Freestyle Not digging the Footholds

[swapmeet]

I have a somewhat complicated situation, but hopefully there is a happy ending in my future. (and its not even Friday yet)

I purchased a FX1 with footholds. I was told that they were from Blowsion, but I have no idea. The FX that I had prior to this had a foot strap in the rear.

I typically ride with my right foot back and my left forward. But both pointed pretty much straight ahead, parallel with the ski.

When I put both feet in the holds... Oh man. It feels like i'm kissing my sister. (thankfully I'm an only child.)

I think whats the most strange is how far back my weight is. It makes me want to shorten my handle pole 5 inches.
I've seen a build thread where someone shortened the gunwales about 4 inches and in turn moved the holds forward. That seems like more my speed, but obvious requires the extra glass work.

The other side of this story is the holds are only turfed and I haven't fitted them to my shoes.

The best part is I have a brand new set of REV holds with retainers and i'm getting a new hull very soon. So I can start from scratch and build it however I want.

So is it something that seems weird at first but then you get used to it? Should I mount them a little farther forward?

I like them in theory but I can seem to get used to this first set. Any feedback would be awesome.

 

[chriselmore_1]

did you actually rice the ski or trailer test

 

[sjetrider]

Sounds like you like surf stance bro, just get straps and forget the foot holds all together. Hope the REV's and enclosures are not going in another FX1 hull, surf stance will be out of the question then. They will eat up the entire tray. If you can ride surf stance why would you change> surf stance is the shiot and the ones that can do it look SOOOO much cleaner in every trick IMO. I cant ride surf stance in a trick AT ALL but I watch TC and the rest of the Cali boys and continuosly try to LOL.

 

[swapmeet]

did you actually rice the ski or trailer test

Huh???
I've ridden the ski 4-5 times.
I can keep my right foot in the hold, and feel comfortable riding that way.

Sounds like you like surf stance bro, just get straps and forget the foot holds all together. Hope the REV's and enclosures are not going in another FX1 hull, surf stance will be out of the question then. They will eat up the entire tray. If you can ride surf stance why would you change> surf stance is the shiot and the ones that can do it look SOOOO much cleaner in every trick IMO. I cant ride surf stance in a trick AT ALL but I watch TC and the rest of the Cali boys and continuosly try to LOL.

I thought about doing just straps... But I always thought surf was front foot forward and back foot at an angle.

I plan on widening the tray when i install the holds. I have an idea in my head on how to do it that seems pretty simple. Time will tell.
Since someone will probably ask, I plan on making stratigic cuts, and sliding the cut part under the existing side. Rivet and epoxy resin, renforce with 12oz cloth etc. Basicly sectioning it.

But I digress...

 

[SJBrit]

So is it something that seems weird at first but then you get used to it? Should I mount them a little farther forward?

To answer that specific question: yes - footholds feel very weird at first, but you quickly get used to them if they suit your style of riding. They are really meant for flatwater freestyle - for surf I would go with straps for sure.

 

[subnsxr]

spend a couple rides in your footholds and you'll never ride one foot forward. I now crash everytime I try to ride one foot forward.

 

[Crab]

I typically ride with my right foot back and my left forward. But both pointed pretty much straight ahead, parallel with the ski.

Perfect, get a rear strap, F the hold nonsense.

 

[swapmeet]

To answer that specific question: yes - footholds feel very weird at first, but you quickly get used to them if they suit your style of riding. They are really meant for flatwater freestyle - for surf I would go with straps for sure.

I only ride flat water. LOL...

 

[stanton]

for flatwater freestyle your going to need the leverage that the footholds give, make them fit your feet better before giving up. surf stance is the was to go for surf, but would hold you back in flatwater.

 

[steve-uk]

you will have fun trying to fit the WDK Rev foot holds. i had a set i was going to fit to my fx1, they are way too tall for the sides of an FX1 tray

i ended up selling them and using wamilton rickter footholds

i like the mods some of the guys have done on here widening the tray from the back all the way to the front.. like one big log foot hold!

if you like to ride surf stance then the smaller the foot holds the better for you

and as for shortening the pole... if thats what "kissing your sister" makes you feel like.. id say go for it

 

[mademan9]

Do you ride the whole time in your footholds?? I ride surf stance when Im not trying to do a trick. Then get into the footholds for jumps and other tricks only.

 

[chriselmore_1]

I think it's prob just the blowsiod footholds. My old hull had em and I hate em. Just couldn't lock in em. My new hull I knew just what I wanted and did some custom holds with half enclosures. They lock in amazing. And the enclosures only hold my toes so I can get in and out and also ride furf stance in em. I posted pics in a recent thread. Something about tray options or ideas?

 

[B3IS]

I picked up another sj for the summer and it had blowsion footholds installed and I really did not like them, they felt too tite and too far back. Sold that ski now getting my 04 ready for some offf season glass work and paint. I stepped into my tray the other day the first time since I bought and sold the other ski and the funny thing is I was thinking these things are huge and way too far forward.....................................I ride in the holds for most tricks and surf stance for normal slashing and surf riding. You can get used to anything eventually.

 

[swapmeet]

You can get used to anything eventually.

I'm married and your absolutely right.

 

[B3IS]

Very nice.

 

[Waternut]

Footholds require some customization. What works for one person may or may not work for you. I'm the perfect example of this. Most run footholds way back in the tray and a really short pole. I run my footholds much further up and also run a stock length pole instead of shortened. I ride 100% of the time in the holds. I'm not very stable and have almost zero control in the air with a foot forward and I bash my knee almost every time I try a trick with a foot forward.

It's totally preference in both feel and appearance IMO. Someone said they thought surf stance tricks look smoother and I think exactly opposite. I always thought surf stance tricks looked choppy and goofy. Bottom line... If it works for you, great. Ride and have a good time.

 

[swapmeet]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

 

[RyanO]

Someone said they thought surf stance tricks look smoother and I think exactly opposite. I always thought surf stance tricks looked choppy and goofy.

Bingo!

 

[Waste Land]

Keep riding, pad up the holds with another layer of turf or something to fit your shoes. Just because you have foot holds doesnt mean you have to keep your feet in them the whole ride. I only lock in my feet before I'm trying something upside down or that requires i stay connected. Whenever I'm carving up waves or wakes i ride one foot forward. I ran a stock length pole up until last week...when i switched to -5. I am leaning way forward when im in my holds and it did wonders for my riding. However Harrison tried my ski being so short and doesnt care for it, he is also alot taller then me.

I am thinking about putting a 45 degree footstrap up front so i can change up my stabs from time to time