Double-ups have really allowed wakeboarding to progress to the next level. They definitely helped me land the first backside 900 and gave Danny Harf the boot to land a 1260. Wakeboarding wouldn’t be where it is today without double-ups, but they aren’t easy to tame. I hit at least 12 of them a day — about four each time I wakeboard — and nothing can help you master them more than practice. — Rusty Malinoski
Get behind the wheel: I suggest you start by actually driving double-ups and watching how they unfold. This will let you create a vision in your mind of how to approach them, and that’s the first step. You also want to make sure you have an experienced wakeboard boat driver when it’s your turn on the water. You can only hit a double-up as well as someone can steer one, so driving is pretty important when you’re making your first attempts.
Start small: Don’t go for broke right out of the gate. Instead, focus on your timing. Go for a simple grab and get used to the feeling. I actually used to learn most of my wakeboarding tricks off the double-up because it gave me more height and distance, so I had more time to really focus on the move. Once I got it dialed, I’d move it to the wake.
Pick your preference: I like to hit my double-ups T-ed up, meaning the rollers are at a 90-degree angle to the boat. This gives you more straight-up pop and height off the wake. If you open them up a little more, they tend to give you more distance, so it’s all a matter of preference.
High roller: Which roller you hit also affects how you’ll get booted. If you’re trying to go really big, the third roller is usually your best choice. But if you’re looking to land a more technical move, the second roller is a better option, because you’ll actually have less tension in the rope.
Get punted: The bottom line is there’s no better feeling than going huge off a double-up behind my X-Star and getting absolutely booted as big as I can go. So don’t be afraid to get out there and hit them. You never know what you can land with that extra push.
Photo: Aaron Katen
