360 attempts in surf, looking for feedback

[swapmeet]

So, its probably not a secret that I lack the sack to do a BF on my 771 Chan... But what I do enjoy doing is "flat spins" with the goal being a complete 360.
This appears to be difficult on my Chan since the bottom deck is SXR inspired. Meaning.... it hooks too much in the back and doesn't want to do more than a 180 most of the time.

Over the past few days I was lucky enough to take a vacation on the gulf coast with my family, and took my ski. The surf was decent, and the last day we were there I had my wife take some pics of me trying to spin.

What I see is that i'm not spinning flat, but more off axis, and some of my flat spin attempts end up looking like over rotated nose stabs lol. Is that good? Is it "ok"? I've seen some of the pro's doing 720's and 1540's and they're at a bit of an angle. But i'm no pro, I just want to do a spinny move, or in this case... I want to do it better.

Anyway, wanted to share some pics and look for some feedback. This is the best attempt I have record of throwing, I think I landed about 270*. This was an especially awkward landing, as I thought my ski was going to hit before it did, so I kinda crumpled up. It was ugly.

 

[DirtKurt]

Hard to tell but from the pictures it looks like your doing more of a nose stab. Try to keep the ski flatter and get your weight forward over the ski when you spin.
And dont feel to bad about not flipping, I wimped out in the surf at brigantine. Saw to many people hit bottom hard. I know how deep it is when im in the lake, in the surf its a guessing game.

 

[swapmeet]

Based on how i'm spinning, it looks like I need to almost lean back. The tail of the ski is always higher.

 

[eastcoastjumper]

You need more spinning momentum off the wave. Instead of going straight at the wave like a flip, ride it like a surfer carve down and then carry the spin up and off the top.

What you're doing is more of a nose stab that keeps spinning. I do that a lot because it's fun. It feels like you are doing a nosedive 360 like a bmx bike. Not a true flat spin 360 like the flat water guys.

It takes a lot of braap for them to be doing the 720...etc even with the help of the wave it's tricky. The pictures help ya visualize what you're doing a bit. Good luck

 

[eastcoastjumper]

Based on how i'm spinning, it looks like I need to almost lean back. The tail of the ski is always higher.

If you lean back like that you start to air out and do a funky roll. It's a fine median to hit a flat spin off a surf wave. Look for it in a surf video

 

[Jetfiend]

This was an especially awkward landing, as I thought my ski was going to hit before it did, so I kinda crumpled up. It was ugly.

^^ This is what sends my lower back into spasm at times, when you anticipate the landing and it's delayed. How sore were you the next 2 days?

Regardless of whether your were doing flat spins, looks like you were having a good time.

 

[Waveblaster785]

Hard to tell but from the pictures it looks like your doing more of a nose stab. Try to keep the ski flatter and get your weight forward over the ski when you spin.
And dont feel to bad about not flipping, I wimped out in the surf at brigantine. Saw to many people hit bottom hard. I know how deep it is when im in the lake, in the surf its a guessing game.

I had a couple nice lawn darts in Brigantine.

 

[JMew03]

Hit the wave at an angle. Turn bars all the way, full throttle, stand straight up, lean forward and hang on.

 

[tightithrash]

Try riding parallel with the wave on your left shoulder since your spinning to the left. That way you can load into your left turn on the throttle and get your rear to break loose. Throw your shoulders over your bars when you leave the wave.

 

[AWolf34]

Exactly what everyone else is saying. Try riding parallel with the wave and once you see the wave breaking the way you want it to, your going to carve up the face of it creating like half of a "U". By the time you get to the peak of the wave, bars should be fully cranked, and your head looking left over your shoulder. Just like any rotation, keep your head turned and everything else will follow. I personally like the look of a corked out 3 better than the flat spin. I think those flat spins that you see kemnitz doing has a little bit to do with some brap. those look pretty cool to, but will probably take some time to figure out. i spun flat like that once when i slid off the wave rather than carved up it. maybe you could try that? And I'm sure you already know this, but i heard the chans will slide without an intake grate. Good luck!

