How to get a soft landing???

[BSBell]

I have been boarding for about a year and am able to do little tricks and jump wake to wake. I started going for bigger air but when I start doing it, I can only take about 3-4 landings before my knees are toast for the weekend. I'm only 20 years old and pretty athletic.

What am I doing wrong? I dont land stiff legged... Is this just normal?




P.S. I ride a Hyperlite Murray with some nice hyperlite closed toe bindings (can't remember the name...)

[210GA]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

Soft knees my friend. When you land feel like you can sqaut and touch your hiney on the board. Super soft knees!!!!

[BSBell]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

I'll have to give that a try. I saw this video right after I posted and noticed Aaron Rathy over exagerates the "soft knees" on landings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2oy7b4SFgE

[Hollywood]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

Try changing the angle of your bindings on the board. I'd start by angling them inwards one notch.

[DWhitt]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

I've heard the opposite, angle your toes out. I'm no expert though.

[Hollywood]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

Just a thought, I'm not a wakeboarder. I suppose too far out would be better than too far in?

[gride300]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

well, what length rope on your riding? the longer the rope the better the chance you'll land on the tranny saving your knees, but it's harder to perfect technique. if you really really want to save your knees get a slingshot or company board(flex) saves knees

[BSBell]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

What is a slingshot?

[gride300]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

slingshot is a newer company of about 3 years. they have been in the kiteboard bus for years. imagine a wakeboard flexing like a snowboard, but it holds up just like my ronix. check out www.slingshotsports.com the binding system is much better too. companywake.com is mostly rider owned and also features flex and the 4hole boot design. these boards are the future. thats why byerly, liquid force, etc are starting to use it.

[jhiestand]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

How wide is your stance set on your board? I set mine out as far as they'd go to be "cool" since that's what all the pros seem to run and it seemed like the skank thing to do. However, a handful of jumps into the flats and my knees got crushed. Bringing my bindings back in a notch made all the difference. Even in my "older" age I can still run a number of jumps into the flats and not be too bad off the next day.

The "soft knees" is definitely good advice. I guess some of the newer boards that have a spine down the center may also be helpful, too. My old-skool LF Balance lands like a ton of bricks. Some say the Slingshots may be better, as well.

Good luck man!

[gride300]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

i have always ridden all the way out with my stance and i use a pretty good amount of duck. i would jump straight up in the air a few times and look at the angle of your feet when you land and set your bindings somewhere around there, that feels comfortable for the most knee friendly position. a board with a spin is definitely helpful on landings as jhiest said. if you're landing out in the flats i would either go to a longer rope or cut harder and land with more forward momentum

[BSBell]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

I like to land out in the flats better than landing on the downside of the wake. About half the time I catch an edge and face plant which is worse than hurting my knees

I'll have to demo one of those boards though...

[gride300]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

what kind of boat , weight, speed, rope length are you using

[BSBell]

RE: How to get a soft landing???

It was a SV211 with full ballast tanks, about 19.5mph and rope length was shortest setting

Will be upgrading to a Super Air 230 this year

[ryanandrews]

its not the board or the boat..its practice..bend your knees and 'flow" with the landing..you can bend at the waist also when landing it helps..hve the exact same board in the basement. pick up your speed a little 19.5 is slow..try around 23-24 about 70-75 ft of line..