@ALPJr @101driver My suggestion to get up is work on a boom for several days. That helped me get the feeling of where my balance point was once the ski is on top of the water. Actually after just 3 days on the boom once in September, then twice in April I was ready to try long line. My first long line experience I had a 50% success rate at getting up. I don't worry at all about getting up today. After May and June I could cross the wakes and almost get the side slide. I did score my first side slide in a late June Tournament. My first tournament, success was just getting up and not crashing as we went around the island.
Today, I was successful with SS, FB, BF. I almost have the Reverse FB. I still can't quite get the reverse SS. It is missing about 10-15 degrees. My plan is to only do surface and wake tricks.
Tricking has helped me get away from being too slalom obsessive. Other than last week, I have only had 1 slalom + 1 trick set 3x week. Last week I did 2 slalom sets plus the trick set, and I just focused on my 32off's on the second slalom set.
Last thought, think seriously about using the boom. Even after you have mastered the deep water start, the boom is a great tool to get the feeling of the ski position for the side slide, and how to execute the back. It all helps to build confidence.
There is a good set of you tube videos search "Trick Skiing H5 Initial Tricks" by @trickskiing3561. There are 9 videos (H1-H9) from getting up, boat speed, rope length, to initial surface tricks.