I need some help/guidance doing 180's

[fst89lx]

I cannot for the life of me do a 180* turn! I'd say its maybe 1 out of 10+ tires I get one right. I spent most of the day yesterday trying these and I just can't get it.

Usually what happens is the ski will want to come around way more than 180*, and it just comes right out from under me.

What is the proper technique for a 180 turn?? usually I have my weight centered or forward on the ski, cruising @ 1/2 throttle or less, give it full throttle, crank bars left and next thing you know, the ski is out from under me and I am swimming!

I've found these vids on youtube and tried to study them but one has no sound (it has music just on voice) and the other is in a foreign language so I can't understand what he is saying.

http://www.youtube.com/user/FREESTYLERdotCZ#p/u/38/2lIZJde-6nc

 

[WaveDemon]

he's unhooking his pump be getting the weight forward while turning. if you want a turn trick to work on a power 360. they look a lot better.

 

[fst89lx]

he's unhooking his pump be getting the weight forward while turning. if you want a turn trick to work on a power 360. they look a lot better.

so I need to try to keep my weight as far forward as possible? Is this what is causing my ski to keep coming around?

I've tried keeping it pinned throughout the whole turn and I have tried pinning it and then letting go when I feel the ski start to break loose, but it still keeps coming on around Also I agree that the power 360 is cool but I want to learn in baby steps.

 

[mademan9]

Power 360 isnt that difficult. Start out by going straight on 1/4 throttle, steer a little to the left and then back to the right. Then simultaneously left off gas , step forward with your left foot all the way to the front of tray, push your bars forward, and turn left with throttle pushing forward . (tip) keep your bars steered left and lean a little to the right for balance. I know it sounds like a lot, but it really isnt. This is how i do it. hope it helps. If your just trying a 180 just steer straight after the last turn.

 

[ger87410]

so I need to try to keep my weight as far forward as possible? Is this what is causing my ski to keep coming around?

Yes.

I think it's a timing issue. You need to get the pump unhooked, but you want to do it at the right time in the turn.
I've done it once or twice on accident. Never on purpose, so YMMV.

Try reducing your speed just a touch to reduce the forces imparted in the turn and get used to your body whipping around by building your arm strength. IMO.

 

[ncbrock]

They key is to turn a little in the opposite direction you perform your turn before you do the 180. If you turn a little to the left and as your turning to the right for the spin give it a blip of throttle and you should come around.

 

[b.lee]

What kind of ski do you have? mods?

 

[JD_WWI]

wouldn't a stock intake and ride plate make it easier to do that as well?

 

[stanton]

...cruising @ 1/2 throttle or less, give it full throttle, crank bars left...

thats the problem. cruse, let off gas, turn bars, hit throttle to get ski to turn, let off throttle to get ski to slide. done.

 

[fst89lx]

thats the problem. cruse, let off gas, turn bars, hit throttle to get ski to turn, let off throttle to get ski to slide. done.

When I hit the throttle, is it wide open or less?

b.lee, the ski is a 650 sj w/ sizzler pipe and blaster impeller
JD_WWI, I am pretty sure my ride plate and intake grate are stock.

Thanks for the help so far guys!!

Once I get the 180* nailed down, I'll start trying for the 360! (I shouldn't have any problems doing it on a 650 should I?)

 

[stanton]

When I hit the throttle, is it wide open or less?

b.lee, the ski is a 650 sj w/ sizzler pipe and blaster impeller
JD_WWI, I am pretty sure my ride plate and intake grate are stock.

Thanks for the help so far guys!!

Once I get the 180* nailed down, I'll start trying for the 360! (I shouldn't have any problems doing it on a 650 should I?)

well i cant say exactly how much throttle, it depends on alot of stuff, thats what practice is for!

 

[weston]

try going faster
your first step might be to slide the ski side ways. when you can do that at a high speed and slide 10-20 feet then start to turn more and use more body English to get the ski around. speed is your friend, make sure you are on plane.

 

[B3IS]

Crank the bars and hit the gas.

 

[c310]

Hi this is my first post i attached pics hope it will help you:

turn your plat 1/4 to the left then full to the right (pin your throttel), you just push your body with the rotation as in the pic:



then you will get your 180



hope that enough!:bump:

good luck

 

[Austin]

With sj's you need to lean the ski over little more when you start to turn

 

[EvanKrefski]

hope that on board view will help you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnB1ocefGuw

 

[Soul Man]

Go moderate speed. One foot in front, one in back
let off gas.
Put all weight on front foot, lean up against bars and turn bars hard to the left.
Full throttle
Keep body CENTERED in line of travel (ie do NOT lean you body to the left or you will fall off/tip ski over left). You want the ski to pivot around under you and your front foot.
Once back end slides out, let off gas (I suspect from your description that this step is your problem, you need to stay on throttle for a power 360, but need to get off with a 180).
Once you come around 180, the back will dig in and start to sink. Keep weight centered and start to get on throttle to drive out. I usually give a quick blast of full throttle which stops your backwards momentum, and also has the benefit of usually shooting up a big fountain behind you.

I rarely do just a 180. My above mentioned quick blast of throttle is usually with the bars still hard left and you can spin around to make it a complete 360. For this you want to keep weight on front foot, body centered over ski (don't lean into turn) and let the ski pivot around underneath you. The first 180 is a sliding turn, and then pivot the last 180 with the ski almost dead in the water.
Once you can do the 180, try converting to the 360.

In summary, you need to get off the gas once the back end slides out and straighten the bars before getting back on the gas. That is way you are over rotating

ALSO: I ride goofy foot. You may find it easier to spin to the right....

 

[fst89lx]

hope that on board view will help you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnB1ocefGuw

~50 seconds into this video is what I am trying to accomplish.
With the advice of the people in this post, I can now do these probably 2 times out of every 10 I try. Which isn't real good but its better than 0 I think I need to ride more. I currently only make it to the lake like once a week, sometimes not even that

I also think that I need to get some 0* bars or shorten my turnplate (got a rn pole on my sn and it is already ~2" short). It feels like my body is too close to my handlebars when I am shifting my weight forward, I even got the bars tangled up in my drawstring for my shorts a couple of times lol

 

[aytee]

try doing them both directions if you aren't already, seemed to help with balance for me.. Do as you wish but I ride left foot forward either way I'm going.. Also when you get going backwards it will want to sink, I found it easier to let it sink and ride it out of vertical than ride it out horizontal... When it starts to sink, let it go and bend your knees, if you get it right you'll be suspended by your vest rather than the ski.. Then ride it out from there, just don't let it get to vertical or it might want to tip over on top of you... Might sound like the hard way to do it, but that seems to be what helped me a bunch, then once you get used to it pulling out horizontal will slowly just come natural... Do a bunch of slow speed riding also, it helps with the balance...