The grip at the end of the tow rope — German riders simply call it the “dumbbell”. It belongs calmly at hip height, with your arms staying long.
German riders call the handle a “dumbbell”, which sounds like the gym but simply means the grip you hang from — and almost every beginner mistake in wakeboarding revolves around it. The most common cause of falls is yanking the handle to your chest: the arms bend, your centre of gravity tips upward, and the pull suddenly has no line to work along. The opposite is right — arms extended, handle calm at hip height, taking the pull through your edge and legs rather than your arms. More important still is the reflex when you go down: let the handle go immediately. Hold on and the pull tears at a straightened arm, and a dislocated shoulder is among the most common serious wakeboarding injuries. Drill the release deliberately until it happens without thought — in the real moment there is none to spare.