I learned how to wake-board this weekend, and I even got up on my first try. (I know I’m bragging, but I rarely have any sports moments to brag about)
I also learned that being a wake-boarding instructor is even easier than wake-boarding itself. Apparently the only requirement to being an instructor is to simply ride on the boat. If you’re present, then by default you’re an expert.
Chances are you won’t be the only expert around, but don’t worry about what the others are saying. Pick something that sounds right and say it. Say it quickly, and don’t wait your turn to speak. If you really want a new wake-boarder to succeed then you want to pump them as full as you can and as fast as you can with instructions.
The only way I was able to get up was to focus on the last 10 seconds of advice I got before the boat took off:
“keep your back straight, curl your toes, let the boat do the work, don’t bend your arms, bend your arms, pretend you’re sitting in a chair, stand up with your quads, keep the board in front of you, make sure your bathing suit is tied, don’t lean back too far, don’t lean forward, say a prayer, count sheep, wear sunscreen, change your oil every 3000 miles…”
It was something like that, and it worked.
07/07/2009
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