Video:
Tantrum - AVI File (1350k)

Pre-Requisites: You must be able to do poppy wake jumps. The higher you can do your wake jump, the easier the tantrum will be. Also it is a good idea to become familiar with back flips by using a trampoline.

How To: First, you cut out about 20 feet. You want to cut in somewhat hard, but not so hard that you can't control yourself. Once you are about 3 feet from the bottom of the wake, release your back hand from the handle.

When you get to the bottom of the wake, stop cutting. This does NOT mean cut the other way, to try to stop yourself. All you do is flatten off and let the speed you built up take you up the wake.

Once you are at the very top of the wake, lift off. You want to take this trick up, not out. The trick should feel like you are just jumping straight up and landing in the same spot, but, of course, you won't land in the same spot because the speed and momentum you built up from your cut into the wake will carry you over both wakes.

Hold the rope with one hand (your front hand) throughout the whole flip. Since a tantrum is basically a back flip, you should be able to spot your landing really early. Absorb the landing with your knees.

Pro Tips: The easiest way to learn this trick, in my opinion, is to learn back flips on the trampoline. Once you can do a back flip on the trampoline and you can jump the wake nice and poppy, then you are ready to attempt this trick. The tantrum isn't a really technical trick. Most people can accomplish this trick with poor wakeboarding technique.

I see a lot of people go into this trick stiff legged. They do not spring off the top of the wake. They let the wake just kick them over. That style of tantrum not only looks bad, but will make grabbing it indy almost impossible. Learn to push off the top of the wake. Don't just let the wake take you for a ride.

Once in the air, if you feel you don't have enough rotation, tuck up to flip faster. If you feel you are going to over-rotate, then lay your body out more. Over rotating tantrums usually is a good sign that you are letting the wake kick you over and you are not pushing off the top of the wake with your legs.

To grab indy, you have to do a few things. First, be very comfortable with the indy grab. Just do wake jumps and grab indy. Once you are very comfortable with the location of the grab, you are ready to try indy tantrums. Really make sure you jump straight up, and not out, when you take off for the tantrum. If you jump back you are pulling your upper body (and arms) away from the board, not allowing you to grab it. So jump up and your upper body will not be so far away from your board.

Another reason you jump up is due to the fact that when you get the grab, your knees will be bent, which will make you flip faster. So you don't need to flip that much because the tuck of your body will make you flip more than usual. Also make sure to bend your knees. If you haven't grabbed the board and you are at the halfway point of your trick, then you aren't going to grab it. You have to grab early.

Video Rider: Kyle Schmidt
Kyle Schmidt coaches at the Wakeboard Camp in Clermont, Florida. He is landing 900's daily and is sponsored by Liquid Force, UGP, Blur Optics, The Wakeboard Camp and Performance Ski and Surf.

Author: Mike McLin
Mike is sponsored by Neptune, Malibu, Reef, Rainbow, and Performance Ski and Surf.

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