few riding questions

[fastgtfairlane]

Hey whats up everyone. I just bought a 91 440sx with built 550 reed engine, 15.5 stainless prop, jetsport skegged rideplate. I have ridden a stand up 4 times but really starting to get the hang of it. I want to be able to really carve the ski in turns and also put my foot out as an outrigger. any pointers or suggestions for that. the hull is completely stock except for a scoop grate and the ride plate. i also am 6ft tall and about 207lbs. i have gotten to where i can turn somewhat decent but want to get lower and faster in turns. any suggestions.

also have tried to powerslide a few times and cannot get the ski to do it. it started to once while i was on my knees and it completely threw me off. i want to try it standing up. any suggestions on that as well? thanks

 

[msanders84]

I am a tall heavy rider also.

I would tackle your riding in this order. First I would go out on calm days and practice on your knees and begin to "pop up" and stand. While standing ride in straight lines and make wide circles and figure eight turns.

start out doing the turns slowly and learn how your ski turns and where you need to position your body and feet to feel stable. increase and decrease speed to keep the turns stable.

 

[stanton]

keep practicing! you will fall alot, but youll find the sweetspots of lean and throttle.

 

[227]

Hey whats up everyone. I just bought a 91 440sx with built 550 reed engine, 15.5 stainless prop, jetsport skegged rideplate. I have ridden a stand up 4 times but really starting to get the hang of it. I want to be able to really carve the ski in turns and also put my foot out as an outrigger. any pointers or suggestions for that. the hull is completely stock except for a scoop grate and the ride plate. i also am 6ft tall and about 207lbs. i have gotten to where i can turn somewhat decent but want to get lower and faster in turns. any suggestions.

also have tried to powerslide a few times and cannot get the ski to do it. it started to once while i was on my knees and it completely threw me off. i want to try it standing up. any suggestions on that as well? thanks

You’re a big guy to be riding a 550. Riding it will be hard but you can do it, it will just take a little longer and in the long run make you an all around better rider. To turn using your leg as an outrigger, or “leg drag” you need to get your weight really far forward. Try to get your upper body parrallel to your bars. You also must be on the throttle the whole time, as it’s very unstable move at lower speeds. For a Left sweeping turn you would start by approaching your turn point/bouy by positioning your RIGHT foot against the forward LEFT side of the tray. Pull your left foot out and let it skim across the water surface like an outrigger. On your first attempt do this, try a very wide sweeping turn while standing almost straight up, and start by dragging just your toes as you begin your turn. As you progress you will get the “feel” and be able to hang your body way out while dragging your leg to your knee. To turn right is pretty much the exact opposite. It’s not necessarily any faster on the race course though, I can leg drag both ways equally well and still get my a$$ handed to me all the time, but it looks cool and its really fun especially when your just carving around on flat water.



To Power Slide first you need to lose your skegged ride plate. Start by getting up on plane going straight line and quickly turn your bars (the way you want the nose to go) and shift your body weight the same way (removing your weight from the pump area) The ski will automatically turn 90 degrees and slide sideways until your lose your forward momentum. Maintain the slide by shifting your body weight either forward towards the engine or back towards the pump, what ever is needed to keep the ski sliding completely sideways. Back in my 550 days we used to have power slide contests and hit it full throttle to see who could slide our skis sideways the longest. I don’t have any pics

 

[fastgtfairlane]

thanks for the suggestions. ive been out several times riding the ski and feel i have gotten fairly decent at riding it. i am a pretty fast learner. I am not trying to go racing or anything with the leg dragging but I do think it looks really neat. I will try that next time im out.

I will try the powerslide next time too. I dont want to get rid of that rideplate yet because it is fairly stable in turns. im sure I just got to get the pump unglued to do it. As heavy as i am it shouldnt be that hard if i can shift my weight right. I did sorta try it a while back while i was on my knees and may not have tried to turn fast enough cause it threw me off. I am having a blast with this ski and would love to find some people on skis or even boats that live close by to go ride with.

 

[ger87410]

I'm 5'11" and ~195# and disagree that the 550 will be hard to ride.

Just keep riding. Don't be afraid to take risks as it's just water you'll fall into.

Learn how to bail.

 

[anthony_]

4 tips:

1. Ride a lot.
2. The throttle is your friend
3. Don't be afraid to wipe out a lot. Like ger87410 said, it's only only water. If you're never falling then you aren't progressing.
4. Keep pushing yourself to learn more things.

Good luck.

Note to self: I need to be falling a lot more.

 

[SuperJETT]

Once you get the ski over pretty far, it's going to turn on it's own so you'll need to straighten the bars up some---otherwise with the bars turned, the nozzle is actually wanting to lift the back of the ski out of the water.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

ive definitely gotten the hang of how the ski handles for sure. i feel i am ready to try a few new tricks such as the powerslide and leg dragging. weight loss will continue with the use of this ski for sure. im gonna go riding friday morning before work..

 

[baxt3r]

I'm in Charlotte and a heavy rider as well. I've got a few pounds on you. 6'2" 240. I sent you a PM. Lets get up and laugh at each other.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

lol sounds like a great idea. I love my 550.

 

[baxt3r]

Well, it looks like the SJ is going to be off the water for a while for a total rebuild. I broke one of my rules and started tearing into it to do some cleaning and started finding one problem after the other. Thinking on it, I am quite amazed I was able to ride it as long as I have.

If you need a place to work on your ski, call me. We can mess about and drink a coupla beers. Thank goodness I have the couch to get me by for now.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

updates.. i have sorta gotten the hang of leg dragging. havent gotten it going to the right but getting it going to the left. my water shoes wanna come off when i leg drag lol. i have also been toying with power slides. however, the momentum wants to throw me off after the ski makes the turn. i can do them while on my knees cause my legs take up the entire tray. ive only tried powerslides to the left. i wonder since i ride goofy footed if i slide to the right with my left foot on the back of the tray i can keep my balance up to not fall of the left side when i turn. any suggestions. still have the skegged plate on.

 

[Yamer-Jammer]

One great tip that I was given, was to switch your footing when making fast and sharp turns. For example on a left turn you would have your left foot forward in the tray and your right in the back of the tray. And for a right hand turn, your right foot forward in the tray and left foot in the back of the tray. I always think of it as a snowboard, and most people can carve harder/better on their heal edge than they can on their toe edge...

As for what helped me improve the most with my turning was riding a mock track for a race. Having to make right and left turns as the buoy's come up forced me to learn how to turn fast.

Just some suggestions, hope they work with your ridding style.