WaterSki Magazine

WATERSKI Magazine
2001-06-14 15:00:00 | 442 views | 0 Comments

As you probably know by now, it's more difficult to get good air on a toe-side jump than a jump on the heel-side. That's because a heel-side cut is natural. You're facing the boat, and it feels normal to lean back against the pull of the rope. A toe-side cut is awkward. If your body is twisted and leaning against the rope, it may cause you to stick your butt out rather than get a good solid pull. But it doesn't have to be that way. Pros can get an equal amount of air on their toe-side as their heel-side. Plus, there are some good, impressive tricks that are actually easier on toe-side than heel-side. All it takes is a little bit of work to learn a good, solid toe-side cut.

The key to a good toe-side jump is establishing a body position on the cut that will allow you to hold an edge through the wake. Just like on a heel-side jump to generate lift off the wake, you have to generate maximum tension on the line. For that reason your cut should be progressive, with the hardest edge at the top of the wake. Make sure not to flatten out as you reach the wake, or you'll be thrown way off axis. To accomplish a progressive cut, pull wide, then hesitate before initiating your turn back toward the wake.

Let the boat drift you in momentarily before you begin your edge. Don't cut at the wake. Think of yourself as the weight at the bottom of a pendulum, and allow yourself to naturally and slowly swing back toward the center.

The second key to getting air is generating speed. Note that we first mentioned holding the edge through the top of the wake before mentioning speed. That may seem backward to you, because in reality you'll generate speed first, then hold your edge through the wake. If you concentrate on generating speed more than you concentrate on holding your edge through the wake, your cut probably won't be progressive, and you'll have no tension on the line at the top of the wake.

All you have to do to generate speed on your toe-side is get your body into position: Stand upright, put some weight over the top of your toes and lower your rear shoulder a bit beneath your lead shoulder. It also helps if you give a little tug on the rope with your back hand as you leave the top of the wake. Stay strong in this position, and you will naturally load the line, resulting in a nice, clean toe-side pop.