 

[speedysprocket]

I ride straight at the wave, turn a little right, then as I go up the wave, turn left hard and grab the throttle. I keep my weight centered on the ski. Not forward for a nose stab, and not to the rear. Stand up straight with the bars fairly close to your chest.

 

[swapmeet]

Awesome feedback guys! Wow thanks!

I tried to hit the wave at a 45* angle to help carry more turning momentum. The waves were pretty inconsistent so I was working with what I had.
I don't think I do a good job of turning my head all the way to the left although I recognize that I don't do it. While practicing these, I tried turning my head once and it freaked me out because I couldn't spot my landing. Hence the "not landing when you expect it" pain thing.
I'm not standing straight up 'bars to chest' either.

Perhaps its something I can work on doing off my setup wake at the lake since I know roughly where the water is going to be.

I'm riding with a short-ish plate and no intake grate. The Chan is a double edged sword in some respects. The back end hooks awesome, especially when you don't want it to.

 

[jo5hi3]

I ride straight at the wave, turn a little right, then as I go up the wave, turn left hard and grab the throttle. I keep my weight centered on the ski. Not forward for a nose stab, and not to the rear. Stand up straight with the bars fairly close to your chest.

good info from the 360 king

 

[swapmeet]

Here is another photo. I have quite a bit more but photobucket is crashing my PC, and I can't get the 'upload a file' button to work.

Now that i'm looking at my photos, it appears that my ski is rotating around the nose, not the center of the ski. I'm not sure how to 'fix' that.

 

[JMew03]

Come practice with me. Daniel gave me a few pointers on how to do it. The first time I tried his way the ski threw me off like a rag doll it spun so quick. Lol

 

[speedysprocket]

I don't think I do a good job of turning my head all the way to the left although I recognize that I don't do it. While practicing these, I tried turning my head once and it freaked me out because I couldn't spot my landing. Hence the "not landing when you expect it" pain thing.
I'm not standing straight up 'bars to chest' either.

I look at the front of the ski when I do it; never turn my head...

 

[AWolf34]

For flatwater, this guy does them the exact same way i do them. Seems to work best doing a partial "U" or a boomerang shaped setup wake i guess you could say. Come into it with a slight turn to the right or even a little hop to the right to get deep and load up the pump and then snap it to the left and let that f***er eat!

 

[NVJAY775]

What's your pump set up? Steering nozzle, trim etc mainly. That will make, or break the spins IMO. I'm running a 144, xmetal trim, b pipe coupler mod on the trim ring between the trim ring and nozzle. HUGE difference in everything you do. When I messed it up over a 3 day weekend I was so bummed. Thought it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but it really is.

Here's a link to a vid we did a few months ago. Just me and my son screwing around mainly. Lots of failed flips haha! I have learned to gas my landings and am fine now. That and launch straighter. Just assumed if I got them around the ride out would be fine at idle lmao! Anyways the 360's are my favorite trick at the moment. Your corked angle is just fine IMO. When you do get it around, you will be rewarded with a much softer landing. Flat spin landings friggin hurt when you land flat. I chipped off the top of my shin bone a few months ago on a flat landing. A little angle is a good thing. I curious if your pump set up will get you dialed in. I'm pretty sure it will!

 

[swapmeet]

I have a Solas 144 Mag with Thrust EZ Flow trim. I've ridden some skis with the Xmetal trim that had the Bpipe coupler mod, and the difference is remarkable. Unfortunately it was such a huge difference that I was getting thrown off the ski when trying to do a slight turn. So I never really liked it because of how over responsive it was to slight inputs.

 

[NVJAY775]

I hear us there. I took steering out of mine for that reason. So currently it's set up at close to stock throw. So it's very rideable, but spins nicely. Food for thought. But you're running Thrust, so I'm not really helping any lol! I tried though dammit! Good luck with it.