You might have seen a little preview in what might be the next trend in wakeboarding. The “Skinny Stance”. Ok, ok, before you go all bonkers we’re here to ease you into this new trend and hopefully by the end you’ll be a little ready for the needed change.
IN THE BEGINNING.
It was all skinny, and all bunny ears-airs
It was all skinny in the beginning, compared to the slalom or trick ski it was probably a wide stance. This was the beginning of wakeboard stances, it allowed minimal stablilty but one could flip and spin relitivly fast. The large fins or “skegs” as some would call them would stablize the rider and focus the power of the board towards the tail and back foot. Stances were usually zero degrees in the back foot and the front foot “ducked” forward.
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
Twin-tippin. Yo.
Twin tips came on the scene and it had an effect on everything, even the stance. I remember my first time on a twin tip board all I did was surface 180’s on the water until I couldn’t ride anymore. It seemed amazing that you could ride a board both directions. While the stance was getting wider than the first days helping with stability and the occasional switch stance trick, it wasn’t until the twin tip that wakeboarders would be motivated to even out their stance for optimal switch and regular riding. Stances were centered with an even amount of board on the tip and tail along with the back foot becaming more “ducked” to allow for more comfort riding switch.
ALL THE WAY OUT.
Didn’t spend much time on this one..
As a young wake enthusiast I remember looking at a “setups” feature in WakeBoarding Magazine. Reading about all the riders settings was always cool, then you can compare yourself to what the pros are doing with their boards, how tall they are, and what size of fins they are riding with. Everything is good until I came to “stance” it would say: all the way out. “What kind of measurment is this?” I thought. Somewhere between getting twin tip boards and until recent years, riders were putting their stances all the way out. No matter what, it seemed like everyone was doing this and it wasn’t going to change, and once again a sport that had innovated and cha watersports nged so much in the industry became stuck in a “all the way out” or nothing phase.
SNOWBOARDING. IT’S RELEVANT.
We have to weigh in on what has happened in snowboarding lately. They too have gone through the similar patterns of stances, and in 2007ish riders began tightening up their stances. Almost to the point of ridiculousnes. Sure it looked insane, yeah it feels weird, but it was important. Why? Because it taught everyone that your stance didn’t have to be a half squat position to be good at snowboarding, actually you could put your bindings where it felt best for YOU.
THE NOW. #DUH.
Slingshot and P. Wieland just released the video above titled “Who Is Dylan Miller” check it out above. He is not riding all the way out, and he is one of the most proper riders out now. Like he says, it really doesn’t matter. Do what feels best, and don’t be intimidated by those “all the way out” squatters. Enjoy.
AWAKE 