Wakesurf trick backside top turn

UPDATE! We just heard from James Walker and there was NO wifi or cell service out by the lake which is why we had nothing to report from the Koocanusa Wakesurf Challenge, but James Walker WON the men’s pro surf division at the Koocanusa Wakesurf Challenge.  Congratulations to James Walker on his Flyboy Wakesurf Board and big thanks to all of his sponsors, including Inland Surfer, Ski Supreme Boats, Towanza.com, Exile Audio, Wake Shredder Clothing, Liquid Trends Audio and Hydro Turf Traction!  We’ll post podium pics when we get them   However, we did swipe this picture of James enroute back to Spokane, he says somewhere in Idaho!

If you’re like most folks you don’t ride backside all that much, but it’s great fun, we’ll talk about a wakesurf trick where you link a bottom turn to a top turn riding backside. One of the fundamental differences between wakesurfing and surfing in the ocean is that we can create left and right breaks. We can also change the way the wake is shaped, from long and not very tall to short, steep and all walled up. It will improve your riding if you set out to challenge yourself with the various configurations your boat is capable of. We enjoy our Supreme V226 for just that very reason, we are able to switch sides as well as develop long and mellow, and steep and macking with the appropriate amount of ballast. One of the things that you’ll hear is a boat doesn’t shape very well on the offside. That probably isn’t true it’s just that some boats require more weight on the starboard side than port side. Once you have your particular boat figured out, this “cross-training” regime will give you skills to adjust to various conditions, as they happen. Also, it will allow you to switch between boats more easily. One thing is certain no two boats on the market seem to throw the same wake, heck even between the same model most seem to be different and we all know our friends shape a wake different than ours!

We like to include riding backside switch in just about every session and that is something that helps James’ when he lands a wakesurf trick like backside big spins. When you weight the opposite side, rather than sit that out, take a turn and work on a backside wakesurf trick or two. You may not be able to boost air or land 360′s but a solid bottom turn to top turn sequence and maybe a lip slide at the top are certainly within your reach.

Here’s a little bottom turn to top turn sequence, once you master these, you can push yourself harder by trying to get the nose vertical going up the wake.  The rider is push down with his rear leg and starting to pull the front leg up as the wakesurf board climbs the wake.

Nice speed going into this turn, allowing the angle from horizontal. Also, check the riders eyes, pointed where he wants to go.  As the rider reaches the top he balances his weight more in preparation for the turn back down the face.

We do love the speed generated by the Flyboy Wakesurf boards, this red board is the prototype for all production models.  The rider has completed the top turn and the nose of the board is headed back down the face.  You can see the Flyboy is carrying speed well through the turn.  No pumping required and the the Flyboy Wakesurf board does just exactly what it’s told.

If you’re having pearling issues, you probably need a slower less responsive board. There are certainly plenty of those out there and lots of folks that can recommend “slower and less responsive”. Sometimes those folks call it “foregiving”.  The Flyboy’s do what they are told and IMMEDIATELY, but some folks prefer a wakesurf board that is significantly slower to respond.

So go out there and push yourself, work on things you just never practice, like this backside bottom to top turn sequence and see how your riding improves through the season.  We are advocates for trying new things, pushing yourself and developing yourself more and the Flyboy Wakesurf boards will be there when you’re ready to step up your game.

Thanks so much for following along and we should be hearing back as to what happened at the Koocanusa Wakesurf Challenge this week, at least.  We updated that!  Congratulations again to James Walker and his big win up in British Columbia at teh Koocanusa Wakesurf Challenge, stop #6 in the Centurion Wake Surf series.  Since we don’t have a pro for a third today, we decided to ride with TWO pros, instead!  Mitch Lemos of the Victoria skim board team and Chris Wolters riding his very own signature model from Mendonesia Surf.  We should have great pictures and video from those two pros!

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