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It’s about time you got out there and learned that 360 you’ve been dreaming about for ages. Luckily for you, we’ve done your homework for you. Check out our 360 instruction from the April issue! Enjoy!

How-To: Learn Your First 360 | Words: Brandon Judd | Photos: Bill Doster

Heelside Frontside 360

This is it. Now is the time. You are going to land your first 360 this year. We all know how much you aspire to add this to your bag of tricks, and we’re committed to helping you get there. But before you go hucking this thing wake to wake at first go, let’s talk a bit about learning in general — specifically, about teaching yourself new tricks.

Getting good takes practice. You often might hear people say, “There’s no substitute for time on the water.” While I’m not saying that this statement is untrue, I will say that it is incomplete. The only real substitute for time on the water is more-effective time on the water. Practice doesn’t make perfect; practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect.

So how can you make your time on the water more effective? The key is to pay attention to your comfort zones. Ask yourself, what are you the most comfortable with? And the least? Switch riding, for example, might be horrendously awkward for you. If that’s the case, practice riding switch a little bit every time you ride. You’ll soon discover that, over time, you will chip away at this discomfort and, eventually, it will become so comfortable that you might even forget you’re riding switch.

For your 360, for example, let’s think about all the individual parts of this trick and ask yourself, at what point does your comfort fade into discomfort? Is it the heelside frontside 180? If so, which part specifically? Could it be the switch toeside landing? You get the idea. Be sure to target your weaker points in the trick, and make sure you can do them individually at slower speeds or even sliding on the surface. Coming into this prepared will make the 360 learning curve significantly shorter.

It’s All in the Hips

One of the greatest barriers between you and your 360 is the handle pass. Many riders have a tendency to keep the handle in too close during their approach, which forces them to let the handle out a bit at the wake. So, if the distance between your hips and the handle is increasing then, whether you realize it or not, you are actually traveling away from the boat, resulting in an increase in line tension in the air — making the handle pass even more elusive.

As complex as the problem might sound, the solution is simple. Daniel Powers says, “When approaching the wake, allow the handle to drift out away from your hips — not too much to lose control — but just enough to leave room to advance back in and initiate your rotation.” Sounds easy, right? Well, it actually is — if you trust it. Let’s take another step back and talk physics here. Look at the first three photos in the sequence of Daniel’s approach, and note how the distance between his hips and the handle decreases as he stands tall at the wake. Since the distance between the handle and the boat is a constant, his hips are actually advancing toward the boat at takeoff. This part should happen subconsciously. “When I reach the wake, I just think about standing tall. I don’t really think about where my hips are at all,” says Daniel.

This change in body position, from seated to tall, naturally advances you toward the handle without having to actually pull with your arms. All you have to do is let the handle out during the approach, stand tall at the wake, and the line tension should ease up enough for you to comfortably reach the handle in the air.

Click to view the images below:

Field of View

Your successful execution of this trick greatly depends on your comfort in the cuffed position. The term “cuffed” refers to the position you are in when both hands are on the handle behind your back. It’s a similar position to being handcuffed — hence the name.

While cuffed, your field of view will exclude the boat, forcing you to deal with some unfamiliar visual references at your 6 o’clock, and leave you feeling prone to a back edge. And since none of us like back edges, this first 360 can become more about making it past the 270-degree mark alive than even landing the trick. As a result, riders tend to either start spinning too early or they overrotate and slip out over their heels.

Daniel says: “Over-rotation is really common in learning 360s because it is usually the first time the rider will ever turn their back to the boat. To keep from over-rotating, avoid looking back at the boat when you land. Instead, try to keep looking at your landing spot, at the wake, or at the shoreline — whatever works best for you. This is where the drills help out a lot. They can be disorienting at first, but don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

Try a few drills to build your awareness in this landing position as needed. Remember, you can create drills for yourself by pinpointing your weak points that are highlighted by your discomfort. For example, if you can’t handle a landing impact while looking back, start by just riding straight and looking backward for a bit. Then try a few ollies where you land looking back, followed by some inside out, and one-wake jumps in the same fashion.

