Wakeboarding
Mastering the technique: How to surface 180 on a wakeboard
Learning how to surface 180 is key to diving headfirst into wakeboarding. It can take some time, of course, to get the rotation right.
If you love an adventure on the water, the world of wakeboarding could be calling your name. Learning wakeboarding tricks can give you a special sense of accomplishment as you spin, jump, and enjoy a nice big adrenaline boost.
Szebasztian Szolath at Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Budapest
© Balazs Gardi / Red Bull Content Pool
One of the best wakeboarding tricks for beginners to learn is the surface 180. If you’re new to this water sport trick, with a bit of practice, you’ll be completing surface 180s with confidence in no time. Read ahead for a detailed guide on how to surface 180 on a wakeboard. And, check out the pros pulling this trick off at Red Bull Double or Nothing in Orlando.
Understanding the surface 180
The surface 180 is a simple but thrilling beginner wakeboarding trick. As you glide over the surface of the water, powered by your boat’s velocity, you’ll spin in a 180-degree rotation, changing the board’s direction.
This trick is a great way to test your balance and board control as you strengthen your wakeboarding skills. It’s also an important building block for wakeboarding progression. The pros often recommend mastering it before you learn more complex moves, such as ollies and jumps, to your bag of tricks.
Dominik Fabian
© Esben Zøllner Olesen / Red Bull Content Pool
What to know before attempting a surface 180
There are a few wakeboarding fundamentals you should know before doing your first surface 180. To start, you’ll want high-quality wakeboard equipment, including a well-fitted board and life jacket. In terms of actual wakeboard riding techniques, you should feel comfortable with your wakeboard stance. Getting up on your board is the first step to any wakeboarding move. Feeling stable once you’re upright is a good sign that you’re getting the hang of balancing on the water.
The next step in your trick progression should be mastering wakeboard turns. There are two main types of wakeboard turns, including edging, in which you angle your board to move and turn through the water. And then there’s wakeboard carving, where you edge to fully change direction.
When turning a wakeboard, you’ll apply pressure to the board, either heelside or toeside. This is an important skill for another foundational wakeboarding trick: crossing the wake. Knowing how to coast over the waves that your boat creates will make the surface 180 much easier to master.
Bilal Wahib and Defano Holwijn at his Wakey Wakey wakeboard workshop
© Tom Doms / Red Bull Content Pool
You’ll also need to know how to ride switch, with your feet opposite from your normal stance. Just like in skateboarding, this is also sometimes referred to as goofy stance. Changing up your stance is also a great way to improve your coordination, which is a core skill for any wakeboard maneuvers that involve spinning.
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Step-by-step guide: How to surface 180 on a wakeboard
Stance and approach
To start, you’ll need to get upright. When you’re in the water, waiting for the boat to pull you up, it’s important to work with, not against, the boat’s momentum. So, as your boat starts moving, while you’re in the water, hold the rope with your knees bent and your wakeboard secured to your feet. Then, shift your weight onto the balls of your feet and gently roll forward into a standing position. If you want to ease into this trick, you can ask your boat driver to slow down to about 15 miles an hour.
From there, you’ll stand up on your board in your preferred stance, ideally centered between your boat’s two wakes created. You can start out riding switch — you might find this easier. If you usually ride with your right foot forward, your left foot will be in front, and vice versa, when you ride switch. If you’d rather start in your normal stance, you’ll end the surface 180 riding switch. You’ll also want to keep a slight bend in your knees, with your elbows locked at your side, and the rope handle near your hips.
Bilal Wahib at his Wakey Wakey wakeboard workshop at Zeewolde
© Tom Doms / Red Bull Content Pool
Initiating the trick
With your knees bent, you’ll put your weight on your heels, and turn your hips in an open position toward your boat to begin rotating. Your wakeboard should be perpendicular to the boat and the handle should be in front of your rear hip. Move the handle into position at a slow pace so you don’t tug too hard on the rope. Keep your gaze in the direction you want to go for proper wakeboard balance. Looking down at your board is one of the fastest ways to fall.
Carving and rotation
With your weight on your heels, you’ll apply pressure on your back foot to initiate your turn on the water’s surface. Try to point your toes slightly up to avoid getting caught on the water at the toeside edge of your wakeboard. Slowly edge your way into the carving motion, leaning back on your heels and rotating your hips, until your board spins a full 180 degrees.
As a wakeboard beginner, “slow and steady” should be your mantra. With more experience, these motions may begin to feel more natural to you, and then, you can go a bit faster. But first, it’s essential to feel established in your wakeboard rotation technique before you speed up your turns.
Spotting the landing
As you rotate the full 180 degrees, your chest should be aligned parallel to the back of your wakeboard. Your vision should remain facing ahead, in the direction you want to land, so you can maintain stability. Your knees should also stay bent for the best wakeboard control and to absorb the impact of your turn.
Riding away clean
Once you complete the turn, your feet will be in the opposite position from where you started. The ideal end stance is a straight back with bent knees. Try to stay relaxed as you complete the full rotation so you can maintain wakeboard balance and momentum.
From there, you can start from the beginning and try rotating as many times as it takes to feel comfortable. After all, the best wakeboard riding tip of all is to practice until you get it right.
Spin your way to your next wakeboard trick
Learning how to surface 180 is key to diving headfirst into wakeboarding. It can take some time, of course, to get the rotation right. But once you do, you’ll be having so much fun you won’t want to get out of the water. And you’ll be ready to move on to more complicated moves — all the way until you’re calling yourself a wakeboarding pro.