly from the information available there.