Wakesurf How To

[djFL]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone out there could give us a few pointer tips on how to wakesurf the right way. We've been trying it and playing around with different ways and speeds but havent really been able to stay up with out a rope. Whats the usual speed, rope length, etc... I have a 20V, but dont have ballast, so i was wondering how it should be wieghted with possibly a few big guys or something. If someone could help me out that would be great. Thanks.

[chpthril]

Ballast will help A LOT, whether it's dead weight or peeps. As a beginner, the bigger the wake, more the push you get and this makes it easier to find and stay in the pocket. And also, dont be in a hurry to drop the rope. When is goes slack, just hang on to it.

Also, what board are you riding and how much do you (or other riders) weight) This can have a huge impact on the ability to free-ride.

[somebodyelse5]

ok, youve come to the right place! Also check out wakeworld.com Good group of guys over there as well.
Im sure Jeff will be on soon and tell you more but basically have everyone sit on the side you plan to be surfing. Weight in the back adds height, weight up front adds length to the pocket (surfable part of the wave)

Speed really depends on boat, but I also have a 20V so I might be able to give you some more specific numbers. Try setting the taps between 4-6, speed anywhere from 10.3 up to 11.2 depending on weight in the boat. I have found that with more weight, you can up the speed, and with more speed you can up the taps. Anything past 6 on the taps gives you a rooster tail at the start of the wave.

as for the actually surfing part, do you have any video or pictures? We could help you a lot easier that way. But make sure you keep your weight centered, and shift some weight forward to speed up, back to slow down. It takes some practice but with time you'll get it. Jeff or ragboy can do a better job explaining here im sure.

check out wake9.com as well, they have some instructional videos on there somewhere.

No one can give you a really solid rope length unless they have the exact same boat set up as you, but i can tell you how we figure our length out. You want to have the rope so you surf a little bit past the center of the pocket, thats how we have ours set at least. A long rope while learning is hard, gets in the way and you end up in a real awkward initial position as the wave is forming.

Hope that helped!! Surfing is a blast, we rarely bring anything to the lake to ride besides surf boards.....whats a wakeboard again....

[djFL]

thanks alot for the help, My son is the main person who will be riding and he weighs about 115-120. We are using an obrian board which is 4'6".

[dogbert]

Wake9 is a good place as is www.howtowakesurf.com

[somebodyelse5]

thanks alot for the help, My son is the main person who will be riding and he weighs about 115-120. We are using an obrian board which is 4'6".

That board should work perfectly. On our 4'4" coex we've had up to 175 free riding.

Its a blast huh? I really got into it when the doc told me i could wakeboard anymore, its not good when a 17 year gets compression fractures in his back and slips some discs.

Been surfing for the past 2 or 3 years, and can do it fine with the back, you cant really wreck yourself when your only going 11 mph!!

[Jason B]

I have a 20v and normally a small crew. I stick 2 V-drive sacks in the rear port locker (about 800# I think) and I have a sack that perfectly fits under the port seats running from the rear locker to the most forward wall (prolly another 250-350#. My taps relay is out so I can't help ya with the taps, mine stays at 1. We surf between 9.8 and 10.5 mph. I could be wrong, but I don't think you'll have a very easy time making a good wake with no ballast at all unless you have some HUGE buddies to use instead of water.

Let me just say--it is NOT as easy as it looks!!!! So don't get down on yourselves for not killling it right away. It takes some time to learn.

IS there anyone in your area you could hook up with that may have a more surf friendly boat already dialed in so you can kinda learn with their help?

Buy some sacks off ebay or used sacks off Wakeworld, you can always sell them for almost exactly what you pay for them (minus shipping) if you find you don't want them. They sell extremely fast when posted in the classified section.

X2 on visiting the other sites listed above.

[chadster2]

Holding onto rope is a big yes… holding onto rope with big slack is a never! We have an extra loop in our rope for the ski pylon, so we can shorten the rope after the person gets up. Slack can get tangled and caught on things. (It’s a BIG DEAL! One of the few problems with surfing, crashing the deck is the other). And too much weight is the best weight.
I use a bulk bag for farming $15 and 1500# + fat sacs. more is better.

