Recently I achieved a lifelong goal of mine of stomping a double flip on a wakeboard. It has always been something that had always been on my mind at the beginning of each season up until now. Wakeboarding for me, and I feel like others as well, has always been one big mental challenge of getting yourself to commit to a trick, whether it be a board slide or a double flip. Through hundreds of slams and new approaches to the trick, I was able to finally overcome the mental block that had been holding me back all this time. I can say without a doubt that most of us wakeboarders can relate when I say that pushing yourself to commit to a new trick is the hardest part of the sport, and can be the sole reason that you don’t end up with the trick that you wished for.
The Approach: Back in 2017, I saw videos online of people landing double half cab rolls and double toe-side back rolls everywhere. From that point forward, I knew that I would one day land a double flip on a wakeboard. So, I started the process. The first attempt I ever fully went for I landed straight on my head and kneed myself directly in the face. Not a good start. I also didn’t really have anybody to guide me through the process. I was essentially trying to teach myself how to properly tuck and trying to decide whether it was better to go with a double toe-side or a double half cab roll. I tried for the next four years to go for the double toe-side back roll because I’ve always been more comfortable tucking off a toe-side cut rather than a switch heel cut. That’s where I went wrong. The moment that I switched my approach and went with the double half-cab was the moment that I started legitimately committing to the trick itself. Using the switch heel edge, I was able to get a harder cut and able to pop off the kicker more to properly initiate the tuck. A lesson learned the hard way. Sometimes instead of continually trying to go for the same trick repetitively, it’s better to take a step back and rethink the trick itself. Looking at videos of yourself trying the trick and trying to pinpoint what it is exactly that you’re doing wrong helps get you in the right headspace to make a new approach and come away with the make.
The day I finally landed the trick was the day my journey had finally come to an end. One of the best parts about wakeboarding is the community that we are all a part of. I 100% wouldn’t have been able to come away with the make if it wasn’t for the level of hype on the dock that day. I’m sure we can all relate when I say that there’s no better feeling than when you have a good group of people who are all in love with the same sport supporting you on a certain trick. After my first attempt that day, I was discouraged. I took a hard slam and the confidence I initially had going into the day was diminishing. However, the hype from the people on the dock kept me going. The next attempt I gave it everything and edged as hard as possible and threw my head back, grabbed the board, and came around to the water. I stood up after I landed the trick and couldn’t believe it. I had landed a double half cab roll.
All in all, I can say that I learned more about wakeboarding itself through the process of doing the trick rather than the actual make. I can now say that what matters most is the journey rather than the actual destination itself. That is why I continue to ride a piece of wood on top of the water. It’s something more than just being dragged by a handle; it’s about grabbing another handle and trying again.
