times already. Oh, by the way, when using the comm system, same as your cuff, make sure to say my name first if you want to talk to me only. If you say ‘team’ first, all the racers and Coach can hear. And you’ll be offline for anyone not in the race.”
Geon nodded and the two changed into their suits and headed out to the waterways.
Oh my God.
The sight was incredible. Some of the students had already begun swimming to warm up and some of them had already begun riding their boards. Geon gasped as students zoomed around the water while standing crouched on the boards, one foot in front of the other. One student hit a water ramp and went flying furiously into the air, grabbing on to the front of the board and spinning 180 degrees. He hit the water smoothly and continued riding forward, this time with his opposite foot forward. It was incredible to see for the first time and Geon’s heart raced with anticipation.
Another rider nearby jumped into the air with the front of the board pointing to the sky, then pivoted the front of the board so it was perpendicular to the water, and dove straight into the water. Geon thought it was an accidental fall until the student came flying up out of the water about ten feet ahead of where he dove under. Unbelievable!
“C’mon, G. Let’s get in the water and get warm,” Sabien said while motioning to a rounded pool-like area to the side where student were swimming around. They put their boards down and both jumped in. The cold of the water was shocking to Geon at first, but he noticed his suit began to immediately warm up when he hit the water. Within a minute the water felt tolerable to him. It felt good to swim again and he dove down under the water and could see fairly clearly within a couple feet in front of him. Without direct sunlight, the vision was limited, but the goggles definitely helped. He shot to the surface and spit a stream of water into the air, laughing with delight.
Sabien laughed and said, “I knew you’d like it. You’re a natural aquatic, bro. Kumuki on the other hand, not so much. He loves it, but it’s not exactly his strong suit. Watch. Hey Kuki!” Sabien motioned to Kumuki, who was splashing around on the side of the waterway. “Dive in, Kuki!”
Kumuki smiled and jumped up on the side bank of the pool and prepared himself, crouching down, palms together and arms raised over his head.
“Here it comes,” Sabien said with a smile.
With a slight spring downward, he then pushed back up and jumped up into the air, without any rotation of his body. He landed perfectly upright into the water, feet first, with his hands still together and his arms stretched out over his head. Geon and Sabien laughed while other students in the pool and on the side chuckled as well.
“It’s the rotating part, you know,” Sabien said between his laughter. “It gets him every time. Okay, you feel warm yet? You ready to make some waves?” Geon nodded and the two headed toward the course.
They both got in the water and Sabien showed him how to strap into the board.
“Okay, it’s simple but very subtle. The slightest motions of your feet will determine the path of this board. If you start left foot forward, like me, then you lean your left foot toward its left edge to move forward. The more you lean, the faster it goes. To apply the hydro-brake, lean both feet inward. Now to turn you need to remember ‘toe-heel, heel-toe,’ okay? If you want to turn right, then push your left heel down and raise your left toes and push your right toes down and raise your right heel. If you want to turn left then do the opposite. If you want to switch to right foot forward stance, then it’s the same thing but in reverse. To move forward, push the right edge of the right foot down and the left edge of the right foot up. Got it? Good.”
Geon nodded but was already confused.
“Take it slow out there and don’t try any tricks or obstacles yet. I’ll keep an eye on you, but
Geon nodded and the two changed into their suits and headed out to the waterways.
Oh my God.
The sight was incredible. Some of the students had already begun swimming to warm up and some of them had already begun riding their boards. Geon gasped as students zoomed around the water while standing crouched on the boards, one foot in front of the other. One student hit a water ramp and went flying furiously into the air, grabbing on to the front of the board and spinning 180 degrees. He hit the water smoothly and continued riding forward, this time with his opposite foot forward. It was incredible to see for the first time and Geon’s heart raced with anticipation.
Another rider nearby jumped into the air with the front of the board pointing to the sky, then pivoted the front of the board so it was perpendicular to the water, and dove straight into the water. Geon thought it was an accidental fall until the student came flying up out of the water about ten feet ahead of where he dove under. Unbelievable!
“C’mon, G. Let’s get in the water and get warm,” Sabien said while motioning to a rounded pool-like area to the side where student were swimming around. They put their boards down and both jumped in. The cold of the water was shocking to Geon at first, but he noticed his suit began to immediately warm up when he hit the water. Within a minute the water felt tolerable to him. It felt good to swim again and he dove down under the water and could see fairly clearly within a couple feet in front of him. Without direct sunlight, the vision was limited, but the goggles definitely helped. He shot to the surface and spit a stream of water into the air, laughing with delight.
Sabien laughed and said, “I knew you’d like it. You’re a natural aquatic, bro. Kumuki on the other hand, not so much. He loves it, but it’s not exactly his strong suit. Watch. Hey Kuki!” Sabien motioned to Kumuki, who was splashing around on the side of the waterway. “Dive in, Kuki!”
Kumuki smiled and jumped up on the side bank of the pool and prepared himself, crouching down, palms together and arms raised over his head.
“Here it comes,” Sabien said with a smile.
With a slight spring downward, he then pushed back up and jumped up into the air, without any rotation of his body. He landed perfectly upright into the water, feet first, with his hands still together and his arms stretched out over his head. Geon and Sabien laughed while other students in the pool and on the side chuckled as well.
“It’s the rotating part, you know,” Sabien said between his laughter. “It gets him every time. Okay, you feel warm yet? You ready to make some waves?” Geon nodded and the two headed toward the course.
They both got in the water and Sabien showed him how to strap into the board.
“Okay, it’s simple but very subtle. The slightest motions of your feet will determine the path of this board. If you start left foot forward, like me, then you lean your left foot toward its left edge to move forward. The more you lean, the faster it goes. To apply the hydro-brake, lean both feet inward. Now to turn you need to remember ‘toe-heel, heel-toe,’ okay? If you want to turn right, then push your left heel down and raise your left toes and push your right toes down and raise your right heel. If you want to turn left then do the opposite. If you want to switch to right foot forward stance, then it’s the same thing but in reverse. To move forward, push the right edge of the right foot down and the left edge of the right foot up. Got it? Good.”
Geon nodded but was already confused.
“Take it slow out there and don’t try any tricks or obstacles yet. I’ll keep an eye on you, but
Similar Books