Eventually, you’ll be able to do a wake jump where you are looking forward on the way up, and then looking back at the wakes as you land. This impact position will transition over nicely to your 360 attempts and keep you from overrotating.

Switch Toeside Backside 180

Have you ever thought about the guts of a heelside frontside 360? We designate spin names by their takeoff position, initial spin direction, and degrees of rotation. So, cut our 360 in half, and you have two different 180s. The first 180 is obvious — a heelside frontside 180. The second 180 can be a little harder to pin down. Think of the position that you are in when you land the first 180 — switch toeside, right? Then, if you were to keep rotating in the same direction as your first 180, that would make the second 180 a switch toeside backside 180.

This 180 is known for being intimidating, for obvious reasons. So it’s not uncommon to want to avoid it completely. But, as Daniel points out: “Learning this 180 at some level will help you with board control, and especially the landing of the 360. Coming out of both of the tricks are exactly the same.”

If you break it down into smaller bite-size pieces, you can build comfort with the rotation in a lower-risk environment. “For both a heelside frontside 360, and a toeside backside 180, I would recommend learning them first at a slow speed on the surface, and then try them one-wake.” Daniel says. “This minimizes the risk and impact of falling, and allows you to learn body control without getting smoked.”

Again, craft a drill that pinpoints your discomfort, and start chipping away at it. For example, if the cuffed position is a weak point for you, at slower speeds, start out switch stance and get into the cuffed position. Then, without moving your upper body out of the cuffed position, move the board back and forth from switch to regular repeatedly. Then repeat the drill and add some lateral travel to it, mimicking the direction of the switch toeside backside 180. From there, add an ollie, then inside out, then one-wake, and so on.

Armed with all of this knowledge, your first 360 should no longer be out of reach. Have at it, folks!

Click to view the images below:

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As we welcome the new year and all the exciting new things it’s going to bring, we also welcome a new rider to Team Supra Boats, Daniel “Supra” Powers. When we asked Rick Tinker, President of Skier’s Choice the manufacturer of Supra boats, about Daniel and his new place on Team Supra Boats, he responded this way, “Daniel is an exceptional rider and a tremendous young man, I am very excited to add a rider of his caliber and a person of his character to our team. I’m confident that 2015 will be a great year for Team Supra Boats”. There is never a dull moment with Dan, whether its his dry sense of humor or his stylish riding.

We decided to put him to the test and grill him with a few random questions when he wasn’t expecting it. Here’s how it went…

SUPRA: When did you start wakeboarding?

Daniel: I was 6 years old

SUPRA: At what age did you decide you wanted to try to make it as a pro in our sport?

Daniel: Its always been mostly about just having fun for me. When I won nationals in Jr. Boys in 2003, I guess I knew I had it in me to make it and that really inspired me to work towards becoming pro.

SUPRA: Why Supra?

Daniel: Because its a great company with great people who have been really nice to me over my entire career and the quality of their boats is amazing. I rode behind the SE550 at Worlds I really enjoyed the wake and that just added to my excitement to join the team.

SUPRA: Whats a typical day in the life of Daniel Powers?

Daniel: My ideal day starts off with a trip to Uncle Henrys–our local breakfast spot. Afterwards we get a wakeboard set in before the lake gets busy. Maybe after I’ll practice some guitar or watch netflix. Then head to the airport and whip a little Cessna around with some friends. Afterwards, get the crew together and end the day with a nice little evening skate session. Ive only been able to do all of this in a day once or twice but its great

SUPRA: Is it true that you have a mini horse farm?

Daniel: Ah yea! Okay maybe not really but I’m browsing the market for one.

SUPRA: What are you doing this winter to train for next season?

Daniel: Been playing a lot of Xbox to work on my eye hand coordination.. Other than that just riding a lot since it stays warm all year in Florida!

SUPRA: What boat in the Supra line up are you going to be riding behind now?

