Can't quite get air...

[IDBoating]

Not trying to be nit picky, just trying to understand.

I will study the video, thanks!

EDIT: OK, I've watched them side by side many times now, and I think I see what you're saying. It does appear that he takes a more gentle arc from the trough to the lip. My motion is more sudden, which I think comes from my planning to ollie at the lip and sort of "preloading" in preparation for it. That probably bleeds off speed as you suggest.

However, it sure looks like his angle of approach is too soft to make possible what he's doing. I guess it must be technique, because it looks like magic!

[Fiveflat]

Just saying, if you cut hard back you'll lose too much speed. Don't get too caught up in proper definitions of words I use. I'm an engineer too, but there's no secret decoder ring for my comments

nevermind all the craziness James does after he airs out the board, just notice how he rides up the wave and in a smooth motion rides down the wave for speed and back up it.

[IDBoating]

don't carve back into the wake too hard or you'll lose too much speed. Cut back though and shoot up the wake.

I don't understand. "Cut back through" sounds a lot like "carve back into". I don't mean to be dense, but can you explain differently? Thanks!

[IDBoating]

And stop dragging your back hand unless you are getting ready to do a 360. That's slowing you down too.
(to be fair, you did only do that once in the video though )

Yeah, that was just messing around. I know not to do that when I'm being serious.

[Fiveflat]

And stop dragging your back hand unless you are getting ready to do a 360. That's slowing you down too.
(to be fair, you did only do that once in the video though )

[Fiveflat]

First thing you need to do is get more speed.

Instead of starting at the bottom you need to ride up the wake and get some speed coming down it, don't carve back into the wake too hard or you'll lose too much speed. Cut back though and shoot up the wake.

[IDBoating]

OK, here is a link to the video. I respectfully ask the experts to be kind regarding my awful technique!

Trying To Get Air

The one at 0:31 is pretty typical.

[Timmy!]

Interesting idea. Are you saying you held the rope while practicing ollies in the flat, or while you were launching off the lip? Seems like holding a rope while launching would be harder, not easier. I'm willing to try it, though!

While launching off of the lip. The main reason is so you can control your speed.

[IDBoating]

OK, I'll dig one up and make it available. They're all 1080p so it will be a big file.

EDIT: I've found one that is ~130MB. Working on an upload now, but it will take a while.

[kko]

why not post a video. Its much easier to give help when people can see what your doing/or not doing.

[IDBoating]

Like I said, if you can do an ollie in the flats, you are on your way. You will get it, it really just takes practice. I learned by holding onto the rope and having some tension on it because that takes away the bodies need to balance itself.

Interesting idea. Are you saying you held the rope while practicing ollies in the flat, or while you were launching off the lip? Seems like holding a rope while launching would be harder, not easier. I'm willing to try it, though!

[Timmy!]

Like I said, if you can do an ollie in the flats, you are on your way. You will get it, it really just takes practice. I learned by holding onto the rope and having some tension on it because that takes away the bodies need to balance itself.

[IDBoating]

Have you ever had anyone on the boat that can?

Not yet, you haven't driven down from Sandpoint.

[IDBoating]

just as important is a board that does not scrub speed on your bottom turn to the lip..

That's why we got the Thruster. Our other boards are an Inland Surfer Infectious (skim style with super short fin, loses lots of speed sliding through the turn) and an Inland Surfer Yellow Loogie (surf style with two really large fins, tends to bury the nose with sharp turns).

[duffymahoney]

Have you ever had anyone on the boat that can?