Freestyle Having problems staying in the tray on jumps

[Stunts]

I am new to riding this year and working on 180s, 180 inverts etc etc but I find myself falling out of the tray a lot. I have footholds but HATE the feeling and lose my balance riding like that. I only feel comfortable in surf stance. My ski is built for the surf, but I am honing my skills first before attempting that animal. I have a front foot strap but it doesn't feel quite right (bought the ski with everyone installed already). I like my foot up as far as possible. I am thinking about pancake pete front foot holds although I have never glassed or anything before, hate to rip apart the ski when its riding season. Also my back foot is falling out the most, but I can't put it in the hold, too akward. Maybe get front holds and move the strap to the back? But I fall a lot being a beginner so I am scared having my feet strapped to the ski. Any advice on keeping my feet in the tray? I don't know if I will ever be able to ride flatwater since footholds are the most akward feeling!

BTW where can I buy PP front holds? Is canadian-freestyle the only place that sells them?

 

[AtomicPunk]

I dont like holds much either, I ride almost exclusively surf stance. I have a PPFFH and it works good. But I have to admit when I ride my buddy's ski with front foot strap I like it better. One side of his strap is attached to the side of gunwale the other is to the bottom of the tray. You may need to find the right spot for your strap.

The PP front foot hold is SUPER easy to install. No glasswork necessary. I bolted mine through the firewall on the bottom lip.

 

[Stunts]

Yeah I may move my front strap and add a second one to the back. With the holes the old spot leaves, do I glass over that or just fill it with some kind of epoxy? I just get paranoid about having my feet strapped to my ski, if something goes wrong. What bolts/screws do you use to install? Just a SS selftapping? I am a complete noob to any hull work on the ski. Thanks for the help.

 

[Stunts]

I am ordering another dakine X lace strap and the installation kit from blowsion, anything wrong with doing it that way? I'd rather not rip up the turf and do the aluminum plate epoxied install, too messy and time consuming. I think having a rear strap will greatly keep me in the tray and hopefully on my ski!

 

[wydopen]

just drop a couple course thread stainless screws throught the tray...

 

[Stunts]

I picked up the installation kit with it, they say no leaks, we'll see. This ski was just redone so I'd like to keep the foam dry.

 

[motozachl]

Well you don't really ride with your feet in the holds the entire time. I switch stances depending on what trick I am going to perform. For just regular riding/surf I ride like you with the left foot our front but keep my right foot in the hold all the time.

But when I am doing a sub or aerial stunt then I move my left foot back into the holds for better control and to stay in the tray.

Also try padding your holds more or wear riding shoes if the holds aren't too comfortable

 

[Stunts]

I wear wrestling shoes, my feet feel fine, its just the stance feels so akward and I have no balance. Surf stance feels great and I can control the ski very well, but once in the air my feet tend to come out. I have been trying to jump into the holds real quick before hitting a wake but it just feels so weird. Guess I will try and keep at it, hoping that I will get used to riding in holds? I just have no idea how to control the ski especially around turns/setting up a wake.

 

[DK-Freestyle]

Just gotta get used to the holds, man. I hated them when I started, but if you stay in the holds the entire time for a few rides, you get used to riding like that. I always ride with both feet in the back, flat water or surf, but not while racing.

 

[Aircraftsalz]

Those holds on that ski aren't the best... But you gotta kick in & be tight to stay in....

Like DK said it just takes time, once you get use it to both footholds & surf stance will feel normal

 

[SXIPro]

If I am just messing around I ride right foot in hold, left foot up front. If I am gonna get real air I just slide the left foot into the other hold. It's second nature now.

 

[Patrick Star]

The Pancake Pete Front Foot Hold is superb. I put another layer of S glass on the inside of mine to make it stronger and glassed it in. I ordered mine un trimmed so I could see how it would fit in my tray since I had redone the gunnels.

He ships very fast too.

 

[mightymighty2stroke]

Just gotta get used to the holds, man. I hated them when I started, but if you stay in the holds the entire time for a few rides, you get used to riding like that. I always ride with both feet in the back, flat water or surf, but not while racing.

I agree with this (not like my newb opinion matters, but anyway). After installing holds I had a couple minutes of regret riding the first time, "eeek, what have I done". It felt awkward and I was so worried about getting a foot stuck and doing some damage to my leg (a la Matt_E). It's unnatural for me to stand with my toes pointed out, so it felt weird riding like that. But a few rides later I am really getting used to them and I loooove them.

 

[steve-uk]

BTW where can I buy PP front holds? Is canadian-freestyle the only place that sells them?

would make no sense you getting them from me as your in the states... contact pete directly hes on the forum

 

[Tyler Zane]

i understand where your coming from on the foot holds. i too dont like them but i ride more and more with my feet in them. i just feel off balance with them in the holds. i have a front foot hold that goes all the way across the front and i love it. i can switch stance, use the hold and play around a bit with everything.

 

[Stunts]

Thanks everyone for all the replies! Thats good news that I can get used to them and others had problems at first. From now on I will try to ride in the holds to get used to them, I am going to fall a lot now. I still ordered a new strap for the back that I will use for big waves. Thanks again.