Various Wakeboarding Stances
A former professional skier, Keefe Gorman currently works as a wealth and investment advisor at Merrill Lynch. When not busy with his work at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman continues to lead a healthy, active lifestyle with activities ranging from golf to wakeboarding. The most basic skill that must be mastered by an amateur wakeboarder is learning to stand on the board. There are a number of stances an individual may assume. Deciding between a "goofy," or right foot forward stance, or a regular left-footed stance, is the first step. People's preference has nothing to do with whether they are right- or left-handed; rather, the best way to decide between goofy and regular is known as the push method. Boarders should ask a friend to gently push them off balance while they are standing on the board. The foot riders naturally use to steady themselves should be the one they choose. In order to perform certain maneuvers or out of necessity, wakeboarders may ride switch stance or fakie (using the opposite of their usual riding method). Stances can further be distinguished as toe side or heel side, indicating which portion of the foot is being leaned on.