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WATERSKI MagazineAs addictive as any drug, the quest for bigger and bigger air consumes professional and amateur riders everywhere. First there were Skylons for increased lift, then Fat-Sacs came to the rescue to boost wake size, and now wakeboard-specific boats are taking over the market. But no technical innovation has even remotely touched the power of the double-up. Merely doubling back over your boat's original wake has not only propelled riders 20-plus feet into the air, but it has also simultaneously put the sport of wakeboarding on the map. Despite how difficult these incredible maneuvers may look from shore, the double-up is easy to hit and just as easy to drive – with a little practice, of course!
Begin hitting double-ups by starting with a small approach. As your timing improves, you can take a larger approach by starting out wider. As the boat makes its final approach towards the rollers, edge out into the circle created by the boat's path. Pick a trough to get into; beginners should follow the first trough to where the wake and rollers converge. It won't give you the biggest potential air, but it will allow you to practice timing. As with everything else in wakeboarding, timing is key. More advanced riders should follow the second trough for optimum air. Just as you are propelled twice as high, it is twice as important to remember the basics of edging, handle control and body orientation when hitting the double-ups.
Drivers: Add throttle as you initiate your turns. This will keep the boat from sinking and slowing down. It is very important to maintain the correct speed when the rider hits the double-up. Accelerating while the rider is in the air can pull him out of the trick and increase the chances of injury. Deceleration during the double-up will cause the rider to land inside the wake.
Unlike slalom, the wakeboarding boat turn should be a wide, arcing circle. At the end of the turn, approach the oncoming rollers head-on. Different riders will prefer slightly different angles of approach to the double-up, but keep in mind that the boat should never cross at more than a 90-degree angle.
