gordon harrsion_sunset flash (small) - garrison

A stalefish grab and a solid poke can make a simple back roll look insane. A killer sunset and some pro flash setups don’t hurt either… Photo: Chris Garrison

 

This Come Correct instructional is from the April 2013 issue of Alliance Wakeboard Magazine.

Stalefish back roll w/ Gordon Harrison

The back roll is often times the first invert you learn on a wakeboard, but that doesn’t mean you should land it and leave it in the dust. Even the “easiest” tricks can look great when you add a grab and some of your personality and style to them. The back roll can be tweaked with all sorts of grabs, either front hand or back hand. As you saw in this issue’s Big Picture, Gordon Harrison has a sweet looking stalefish back roll. Want to learn how? Read on.

 

1. I take more of a short, progressive edge for this trick. You don’t need to cut as far out as you would for “trip flips” like tantrums. Edge all the way through the wake and stand tall to get as much straight up pop as you can.

 

2. This is sort of a combination between a “Mexican roll” back roll and the traditional “cartwheel” style. Picture yourself coming into the wake pretty tall heavy with your shoulders square to the wake. I think about looking over my front shoulder to initiate the move and keep it going but then throwing my head down and into my chest. Having your head turned will also help you spot the boat the throughout the move and help you spot your landing early.

 

3. Keep the handle in tight to your front hip, so you can rotate around it. It will help you guide the back roll all the way around. As you leave the wake you can keep the handle tight with your front hand while releasing your back hand and getting the stalefish grab. To get the grab really looking good I initiate the flip and think about keeping my front leg up in my stomach while pushing my back foot toward the boat to tweak the grab more.

4. Hold the grab all the way through the roll, it’s easy to do with the stalefish grab if you get the grab early. Spotting the landing is easy with this trick, too. When you do, extend your legs to absorb the landing, and keep the handle in so you don’t get pulled over the front.

20130116-_AC_905520130116-_AC_905620130116-_AC_905720130116-_AC_905820130116-_AC_905920130116-_AC_906020130116-_AC_906120130116-_AC_906220130116-_AC_906320130116-_AC_906420130116-_AC_906520130116-_AC_906620130116-_AC_906720130116-_AC_906820130116-_AC_907020130116-_AC_9072

Sequence: Garrett Cortese