Here's the deal. It's winter, we didn't have any photos of a wakeboarder doing an Indi Grab, it was cold, the snow seemed inviting, and the water did not. Score one for the snow and we were off to Sun Peaks to gets some photos of snowboarders doing indis instead. We promise to publish an indi wakeboarding photo sequence, at www.shuswapsnb.com or www.waterski.ca, as soon as it's warm enough for riders to show us the move while not wearing a drysuit. With help from our Kiwi mate, Mick Gundry, and local boarding enthusiast, Josh McLean, we've put together this 'How to do an Indi Grab' instructional for you. We chose this trick because it's usually the first grab riders try and we think it crosses over nicely from water to snow or the other way around. When you look at these photos just imagine Mick and Josh have handles in their front hands. Grabs should be done clearing both wakes, so as soon as you're getting good enough air to clear both wakes, give an indi a go. On Water STEP 1 Do a nice progressive heelside carve toward the wake, building intensity all the way to the crest of the wake, as you would for a very large two-wake air. Make sure you maintain solid body position, head up looking in the direction you're going, knees strong and slightly bent, handle in and down on your leading hip. STEP 2 Keep the board on its edge, both hands on the handle, with your knees bent but solid, until you come off the top of the first wake. STEP 3 Use your knees to lift the board up to your body, gently release your back hand from the handle, let it almost fall down between your knees to grab the toeside of the board, between your feet. STEP 4 On your first attempts it's okay to just touch the board between your feet but keep trying to hold the grab longer and longer as you get more confident with it. Be sure to keep looking in the direction you're going as you grab, and avoid looking down to see your board. STEP 5 Return your back hand to the handle, make sure your head's up looking where you're going, stretch your knees back out and soften them a bit for the landing. With the Indi dialled you can try all sort of grabs like the Stalefish, Nuclear, or Mute. On Snow by Mick Gundry The humble indi grab obviously came from skating where it serves a very important purpose. It also serves an important role in snow and wakeboarding. As well as looking super stylish it automatically positions your body in a very well-balanced manner, making it look good and feel good as you fly through the rad air. The indi may seem like a basic trick and that's because it is, however it can be performed 5 or 50 feet in the air, and if you grab and hold a solid indi, it looks great and feels soooooo nice. STEP 1 Build yourself a big fat azz kicker in the backcountry, or use the terrain park if your snow field has a good one. Approach the jump with a good amount of speed to land comfortably down the transition. Stay solid and centred over your board...launch. STEP 2 Get balanced in the air, then bring your knees up, delivering the board to your eagerly awaiting (back) hand as it reaches down. STEP 3 Grab indi with your back hand on your toe side between your knees. (Don't, whatever you do, grab tindi! If this happens all the cool people won't let you be their friend any more (and you'll probably never get sponsored). STEP 4 Hold the grab for a long time. If you choose to bone, this will actually help you to control and adjust your balance during flight. STEP 5 Spot your landing, release the grab as late as possible, stomp it clean, look around and smile. Because...........if you just stomped a stylish indi you've obviously 'got your mac on' and all the pretty ladies (or handsome guys) will be smiling right back at you. Coaching Tips Home Page Shuswapsnb.com Home Page

By Mike Gazley and Mick Gundry As published in waterski.ca magazine. Josh hangs on for the 8 second horn Mick gives his Indi a boned-out look.

Shuswap Lake Water Ski and Wakeboard Centre
Box 186, 1130 Riverside Avenue, Sicamous, B.C., Canada V0E 2V0
For bookings, orders or inquiries e-mail: mike@shuswapsnb.com
or call toll-free: 1-866-955-0917 within Canada or the USA
Phone: (250) 836-0081      Fax: (250) 836-0084

Web site work in progress by Mike Gazley.
Copyright 2002 WRGS Strategies Inc.