[Duncan]

Tips for getting out of the water are: first low power phase, board comes up to feet and rider tries to keep board perpendicular to boat; second medium power phase, rider does a leg press away from the boat (i.e., does not try to roll up on top of the board in a crunch) with a little ab crunch to keep shoulders out of water; and before third full power phase (to 10.5 mph), rider gets down the soft wake to the outside before wake fully forms.

Two best tips I use for new riders once up are get the front foot more toe side (most stay heavy on heels for stability) and point the board parallel to the boat (most angle away from boat because of heel edge stability and fear of the transom).

I think alot of getting a new rider up is the driver. The finesse between that low, medium, and full power phase can be different for each rider. For new riders, I usually turn into the wake side a bit to keep them outside the wake. I also wait for that full power phase until they are able to slide down the semi-formed wake. It can help stability if a rider heel edges outside a bit and then creeps slowly back in towards the sweet spot.

I am interested in opinions re above advice -- always looking to be more clear and effective with helping a rider get up.

[somebodyelse5]

Tips for getting out of the water are: first low power phase, board comes up to feet and rider tries to keep board perpendicular to boat; second medium power phase, rider does a leg press away from the boat (i.e., does not try to roll up on top of the board in a crunch) with a little ab crunch to keep shoulders out of water; and before third full power phase (to 10.5 mph), rider gets down the soft wake to the outside before wake fully forms.

Two best tips I use for new riders once up are get the front foot more toe side (most stay heavy on heels for stability) and point the board parallel to the boat (most angle away from boat because of heel edge stability and fear of the transom).

I think alot of getting a new rider up is the driver. The finesse between that low, medium, and full power phase can be different for each rider. For new riders, I usually turn into the wake side a bit to keep them outside the wake. I also wait for that full power phase until they are able to slide down the semi-formed wake. It can help stability if a rider heel edges outside a bit and then creeps slowly back in towards the sweet spot.

I am interested in opinions re above advice -- always looking to be more clear and effective with helping a rider get up.

I definitely agree with that, Its hard to explain exactly what to do to be a good driver, but just spend a lot of time surfing and teaching others and you will understand. A lot of it is reading the rider your teaching while they are in the water, when to put it in gear, slow pull/fast pull, which way to cut (if necessary) yada yada, youll get it, just keep tryin!

[Duncan]

I definitely agree with that, Its hard to explain exactly what to do to be a good driver, but just spend a lot of time surfing and teaching others and you will understand. A lot of it is reading the rider your teaching while they are in the water, when to put it in gear, slow pull/fast pull, which way to cut (if necessary) yada yada, youll get it, just keep tryin!

Especially hard driving where we ride: in a chute off the Mississippi River with a 3-5 mph current. To make that starting gradual turn in, I have to be about 30-45 degrees off my eventual upstream pull direction -- which is taking the current broadside against the boat. It can be a battle lining up the rider on the outside, amplified by a new rider taking a little longer to get setup. Port wake makes it tough, first haivng to toss rider the rope on the starboard side (too dangerous to pass on non-driver side) and second get the rider swung around the boat to the port starting spot. Dark side much easier to drive because the rider is on your side.

Adding to all this, the boat handles like a brick with 1300 lbs ballast (plus people) and the rub rail in the water. I love my 409 engine for this. And I saw an immediate difference when I replaced the prop mainly for surfing. Nonetheless, everything should be done very SLOW when picking up a rider.

[Dave S]

I am new as well to wakesurfing but check out that wake9 vids on youtube, that may help as well. It helped me.

[Guapo]

X2 with all that Duncan said. I couldn't have said it any better. My wife hates driving the boat, but she's gotten really good at pulling surfers....which is great for me! But also, when we're surfing off the port side, I'll have her drive simply because of weight....when we surf on the darkside, I'll drive...for the weight reasons...

[Duncan]

The wake9 vids (and Ragboy) are awesome

But one thing to remember is Ragboy uses a rope mount point on the side of his tower. Such placement avoids many of the difficulties with keeping a novice rider outside the wake (i.e., no turn in necessary, limited need for medium to full power transition to ease down the wake).