| Newcomers to wakeboarding are generally a bit | | | | initiate – your muscle layout works a little better |
| bemused by the number of different spin tricks! | | | | for getting the required pop. |
| Every tiny variation in degree, facing side and | | | | Techniques for spin tricks |
| handle-pass technique warrants a different name … | | | | Spins can be either on-axis or off-axis; again, once |
| and while they all look the same, the number of | | | | you have either seen them in action (or better yet, |
| different names is incredibly hard to keep track of! | | | | tried them yourself!), the difference is fairly easy to |
| Today we give you some wakeboarding tips (both | | | | understand. An on-axis spin is one where the board |
| boarding and viewing), for telling the difference | | | | remains parallel to the water throughout the spin. |
| between different tricks. | | | | Off-axis spins are those in which the board moves |
| Degrees of spin | | | | away from a level angle, before returning to land. |
| The degree of spin is often involved in naming a | | | | Wakeboarding advice sometimes pegs one or the |
| trick, and is relatively easy to figure out – | | | | other of these techniques as easier – in reality, it |
| especially when you get a few more wakeboarding | | | | is down to personal preference. You will sometimes |
| viewing hours under your belt. For ready reference: | | | | see off-axis spins noted with the acronym ‘OA' |
| * A half-circle spin is a 180 | | | | … frustratingly the same acronym that would be |
| * A full circle spin is a 36 | | | | used for ‘On Axis'! On axis wakeboarding spins |
| * A one-and-a-half circle spin is a 540 | | | | simply don't get the ‘OA' in their name. |
| * A double full circle spin is a 720 | | | | Ways of passing the handle |
| * A two-and-a-half circle spin is a 900 | | | | Any degree of spin over 180 in wakeboarding will |
| Backside v frontside, toeside v heelside | | | | require passing the handle, at some stage! Usually |
| For those used to watch rollerblading or | | | | riders prefer to pass it behind their backs, but there |
| skateboarding, you'll be used to the contrast | | | | are several other techniques: |
| between frontside and backside tricks in | | | | * Baller: When the rider passes the handle between |
| wakeboarding. A frontside trick is one in which the | | | | their legs instead of behind their back |
| rider's chest is leading the spin and faces the boat | | | | * Flatline spins: In these wakeboarding tricks, the rider |
| first, a backside trick is one where the rider's back | | | | goes over the rope rather than passing the handle. |
| faces the boat first. | | | | * Osmosis: This advanced handle pass ‘throws' |
| However, the terms ‘toeside' and ‘heelside' | | | | the handle from one hand back to itself, bypassing |
| are more often used in defining different | | | | the other hand completely |
| wakeboarding tricks. A toeside trick is initiated if the | | | | * Wrapped: If the rope is wrapped around the rider's |
| rider's toes are facing the wakeboard at the | | | | back before they start their trick, it is called a |
| beginning of the trick; in a heelside trick their heels | | | | wrapped trick. If they land with the rope wrapped |
| are facing the wake. Heelside tricks are easier to | | | | around their back, it is called ‘landing blind'. |