I’ve been in the ski industry for a couple of decades, coaching and competing. Over the years I have acquired a bit of knowledge and experience, which includes some of the more common pieces of advice given to skiers and boarders getting lessons.
The following are a few tips to help you with your mission to surf an endless wave with ease and comfort.
Tip 1. – When You Add Ballast, Start At The Back
Adding ballast to the back of the boat first is the most effective way to increase the wake size with the least amount of effort. Dropping the back of the boat deeper into the water immediately displaces more water and gives you a bigger wake. When you increase the weight again, what can happen is the angle of the boat in the water becomes inefficient.
At that point, begin adding weight around the center/forward of the boat to bring the nose down. You then play the seesaw to drop the boat deeper.
Tip 2. – You Can Go Too Deep For Your Boat
All boats will have their own optimal weight to get the best wake. Be wary of overloading your boat and having it mess up the wake in the process, sometimes less is more.
Tip 3. – People Are The Best Ballast
When loading up the fat sacks don’t forget to think of the people you are loading up as well. Passengers are great ballast as you can get them to move around the boat easily to Tweak the wake. It may be better to leave filling the bags until you have everyone on board and can see how the wake is shaping up.
Once up and going you can move people from side to side, and forward to back, to change the wake shape on the fly.
Plus, having company out there to enjoy it all with is essential.
Tip 4.0 – Too Much Weight Back Makes A Tall Washy Wake, With A Short Usable Face
When the angle of the boat in the water becomes too back heavy, the water in the wake will pop really high, but have no force or push to it. This makes the face very soft and foamy, or too steep and not enough room for your board
Tip 4.1 – Slower Speed Has A Similar Impact
Tip 5.0 – Too Far Forward And You Lower The Height And Reduce The Pushing Power Behind The Wake
Too much weight at the front and the wave will become nice and long, giving experienced riders more wave to work with. For the beginner, this means that there is less force pushing the board along, requiring the rider to show more finest in their balance and moves to stay on the wave.
Tip 5.1 – Faster Speed Has A Similar Impact
Tip 6. – Proper Trim And Balance Increases Fuel Efficiency And Drivability
When you can find that sweet spot of weight, angle, and speed then you will also notice that the boat becomes very easy to drive and keep under control. You will also find that fuel is saved as the boat will be putting the least amount of effort in possible to give you the best wake.
Tip 7. – Speed Window Is 16 – 21km / 10 – 13mph
This is a great starting point, as the same boat could be slightly different from day to day, and boat to boat variations can be huge. Most inboard boats these days have a cruise control system that will adjust the speed by 0.2km/0.1mph increments. Set the cruise control and simply bump the speed up and down as preferred.
Tip 8. – Don’t Worry About The Speed So Much, Judge The Wakes Shape
Don’t get hung up on any particular number, it can be influenced by water temperature and wind. Focus on how the wave looks and what the riders are saying. Sometimes a wake doesn’t look the best when riders actually say it rides the best. All boats will be different. Experiment a little with what you can do to influence the wake shape.
Tip 9. – Have A 50-80lb Moveable Weight Handy In The Boat
Having a decent weight that is easy to move can make finding the sweet spot a little easier. A bucket with cement will work quite well. I know I said people are the best ballast, but the denseness of weight like that makes it more effective with good placement than a person who take-up space. A cement block can tuck right down in the corner there much better than poor Timmy.
Tip 10. – Get Some Hardware to Attach To The Boat
There are a huge number of waveshaping products out there today. One that many people haven’t heard of yet is the wedge from the photo above. It can attach to the outside of the boat hull with suction cups. Then, as you drive along, it changes the flow of the water to mould the wake to your liking.
Tip 11. – Don’t Fear The Prop Or The Backboard
First, there is no possible way to accidentally get far enough under the boat while surfing to reach the prop. Remember, it is always moving away from you, and it is tucked a long way under there.
The concern of hitting the backboard is more legitimate, however, I have never seen it. If you lose control enough to be surfing towards it, then you’ll likely fall before you even get there, as again, the boat is always moving away from you.
Tip 12. – Don’t Wreak Your Engine
These boats are running 400+hp 6.0L V8 engines. Engines are made to run while sitting on a flat plane, they are not designed to be running while tipped on their sides to make a bigger wake to surf. Tilting could have a number of effects, including stopping the oil from reaching the entire engine. There is a great article from engine building mag if you want to know more, Here .
All it will take is 20 seconds with your mechanic, the next time it is in ask them to take a closer look to see if it is, or could be, a concern.
Tip 13. – Lake Depth, Pick Your Spot
Because physics, the deeper the lake the bigger the wake will be. So after filling the boat with all that weight, pick the deepest areas of the lake to maximize it.
