Date: 6/24/01
Author: Miles Armstrong

Related Items:
Ready, Willing and Cable

Miles Armstrong, front and back

Everyone’s been talking about the cable park. You finally got a little vacation time, so you're heading down to give it a whirl. Here is a little advise on how to catch the big air that will make your visit to the cable park that much more enjoyable.

Let's start with some basics that you'll need to cover before you even leave home. If your intent is to learn some of the air tricks (i.e. without the assistance of obstacles), you'll need a good edging board with thin edges. Now we all know there are riders that can strap on a 2x4 and catch some air, but for your average rider that is just not the case. If you're looking to get your big air by simply hitting the kickers and ramps, then the edge doesn’t matter. If you’re fortunate enough to own a board with thin edges and obstacle-friendly fins, then you’re set for both ramps and air tricks.

Remember, in order to hit the obstacles, you must have a helmet. At the Orlando Watersports Complex, they rent for about five dollars a day.

Big Air from Parks Bonifay at OWC

The first thing you're going to notice when you get to the park is that the cable is designed for goofy footed, or right foot forward, riders. So for those of you with the most common stance, left foot forward, you'd better get used to edging switch. You can still do air tricks left foot forward, it's just going to take a little more work.

The best thing you can do to prepare is just sit down, relax and watch the other people riding the cable. Look at when they start to edge and notice where the pulley is located when they launch into the air. You’ll notice the rider is to the right of the cable line and starts to progressively edge out as the cable turns the corner. The pulley will usually get about 8-12 feet past the corner when your edge is maximized. This is the point of takeoff.

Get a good feel for the line tension that builds as you take a couple corners. When you think you're ready to try a roll or a Raley, edge out and to the right. Before you get maximum tension, really squat and pull against the line tension. The board is going to sink into the water a bit and as it comes up, stand tall and fly. All the body positioning required for executing the various tricks behind the boat, such as keeping the handle at your hip, head rotation, etc., are also necessary on the cable.

You'll want to use the two corners closest to the dock to try your air tricks. It is a long walk back to the dock from the other two corners. Once you start sticking your air tricks and your confidence grows, use them all. If you really get good at your edging, you can hit air tricks at any time and won’t need the assistance of the corners.

There are currently three cable parks in the U.S., two in Florida (Orlando Watersports Complex and Ski Rixen) and one in North Carolina (Smith Lake Water Park, 910-495-1111). There is also one due to open up in Texas (Texas Ski Ranch) in the Spring of 2002.

As of this writing, the cheapest one day rate is at the Smith Lake Water Park, which will set you back about $19.50, while Ski Rixen will cost around $25 and OWC is $36.50. All the parks offer hourly rates and rental equipment and they all have full service pro shops for all your wakeboarding equipment cravings.

 Return To WakeWorld Article Archives