Written by Lacey Menken.

Don’t Be Intimidated
Sure there are always cable rats who spend every single day at the park. It may seem like everyone else there knows what they are doing. But here’s the thing: every one of them showed up at the cable for the very first time just as intimidated and clueless as any beginner would be. We all have to start somewhere. Don’t get the impression that everyone is watching you. They aren’t. Everyone else is too busy concentrating on their own riding to notice a mistake made by a newcomer. A lot of cable parks have several cables, one for beginners and another more advanced one. Don’t be too proud to start on the slower cable. You can always move over to the more advanced cable once you get more comfortable. 

The Cable Operator Is Your Friend
Talk to the cable operators, ask them for advice – it’s what they are there for! Cable parks hire operators who are social, outgoing and like to teach. They are paid to sit and run the cable. So they are free to watch you and are knowledgeable on how to fix your mistakes. I asked my local friendly cable operator, Sascha Peschi, how he felt about people asking for advice and this is what he told me: “ I’m not psychic. I can’t tell if it’s your first time. I can’t tell if you’re struggling. If you need help, just ask! It’s what I’m here for. I’m not just a monkey pushing buttons!” So there you have it.

Getting Up
Getting up at the cable is a lot like dock starting so if you have ever tried to dock start, you should have a good idea of what it’s like. Sit with your feet on the board, keeping the board out in front of you. Keep your knees bent and the handle in towards your lead hip (You’ll hear me say this A LOT because keeping your knees bent and the handle in are important for everything you do on the cable). Don’t worry about trying to stand up. Let the cable do the work and pull you up. If you try to stand up on your own rather than letting the cable pull you up, you’re probably just going to face-plant in front of the start dock. Which isn’t a huge deal. Lots of people fall trying to get up their first time. According to Sascha, even on a slow day at least a dozen people fall getting up. So if you do fall just swim in and get back in line. As the saying goes: If you fall of your horse….etc, etc.

Taking the Corners
Going around the corners is one of the trickier aspects of riding the cable. Here’s how you do it: Edge out in between the buoys (those buoys are there for a reason!) Keep your eye on the cable and watch to see when the cable pulling you makes the turn around the corner. Just before the cable makes the turn, turn your board in the direction you are going to go.  Once again, make sure to keep the handle in and your knees bent!

Hitting Obstacles
Almost all cables have a box and in my opinion, this is the best slider to begin with on a wakeskate. However hitting any slider involves the same basics. Start under the cable and take a direct edge to whatever obstacle you are going to hit. Just before you hit it, flatten off. KEEP THE HANDLE IN AND YOUR KNEES BENT. If you come off of the slider early, away from the cable, you probably edged too hard. If you come off towards the cable, you probably edged too soon or possibly cut back in before you hit the slider so you need to wait a little longer to take a direct edge out. If you want to try to hit some kickers edge the same as you would towards any obstacle. When you reach the top of the kicker suck your knees up otherwise you will lose your board. Then make sure to bend your knees and absorb the landing. 

Have Fun
Remember the best thing about the cable is that you aren’t relying on anyone else or taking up anybody else’s time by riding. It’s just you out there so enjoy it! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself right off the bat. It’s better to start with the basics and as you get more comfortable you can try more complicated maneuvers like frontboards, backlips, spinning, and doing tricks onto and off of the sliders. If you run out of ideas for things to try, watch others for inspiration. Don’t be intimidated get out there, and have fun!
 

GOOD CABLE ETIQUITTE Cables are growing in popularity worldwide, so cable etiquette has become an increasingly important aspect of everyday riding. When you are on the cable simultaneously with multiple riders, there are some manners that you need to practice to make your ride, as well as others, as fun as possible.
Writer: unknown 

1. If you do not plan to hit the sliders, ride as close as possible to the obstacles so that your rollers are not going to be in the way of the riders behind you.

2. If your name is Kelly Slater then slash the water like him x the ocean. We are not at the beach; we are at the cable park. You should try to avoid making the cable shake because it can make it difficult and unsafe for other riders to hit the obstacles.

3. If you like air tricks, you should try throwing the air tricks in the same straightaway as someone who is not hitting an obstacle. Similar to Rule #2, this shakes the cable and could make it unsafe for riders who are about to hit sliders.

4. If you fall on an obstacle, do not take the time to take your board off before moving out of the way. Simply SWIM OUT OF THE WAY to the middle of the cable line, then take your board off, leaving you free from the path of someone coming on or off an obstacle.

5. Before going onto an obstacle, look ahead to make sure there are no fallen riders swimming near the obstacle if you are about to hit it, (duuuuuhh).

6. Do not jump, ollie, or air trick over swimmers. All it takes is one mess up and someone will be spitting out Chiclets, which could cause you more problems than it xs worth.

7. If you feel you are not going to land the trick, do not try to hold on for as long as you can, just let it go. By holding on all you accomplish is severely shaking the cable, making it seem like the cable was just taken over by some inconsiderate, cable-shaking air tricker.

8. When you are on the dock, do not cuss or use foul language. Keep it clean.  Not only does it make you sound stupid, it is making way too many 10- and 11-year olds say some messed up stuff. This one is really getting out of hand, so be considerate. These kids look up to you as role models, so be a good one.

9. Just because you come to the cable every day does not mean you get an Express Pass to the handle. Because of people acting like this, others get less riding time. Just relax, you get to ride all the time. Let the newbies get out there and help our sport grow.

10. Your life is in the operator's hands, so please be respectful.

11. The handles are not self-serve. The operator will give the handle out when it is safe for you to have it. Be ready to go at any time.

12. Most importantly, if there is a full line of people on the dock, let xs not be that type of person that keep doing all the tricks he knows he will land to stay riding. So try this: After about three laps, try a new trick, and if you fall it gives someone else on the dock a chance to ride, while you have just challenged yourself. 

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