Daniel: SE550!

SUPRA: How would you describe the wake on the all new SE550?

Daniel: I’m stoked on this boat. The lines and shear size of it are super aggressive. I actually am getting a purple SE550. But I first rode it at worlds, It has a massive wake with a really good lip to it and the transitions on it are perfect allowing for great take offs and landings. I should be getting mine in soon and I can’t wait to start riding and training for this next season behind it.

SUPRA: Cutting all the long hair off has been a trend in Team Supra Boats lately, starting with Trevor, then to Reed and now Jamie. Are you worried that you could wake up with a shaved head at the next Supra Boats photoshoot?

Daniel: Those guys know that once hair gets to a certain length it becomes part of your soul. I don’t think they would take away a piece of my soul like that..

Here is just a few of Daniel’s accolades:

2011

Featured in Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd

Cover of Water Skiier Magazine

2012

Monthly Mywake contest winner

2013

4th overall World Cup. Pro Men

4th place Moomba Masters-Melbourne, Australia

Cover of Apple’s Light It Magazine

Cover of Wake Journal

2014

Cover of Wakeboarding Magazine

Featured in Prime wake movie

Featured in Quiet, Please

Last Words—Wakeboarding magazine

For more info about Daniel Powers and Supra Boats check out www.supraboats.com

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Want the one simple secret to becoming a better rider this season? Sign up right now to receive CWB’s 2014 How-To Video Series. WAKEBOARDING teamed up with CWB riders Jimmy Trask, Josh Palma and Daniel Powers to create six how-to videos designed to improve almost every facet of your riding, from grabs, spins and toeside tricks to landing blind, inverts and 540s. Sign up now and we’ll deliver a new how-to video to your inbox every week for six weeks — all for free. Better still: There’s something for everybody. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced rider, we have you covered.

CWB 2014 How-To Videos Series

3 Keys To Perfect Grabs

Jimmy Trask gives you three simple secrets to crank up your style by adding grabs to your spins and inverts.

How To Master Toeside Riding

Stop neglecting toeside! Jimmy Trask shows you how to dial in your toeside wake jumps and open up a whole new bag of tricks.

3 Keys To Landing Your First 360

Josh Palma gives you the keys to limit your falls and frustration when learning your first 3.

How To Spot Your Landings On Inverts

Josh Palma shows you how to improve your consistency on inverts by spotting your landings early.

3 Secrets to Landing Blind

Daniel Powers gives you the keys to consistent blind landings, which will help you open up tricks like backside 5s, tantrum to blinds and roll to blinds.

6 Keys to Grabbing 540s

Daniel Powers shows you how to grab your 540s, adding style and demonstrating full control before you add an extra rotation.

Help us help you progress your riding this season.

The post Get Better Now: CWB’s 2014 How-To Video Series appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Mastering blind landings by practicing backside 180s is one of the most important building blocks in all of wakeboarding. In this how-to video, CWB rider Daniel Powers gives you the keys to consistent blind landings, which will help you open up tricks like backside 5s, tantrum to blinds and roll to blinds.

CWB 2014 How To Series

** Missed One?**

3 Keys To Perfect Grabs

Master Toeside Riding

3 Keys To Perfect Grabs

How To Spot Your Landings On Inverts

3 Secrets To Landing Blind

The post CWB How To Series: 3 Secrets To Landing Blind appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Grabbing your 540s adds more style to the tricks and demonstrates full control before you add an extra rotation. In this how to video, CWB rider Daniel Powers gives you the secrets to landing both the easiest grabbed 540 — a nose grab heelside 5 — and his favorite — a backside 5 with a late melon grab.

CWB 2014 How To Series

Missed One?

3 Keys To Perfect Grabs

Master Toeside Riding

3 Keys To Your First 360

How To Spot Your Landings On Inverts

3 Secrets To Landing Blind

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Featuring: Daniel Powers, Josh Palma, Nicola Butler, Andrew Adkison, and others.

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