On my way home.

Weeks like these remind myself how much I love wakeboarding! 

And it's been so good, tried Raileys off the skate, started going for switch Frontrolls and switch Scarecrows. Just like every new trick I rushed way too much, but still they were so close, I nearly had that switch Scarecrow done in one set. First new trick next season for sure. A couple of Tootsie Roll attempts, switch TS 540 close and I have switch Tantrums solid now! A sketchy TS Backroll, and got back Scarecrows. Nice week!

Thanks to team Xtreme Gene for taking care of me and Manyasha! Thanks Carro, DC, Dylan and Andres for coaching!

London gave my body a big shock when I walked out of the Gatwick terminal. +1 C was unexpected for sure! Quick run from train to tube to train to cousin's house begging her to let me in, haha! 

She shared her warm clothes, pair of warm socks, because my shoe choice is flip-flops or Crocs slippers and went to Hyde Park and Camdens later on. I really like how different London can be from part to part. Now looks like we are going out to a Halloween party! Should go and get ready!

Pictures coming on the next post from Riga, the cables are packed too deep to get them out now. 

Have fun!

~LI

Spain, Xtreme Gene 5

Went to Cordoba last night, had a great time with Team Xtreme.

Raileys today!

Being here the whole week, watching others riding and pulling away all those tricks is really inspiring to get out there and try it myself.

Finally I did it. Tried the Railey off the skate behind the boat. I managed to go all the way out! Early take off and standing up tall towards the boat made the landings bad though. However I'm really happy I gave it a go! Definitely achievable!

Thanks to Carro and DC for being in the boat, making sure I don't die out there and encouraging!

Tootsie Roll drills after that and one attempt, where I managed to tap the handle, but didn't grab it yet (chicken noise).

Raining now so looks like more rides coming up tomorrow.

Spain, Xtreme Gene 4

Sunny and warm out here today! 

Been a tiring day, taking a lot of crashes. Started off with TS Backrolls, overthrowing all but two. So a couple more under my belt. 

Beginning of the next set did some of the regular tricks, a solid Frontroll landing and then a super early Tantrum take off which literally made me eat the wake and then smacked me on my back. Ouch! Kept going, landed a sketchy Tantrum, went straight into a switch Tantrum and did it so much better than the other! Still can't believe it! 

Then tried Tootsie Rolls again, starting to understand the pull, but still freaking out once upside down, so didn't reach for the handle even when I'd turned it in. Oh well.

Third set switch 540s, still taking off super-early so missing a little bit on the rotation.

Looking forward to something completely new tomorrow, time to figure out what's it going to be! 

~LI

Spain, Xtreme Gene 3

Been a good day out here!

First set trying billions of Indy Shiftys to prepare for the Batwing which I never got, haha. 

Second set did a massive switch Tantrum, then tried HS BS 180s, quite close, but still coming down on my heels, then went for switch TS 540s, it was totally not my day for them and it never came around. 

Delicious chicken breast salad for lunch, going in the boat, watching DC and Carro ride for some inspiration and then off to my sets. 

Tried the TS BR, I'm so freaked out about under-rotating that I kept doing 1 1/4 rolls the whole time. On the final set for today I managed to land two, hooray! Then started trying Tootsie Rolls. Went for two tries, it feels weird, but definitely achievable, so that's something I want to keep trying while I'm here!

Resting now and preparing for tomorrow!

Spain, Xtreme Gene 2

Hey, hey!

It's been a great day out here! Had two good sets behind the 210 in the morning. Had a good warm up with some inverts and HS 360, then went on trying toeside 540s. They're nothing close to ride away, because I start spining so early it throws me off axis and out of control. That's something I still need to work on a lot. 

Then on the second set went straight into switch Tantrums, it took me ages to set up, but when I started doing them every next one went better and better, after 3 good tries and letting the handle go I finally landed one! Then Carro was shouting from the boat to do a Halfcab Roll which ended up looking like a switch Backroll where I let my hands go once upside down. Got it all the way round, just still have no idea where I am in the air. Haven't worked them out on the trampoline either, so it's a bit tricky travelling that direction. 

Anyway. After that got straight into another 2 switch Tantrums in a row! Felt so good as if I've been landing them for ages. Then another Halfcab Roll attempt, this time I actually made it closer to it, but still letting go half way up in the air. 

Got windy in the afternoon, so we decided to wait for our sets and get some tan. Instead of calming down the only thing the wind brought was cold air and showers, so more riding postponed to tomorrow. 

And thanks to Manyasha my today's sets are in video, that's a start for a montage!

More news tomorrow.

~LI

Spain, Xtreme Gene 1

Started riding yesterday and had a super-nice first set, did most of my tricks and then started working on switch toe 3. I've landed it a few times, but it's nowhere near being consistent as I keep over rotating. So today I started going for the switch toe 540, got the spin around, but ended up back foot heavy as I obviously took off early. 

Then on the second set today I decided to give a go for the Scarecrow again, focused really well on doing it just like on the trampoline and landed my first one way out into the flats! Felt so good! Then tried Indy Tantrum, but my energy was so low by then I kept on missing the board, haha! Finished the second set with a clean Frontroll landing, so happy about that! It's only the second time this season I've done it! 

Will take my camera down for the third set so I actually have some footage from Spain. :) 
 EDIT:
It went cloudy in the afternoon so video shooting is postponed. I had a nice third set, got that Scarecrow massive and out into the flats with the first try again! Then went for the Toeside Backroll, it's pretty close every time now, just have to fix that bending on the last part of it.

I did a lot of stretching after my set, so it's a bit easier. Then Carro and Dylan went out for a set each. Carro did insane, throwing Whirlys and Raileys like it's no big deal. With Dylan I actually had trouble recognizing tricks, had never seen a Front Mobe, so impressed!

It's moments like these when I get my inspiration, I see someone doing it, so it feels real and achievable. Looking forward to tomorrow!

~LI

Amazing photos from 2012 by E.Glotovs

For more wakeboarding photos click HERE.