Custom/Hybrid {{{Opinion's On Foot Hold Placement}}}

[Sanoman]

Seems like Mcdog tried to get some opinion's on "where" the placement of foot holds should be back a couple weeks ago.But no one really responded.

No doubt,it is all personal preference as to where each individual places his or here foot holds.But there must be some science or lite math to figure out which would be the best spot.Taking in consideration of said persons height,length of arms,and length of tray or just getting in the tray before any cuts are made to see what feels the most likely place.And also length of pole.

My current situation is a ski that has no pole installed and no holes cut for foot wells yet.So let's hear from some of ya veteran rider's how you figure before making that first cut.

Your opinions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Waternut]

Maybe there are exceptions to every rule but remember that I'm 6 feet tall with ape arms and chicken legs yet I run a stock length pole with stock length turn plate and 4° bars. Used pretty much a similar setup on my SN too. I face forward and rarely ride without both feet in the footholds.

They do have the laser geometry type devices for bicycles that can tell you where all of your major stress points are. Not sure if any of this technology could be adapted to jetski's but even if it could, I think the biggest hurdle would be hull angle (call it angle of attack). None of ride with the hull perfectly level and as your speed increases your angle of attack changes as well. So you could really only setup your ski for one specific speed.

My rules of thumb:
Back pains after a short ride: lengthen pole and/or add a pole spring
Nose rides too high: move footholds up (NOT shorten pole)
Inability to sink or work rear end of ski: D cut rideplate and/or shorten hull
Pain in the back of my hand while riding: use smaller grips and/or find a finger throttle with less throw
Blisters in hands after a day or weekend: buy kevlar gloves (buy the size below the one that fits you in the store bc they expand slightly when wet)
Toe pains after kicking into holds: remove padding and/or turf from the top of footholds and add turf back to the top of your shoe except where you had toe pain


I know there are other things that I've done that I couldn't think of but maybe this will be a good start. As it stands though, I can typically ride my ski until I run out of gas, my heart feels like it's about to explode, or I'm so hot that I need to drop into the water to cool off. I generally don't have back pains or any other form of fatigue pains when I ride.

 

[chriselmore_1]

I like my foot holds as far back a they can go. I've tried them further up and it's deff Easier to throw the ski around in a wide stance back there. Just my opinion.I also usually cut the back half of the foothold off and cut off a bunch off the back of the gunwale so I can kick straight in and not gave to do it a bunch of times at Assn angle to lock in just right

 

[Sanoman]

John,thanks for your opinion.Makes a lot of sense.

Chriselmore,l have to agree with you too.My rok is set up towards the very back without any issues.

Anyone else?

 

[Aircraftsalz]

I ride left foot forward so I run a strap on the left front of the tray... Im not a big fan of a front foothold pocket as i feel your not locked in or scure when going big or inverted. I don't run it tight, rather loose ... In my XFR I added a pad to the left foothold that keeps my foot secure in the front strap

As for footholds, flatwater I like them 1-2 in forward from the normal position.. Surf either at the rear or 2 in forward don't matter now either way feels fine... I do like a surf skis that have open holds so you can kick straight in.. I do like mine tight, one good kick and your locked..

My pole has to be at least at the hood latch, but normally 2-3 in front of the hood latch...

Thats my input for holds, really comes down to where you like them and not what another person likes...

 

[Waternut]

Here's an idea for you guys trying to set up new ski's. Take your old hull and elevate the nose in your shop and stand in the tray until it feels roughly how it does when you're cruising. Now copy that angle on the new hull, install your pole, and stand where you think would be the most comfortable for a few minutes without moving around and see if you start to get any pains.

Note I keep talking about comfort and not performance. I know there are multiple things I can do to make my riding position more aggressive which in turn would make tricks easier. I'm not as old as most of the people I've ridden with but my body doesn't take the abuse very well so to prolong my fun, I modify my stance accordingly. I prefer to enjoy rec riding for 2-3 hours as opposed to back flipping and doing rolls for 15-30 minutes and sitting on the bank for the rest of the afternoon with a lower back on fire and pain shooting through the rest of my body.

 

[Sanoman]

Thats my input for holds, really comes down to where you like them and not what another person likes...

That has been my opinion all along,Josh.l just would have liked more experienced riders like yourself and John to have chimed in on the placement.Basically getting a general consciences of the best position.

l ride goofy and also have a strap on the (right) front of the tray on the rok.l'm also bought another footstrap (aka ankle breaker!) for the left rear by the foothold to try this year.l have been gun shy in making my footholds very snug.After tearing my acl out a few years ago,l just did not feel confident enough to having my feet tied down for fear of ing it up again.But after riding with the strap and somewhat snug footholds this past year,l'm ready to make them tighter.

