Confidence??
 

Hello! So I'm sort of new to wakeboarding, I have only gone a handful of times. I am pretty comfortable getting out of the water but other than that I have no confidence. I really want to learn how to do more but I always get scared. Is there any way to build up confidence or is it something that just comes with time? I didn't have much confidence to begin with but the last time I went wakeboarding about a month ago I managed to get a concussion because of the way I fell so that didn't help anything. Please don't judge, I'm new to all of this and I don't know anyone else who wakeboards that could help me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! :)

some of it definitely comes with time. what helped me the most is getting a trampoline to and doing the tricks there first, that way i know how its going to feel in the air.

what also helps is learning at the right line length and speed, every boat is different. you can learn a lot of tricks going slow with a short line. if there is anything you are working on just post it up that way we can help guide in the right way of learning it. also knowing the boat type helps to.

It definitely takes some time and practice, especially if you're new to watersports in general.
Take it slow and only do what you feel you are up to. Concentrate on good consistent edging. Practice riding switch and cuffed. Learn good technique for jumping the wake and getting consistent pop. Learn all the basics and get them down, then worry about things like tricks and stuff. A good foundation is essential to progress.

Thank you both for the advice! It really does help

cool and welcome! I remember the first couple of times up, It was so sketchy. Just practice your both your edges on both sides of the wake. Cut into it like your going to charge it, then back off and edge back outside. do it on both sides the do it switch. your confidence will grow quickly the more you do it.

Have fun!

Slow down the boat. For newbies the driving is practically more important than the rider.

Seriously, go just fast enough to keep the board up on water smoothly. Depending on weight/board/etc minimum speed will vary, but at 100lbs you can probably go as slow as 12mph and for 200 lbs, 15/16.

Face planting at 12-15 mph isn't too bad, face planting at something like 21+ = concussion.

As you get more comfortable then slowly speed up (ie. 1mph at a time over the course of the summer).

Note: this speed thing drives me crazy, I bet 90% of newbies out there I see (say 1-3 per weekend) are being pulled waaaay too fast. Then guess what, you don't ever see them again.

STAAAAHAP this is how i keep the lake to myself :rolleyes:

I know for me when I was younger I didn't care about consequences and would try almost anything....now if I get hurt wakeboarding then I can't work, then I can't provide for my family lol so I no longer have confidence haha so I just chill on the boat and ride nice and relaxed but still have fun

All of this is super helpful! unfortunately i don't get to go to the lake much but I learn as much as I can in-between trips to the lake. This has all been really helpful though. When i went this past weekend I did so much better and I'm a lot more comfortable. looking forward to going again!!

slow and steady. build a good base, meaning work on riding heel and toe edges, from one side of the boat to the other first, then start trying to jump, again practice both heel and toe. on new tricks start small, go back to 17-18 mph and practice going from inside the wake to outside and land the trick 3x before going wake to wake with it. I am just regurgitating everything from the detention dvd.

I've broke a few bones wake boarding and snowboarding and the nerves rattle when trying new tricks, but I just go back to baby steps to bring the confidence back, or I do a shot of tequila and pray mid-air to the lake god's not to snap me like a twig.

BUT, wake boarding should be fun, don't kill the mood by forcing yourself to learn something every single set. doing the basics you are good at will help also just be building muscle memory/strength. however, those sets I tell myself 'I won't try anything new this time and just have fun' end up being the set I land a new trick on.