Q about binding placement

[AirTool]

Can you guys throw out some suggestions about binding location on wakeboards? (from experience, of course)

I've seen some "instructions" but would like to hear suggestions from the experts. I'm setting up a couple of boat boards and trying to tune the kids bindings.

In addition to suggestions an stance/distance and toe-out angles....how many of you guys have your back foot set differently than your front foot?

Also, if the rider can't figure out what they like best....is it better to toe out a little more or toe in closer to parallel?

[Bevan]

[QUOTE=AirTool;166171]Can you guys throw out some suggestions about binding location on wakeboards? (from experience, of course)

I've seen some "instructions" but would like to hear suggestions from the experts. I'm setting up a couple of boat boards and trying to tune the kids bindings.

In addition to suggestions an stance/distance and toe-out angles....how many of you guys have your back foot set differently than your front foot?

Also, if the rider can't figure out what they like best....is it better to toe out a little more or toe in closer to parallel?[/Q

Courtesy of Learnwake.com

The numbers on your bindings are your stance angles and your stance usually sits turned outward on each foot at about 10 degrees ducked. You stance should be symmetrical so that when you ride regular and switch stance you are in a mirrored riding position.
Your stance width should be wider than shoulder width for stability. You should go as wide as you body allows. If it hurts your knees, hips and back to squat while in your bindings then your stance maybe too wide. A good test for width and angle is to set up your board then put it on in the grass or carpet. Now squat down a bit by bending your knees and then try to touch your knees together. If it is very easy then you maybe able to turn your angles out a bit more or widen your stance. If it very hard to touch your knees then your angles are turned out too much and you need to decrease your stance angle until it is easy to touch your knees together when your legs are bent a bit.
A lot of riders think you should be more ducked when you ride wider, but its the exact opposite. the wider you ride on your board the more straight your feet should be so your knees will roll inward when your legs are bent. If you ride really wide, with a a lot of turned out angle on both feet and so you can't touch your knees together you might put a lot of stress on the insides of your knees when you fall and this is how riders get injured.

[wake_fun]

Keep the feet symmetrical on the board. Have your kid stand in front of you and jump high into the air. Do this a few times and see how they land with their feet. This will show you their natural angle to set the bindings up on the board.

[HS]

Airtool:

My older boy is 11 and he rides a 119 cm Hyperlite Motive with Remix bindings. He weighs about 95 lbs. and is just over 5' tall. He has been riding a little over 2 seasons now and his PP setting is 18. We swapped out the stock Poly wings for 0.8" P Wings to give you an idea of his progress. The stance is symetrical with each foot open 18 degrees; and we have his bindings set up for width at 10" between the bolts at the insides of the bindings. The width setting on the holes outside of the bindings is the third one of four in from the outside.

When we started, (on a 109 Motive) we had him set up less open on his back foot (open only about 6 degrees rear foot), and gradually opened the rear. It was early this season we matched the rear to the front foot.

His younger brother is 9 and has the 109 cm Motive. He started riding behind the boat late last year so he's still in his first year. He stands 4'-6"" and weighs about 70 lbs. and his PP setting is 17. As he has grown we have widened his stance to the widest setting, which is the fourth bolt hole four from the inside grouping. The binding stance setting are a number - letter combo, and his stance is on the 3-C setting.