And post #6 is a neat idea John!

 

[Billybo455]

mine are about 2 inches further forward then normal. running a -2 pole with wdk steering. seems to be a good spot for everyone that rides the ski.

 

[McDog]

I'm thinking I may go normal position or maybe forward one inch. I am 6'2 and only kick into both footholds to do backflip or roll attempts. I prefer to ride normal surf stance 95% of the time. I'm too chicken to do a footstrap so I will do my custom front foothold that goes into the gunwhale again. I can wedge my foot in that pretty tight. Similar to kicking in but more of a wiggle and push in. I will figure out some way to kick my back foot into the hold for surf stance too. Maybe something similar to Jetmaniac's but hopefully I can incorporate it into the existing foothold and not have to add part of another foothold to the rear.

 

[Billybo455]

any one else notice the title?

 

[McDog]

That opinions shouldn't be possessive or that we are talking about Superfreaks here but didn't specify?

 

[chasingdaylight]

The fx of mine you rode at daytona has the foot holds like four inches to far back. Thats the biggest mistake i made making that thing.
I put new foot (hoods) in the sj a few weeks ago and moved them 2 inches forward,. droped the front 1 inch and the rear about 1/2-3/4 inch. they are now start 11 inches behind the fire wall and the pole is between the hood hindge and hood seal. biggest inprovement i have done yet, tho i have back issues so maybe that helps me out some too.. mike at x-scream is doing close to the same mod on his right now..
Draw back of droping and lowering. You have to make a new custom exhaust tube..
You also have a learning curve on balance of the ski... the first few boat wakes i hit i thought i was going to complete a front flip. after 3 weekends of riding balance is no issue but back feels so much better.
you do change center balance of ski a lot...

 

[chad]

I wondered about the foot hood placement aswell

 

[Billybo455]

no, foot hoods......

 

[McDog]

Ha ha. Optical illusion kept me from seeing it.

 

[Sanoman]

any one else notice the title?

The fx of mine you rode at daytona has the foot holds like four inches to far back. Thats the biggest mistake i made making that thing.
I put new foot (hoods) in the sj a few weeks ago and moved them 2 inches forward,. droped the front 1 inch and the rear about 1/2-3/4 inch. they are now start 11 inches behind the fire wall and the pole is between the hood hindge and hood seal. biggest inprovement i have done yet, tho i have back issues so maybe that helps me out some too.. mike at x-scream is doing close to the same mod on his right now..
Draw back of droping and lowering. You have to make a new custom exhaust tube..
You also have a learning curve on balance of the ski... the first few boat wakes i hit i thought i was going to complete a front flip. after 3 weekends of riding balance is no issue but back feels so much better.
you do change center balance of ski a lot...

I wondered about the foot hood placement aswell

no, foot hoods......

OK! l fixed already! Now can we get back to the foot hold issue!

Man,you guys are a tough crowd

 

[Sanoman]

That opinions shouldn't be possessive or that we are talking about Superfreaks here but didn't specify?

And yes we are talking superfreaks.

Pat,what you posted is exactly what l want to prevent.But so many factors are involved in correct placement.l am about 95 % sure of where l want them,but again as others have said,it all depends on "rider preference"

 

[tom21]

there is no way to calculate this, every ski rides different and there are so many variable in any setup to the next that makes them different hull length, pole length, rideplate, power. and then by person to person its just too hard. the only thing that I can say to be even remotely helpful is to ride the ski and see where the comfortable spot is to stand. or where you think you will need to stand for the type of riding you do and your personal style.

just because you wear a size 10 does not mean that every size 10 shoe will be comfortable or fit you.

 

[chasingdaylight]

And yes we are talking superfreaks.

Pat,what you posted is exactly what l want to prevent.But so many factors are involved in correct placement.l am about 95 % sure of where l want them,but again as others have said,it all depends on "rider preference"

If i got a 95% percent on a test i would call that perfect... So do it bro....

 

[sjetrider]

John,thanks for your opinion.Makes a lot of sense.

Chriselmore,l have to agree with you too.My rok is set up towards the very back without any issues.

Anyone else?

My RoK's had them all the way to the rear and I just cut both sets out and am moving the forward by 2". The further forward you can be and still have leverage on the rear the better I think. The shorter you can get your pole the more control you have over the ski as well.
My pole is short but I want it shorter and with the holds to the back it wasnt going to work. Look at all the freaks, the holds are way forward, look at the Kongs, all way forward. The shorter the hull in the rear the more forward you need to be with your holds.

Just my opinion. I can measure the holds in the -5 and see where they are and you can figure from there if ya want. I will also measure the pole. I think you and Keith are simular hieghts right. So in theory you would need them about an inch further back than his because your running a longer hull. Right????????????