I'm a newbee, so it's hard for me to answer. I do know that I've felt the same thing. for me, I think it's I'm just out of shape and my body getting used to things and need to build more endurance. how long have you been riding?
Just remember to put your knees on the inside of your elbows with arms slightly bent. Keep the board out in front of you and let the boat pull you up. This is how i teach anyone to get up and it has never let me down. Just taught a 60 something year old this past weekend using this technique and he got up his first time and every other time after that.
Well make sure that your handle is in a relaxed good position arms around the outside of your knees works best for my begginers....but whatever is relaxed for you......heels to you butt, rope over the center of your board.....and do not try to get up to soon or you will dig the board deep into the water and have to fight it to get up and it will tire you out.......be patient and let the board plain out on the water for women this is much easier.....do not fight it relax and it will work...alot of it has to do sadly as well with the boat driver and the boat....having a tower helps alot for everything....as well as having a good boat driver who can watch you in the mirror and slowly pull you up but not to slow....you add speed as you see the board start to plain on the water.....once you are up you need to put a little extra weight on the back foot that is your right foot if you are regular and left if you ride goofy.....make sure that your lead hip is pushed out like you are aiming your belly button at the ski.....knee's bent slightly and stand tall with the rope low in a relaxed positions closer to your body and not above the chest........once you want to turn you just look right to go right and look left to go left....you can also push pressure on toe edge or heal edge to help a bit too......I hope this all helps out a bit...... Have a great one... Tobin ......this all will help your form and you will be less tired and sore...
amber-i get that burn in my forearm so fast!! i think i was gripping the handle too tight..i also started rolling up a towel when i was sitting watching tv to start to work those muscles..it's really helped a little so i can ride longer before my arms start burning and shaking!!
do everything "cbass" said, and the rope question, just put the rope right between ur knees, the biggest thing is to let the boat pull you up and not to try and stand up too fast, once u let the boat do most the work, it gets way easier