RJ, Thomas, and Allison Soaring - Amazing Z3 Wake

[ragboy]

We just had our family wakeation which was a blast. Being self employed, I don't really ever take large amounts of time off, I am never really "off", but once a year we take off after lunch and had to the lake every day for a week. Everyone surfs every day, and it was a blast. Can't wait to edit a couple of videos, we had a bottom turn around a buoy contest, some serious spine action with a Z1, and just surfed our brains out. I am sore and popping advil.

Some pictures if you want to look:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wake9/...7646230802843/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wake9/...7646189235515/

The reason for the post is RJs boosting. We have found that our Convex VX actually sucks the boat down when you speed up and put the taps up a bit, so you can go faster, and the wake stays big, but gets super hard and also gets longer. It doesn't get smaller until you get up to almost 13 mph.

When the wake is hard like that from going a bit faster, he gets way more speed and the board actually releases off of the wake much cleaner. With a great shape and a good lip, and this effect, he is getting tons of pop. It took him a while to re-learn to land his tricks at the higher speed and different wake, but now he is landing them all the time and WOW!

Some Air.
IMG_9836 by wake9, on Flickr

IMG_9844 by wake9, on Flickr

These are good examples of his 180s.
IMG_0006 by wake9, on Flickr

He is getting as high on his 180s as he used to on his biggest airs.
IMG_0007 by wake9, on Flickr

IMG_0159 by wake9, on Flickr

Here is a good shot of him charging for a 180.
IMG_0040 by wake9, on Flickr

Here is one of Allison on the regular side, we set up the same way, and when she lands em, she is higher than she ever gets.
IMG_0386 by wake9, on Flickr

Even Thomas, although he is only going a bit faster, like 11.4 or so. Not there yet.
IMG_8434 by wake9, on Flickr

Anyway, we have never had this much fun, ever. I will have some video soon when I get a chance, but here is a screen grab from RJ during a late night ride in. Yes, he landed this.

[ragboy]

Oh, and in case you are wondering, it adjusts and mellows out JUST fine. Here is the SAME weight and setup, just 11.2 and taps 1.

IMG_4979 by wake9, on Flickr

IMG_0506 by wake9, on Flickr

[CarFanatic]

dude I cant wait!!

[kmo058]

What lake are you on? Water looks low but awesome. Looks like a blast!

[dodgeman]

Is that the new convex design? and new the new taps plate?

[ragboy]

Lake Oroville.

And yes and yes on the new VX and Taps plate. Since march or so.

[dodgeman]

What speed are you going and taps setting? Looks great, been waiting for my vx since march and no answers from Tige on when it will get here and summer is about over.

[ragboy]

Most riders go at 11.2, which we have calibrated to GPS. RJ and Allison and other pro or very good riders that we have introduced to it, have ridden at about 12 mph.

The young girls above are riding at about TAPS 1, maybe 2, usually 1. RJ and allison and I (for extra push) will ride at TAPS 3 or 4, and maybe up to 5 at 12mph.

Let me explain a bit more what we have done. We have been working on this since the end of last year, but have had the current VX on our boat since march. The setup maximizes the Coanda Effect. I know that sounds like a bunch of marketing hooey, but come ride my boat and feel it. ;-) What happens is that we adjusted the VX until we found a spot that actually PULLS the boat down. It acts just like a wing. So much so that the boat makes more wake with less weight. Significantly.

Here is the setup, with STOCK weight. Yes, we removed our bags and put the 350s back. Nothing else, but yes I was in the boat with a couple of kids. This video was filmed in late fall of 2013. We had at that time a special VX on the boat that we could adjust until we found the perfect angle and setup. The VX we have now matches that setting and is production prototype quality and sealed to the boat to maximize the Coanda Effect. This video is unlisted, as it was only for our eyes and we use videos like this to report back progress to Tige. So 350 bags, just pro stock, about 11 mph. Me and Maddie and Thomas in the boat.

[ragboy]

Here is another unlisted video, a quick test showing how effective the Coanda Effect is. We discovered this when we took Chase and Dom out and Chase wanted us to speed up, and the wake got bigger, we never expected that. What happens is with more speed, the VX will create more suction to a point. There is a point around 13 mph where it seems to start to release for plane and it doesn't do it anymore. You put the taps around 4-6 to tasted and go 12, and normally the wake would get longer, but smaller and lose push. Not with this setup, it gets bigger and longer and keeps the push.

This is Dan S riding. We call him Malibu Dan because last year he had a 2013 Bu 23LSV. He now owns a Z3 and after this video has been hounding me to get our setup on his boat. Listen closely to our interaction. He mentions how hard the wake stays, how he loves it, and how he wants it. Again, by the dates on this video you can see we have been working on this and testing it for quite some time.

[CarFanatic]

dude I can not wait!!!

[topaz surfer]

Good stuff Robert

[dodgeman]

Cool, So what happens to the wake with your custom sacs for those of us who bought them and are waiting for the vx?

[Travism]

Robert is this a completely different vx or just different brackets again ? How big of a difference is there compared to the vx I have on my 2012 with the updated brackets ?

Also what is the difference in the taps plate ?

[ragboy]

Cool, So what happens to the wake with your custom sacs for those of us who bought them and are waiting for the vx?

I am not quite sure I understand your question. Our bags work great, and were designed for the current VX, and not the new, but work great for both. With the new, you don't really need as much weight, and which is why the new Surf X on the Z3 and the Z1 will be outstanding with the new setup.

Robert is this a completely different vx or just different brackets again ? How big of a difference is there compared to the vx I have on my 2012 with the updated brackets ?

Also what is the difference in the taps plate ?

Its more than just brackets, but not a new shape. The current VX and brackets can be modified, but its a bit of work. As far as the taps plate, I answered that question in the "No Tige Surf System" thread, take a look.

[Dan C]

Ragboy, your pm box is full !