Advice for newbie...

[Dave S]

So I have a new 09 Z1, supposed to be great for surfing. I am still learning how to set it up. How fast do you go? TAPS setting? I assume only fill rear ballast tank on the side your are surfing and not front at all.

I was out last weekend and filled up only one side rear tank and had everyone sit on that side. I screwed up on TAPS though, forgot to take it off of 1, maybe that is my problem? Wake did not seem overly huge. When I ride and go down the wave, board is hovering over swim platform and almost at stern of boat. Do you ever get this close to boat?

The passengers said they thought I was getting real close to boat and if I fell forward or boat had to stop quickly that I may hit my head on my boat. Anyone wear a helmet while surfing? Wife wants me to get a helmet. I never see any pics of wearing helmet while surfing.

Any help will be great so I can try something different next weekend.

Thanks

[Booms]

You will be playing with your wake non stop. Trying to make it bigger and longer. Once you become familiar with where your body weight should be on the board you will be able to ride the wave from front to back. There are times when you come very close to the boat. There will be times when you are all the way in the back of the wave and pumping to get back in the sweet spot. When I first started riding I was always very close to the swim platform or actually over it. When I became a better surfer I started using the entire wave. This helps as you progress into tricks. It will allow you to gain momentum to pull air, 360s or what ever you heart desires.

You do not need to worry about hitting the boat if you fall and the boat continues moving. Your friction will slow you enough that you will not hit the boat.

Check out wake9.com for their Surfing 101 How to area. It has great info on wake surfing.

Good luck.

[Carter13]

Dave,

With your Z1 I would suggest 10.5 to 12.5 MPH. You want weight it the bow to increase the length of the pocket. If you choose to just load the stern you will have a larger wave but it will not have the push of the weighted bow.
You will need to experiment with the weights but 60/40 rear to front seems to be the gem. At least it was on MY 22V.
Like booms said you don't have to wear a helmet or gloves for that matter.

[chpthril]

TAPS 4-5, Speed 11mph, fill the bow sac and add as much weight in the rear corner as you can. This a good place to start, but as others have noted, it's always a work in progress.

[DieselPWR]

I have an 08 Z1 and have my wave dialed in beautifully. The reason you are riding so close to the platform is cause you have a short wave due to you only filling up the rear sac. You definitely need to weight the front, even more then the back. I fill my rear sac (on the side i'm riding of course) which is 400 lbs, then I fill my front integrated bow sac which I estimate is ~ 300 lbs with the small bow, and I rock two more fat bricks on the seats, another ~300 lbs, on lean them on the side you are riding. Put all your people on the one side of the boat you are riding on, and if you only have 1-2 besides the driver, I throw another v-drive sac on the seats. The wave is great even with the setup I stated minus the extra v-drive sac, but its insane when you add the sac. I drive 12-12.6 mph and taps 5-6.

[Dave S]

Thanks guys, I will try some of this, this weekend and let you know how it works out.