blog #11

Even though it is hard to imagine at this point, eventually the snow will melt and summer will come back to Minnesota. As I think of summer , I start to anticipate heading to the lake and getting some serious time in wakeboarding. This summer will be my fifth year at wakeboarding and I try to do some serious reading on the sport during the long winter months. The pros are great sources of many tips and ways to improve your skills and the intensity of your tricks. I've learned that not only is there a correct way to do jumps and tricks there is also a correct way to fall. For instance, a busted knee can definitely be prevented if you learn to fall the right way. Your instinct is to extend your legs to connect your board to the water, which is OK, but as soon as the board hits, you need to relax your legs instead of still trying to stick the move. Your front knee bends nicely up to your chest, your speed is greatly reduced and sometimes you can even slide out onto your back as smooth as silk. No matter how good you are, everybody still falls.
-wakeboarder