Tip 14. – Stay Away From the Banks Please
The wakes being put out by some of these boats are astonishing, and not a natural occurrence for any of the wildlife that uses the banks for their habitat. Using these types of boats can be damaging to delicate ecosystems that are at shallower depths of on the banks of lakes and rivers. Try to give the banks some space to at least minimize the damage while having your fun.
Tip 15. – In Rivers, Adjust The Speed For The River Flow Direction
Rivers often have good current, so don’t forget to account for that with your speed. From my experience, going into the current gave the best results for a cleaner wave.
Tip 16. – Don’t Use An OutBoard Boat
Just too dangerous, don’t do it. You will likely be unable to get the boat loaded with weight for a good wake, but the fact that the prop is right there with zero protection is just asking for trouble.
Tip 17. – Try Wakeboarding First
If you can, get on a wakeboard first, this will help you to know the basic movement for getting up. The benefit here is that knowing how to wakeboard means you are trying to do the same thing without the boots. If you have never wakeboard then you are trying to get the basic position and no boots at the same time.
Tip 18. – Beginners Think Of The Board Size, Not Style
There are 2 main styles of boards, Skim and Surf. The skim is thinner, while the surf looks more like a traditional surfboard.
For beginners the style doesn’t make that much of a difference, go for the larger option you have as that is what will help most to learn.
Tip 19. – Float On The Water With Your Heels Resting On The Board
Float in the water as relaxed as you can, with your feet up on the flat surfboard from a reclined position. This is the best way to get ready and control the board at the same time.
Tip 20. – Use The Driver And The Boat To Get Line Tension To Secure Your Board
Communicate with the driver so that they can pop the boat in and out of gear, putting the smallest amount of tension on the line. Use this tension to get your feet on the board and have the water hold it against your feet.
Tip 21. – Don’t Start Directly Behind The Boat
Because you are on such a short rope if you are directly behind the boat as you start, then you will be hit pretty hard by the prop wash. And when you get up, there is the chance that you will fall down one of the wakes too soon and lose the board.
Tip 22. – Left Foot Forward = Left Side Boat Wake
The majority of people prefer to have their chest facing the wakes, keeping pressure on your toes is easier than on your heels. If you are looking from the boat, then it will be left foot forward on the right-hand wake.
Tip 23. – Get Your Feet Into The Center Of The Board
Super important is to make sure that your feet are right in the center of the board. Essential to be centred and balanced, because you are working with small windows and having the bird under control is a must.
Tip 24. – Hold Constant Pressure On Your Inside Edge
Because of the shape and angle of the wake in comparison to the direction the surfer travels, you will need to keep constant pressure on the inside edge. That’s the edge that is closest to the wave. This is why it is nice to face the wave so you can be keeping pressure on your toes. It helps to make you feel like you are in the ready position, all you have to do is lift or press your toes.
Tip 25. – Forwards To Accelerate
By moving your weight through onto your front foot, you will accelerate down the wave. You do this by moving your whole body forwards until your hips are moving to go over the top of your front foot. But do it slowly, sudden moves will send you swimming.
Tip 26. – Back Is For Braking
Moving your weight over your back foot will apply the brakes. By shifting your butt and hips over your back foot, you change the angle of the board slowing it down
Tip 27. – Keep A Hold Of The Handle For A While
When you are learning, it is best if you keep hold of the handle, even when it has gone slack. This way, you can experiment with your positioning and the forwards, backwards weight distribution. By moving your weight forward, you will make the rope go slack, you want to keep it, just in case you put on too much brake and almost fall off the back of the wave.
Tip 28. – If You Drop The Handle, Get It In The Boat ASAP
If you do throw away the handle, make sure it goes into the boat, or off the other side of the wake from yourself. If it is in front of you bouncing in the water, then there is the chance for it to come and catch you, potentially knocking you over or hurting you.
Tip 29. – Small Balance Points Require Small Movements
The smallest moves make big differences. From the beginning, you should work at making slow, smooth movements. Being relaxed will help with this, if you are tense, then your muscles make jerky movements. While standing on the wave with rope in hand, focus on relaxing as you breathe out. Once you feel calm and stable, gradually start shifting your weight to see what happens.
Tip 30. – Pump For Boost
You should need to do this much, if at all, but pumping the front foot while trying to keep the back foot from moving will give you a speed boost if you get it right. Used when falling off the back of the wave, because you used too much brake, and don’t have the handle.
Tip 31. – Use A Knotted Rope Instead Of A Handle
Some people rather use a textured rope to hold onto as you are never really needing to use much grip. It is easier to leave in the water as it bounces around a lot less than a handle will.
Tip 32. – Take Your Time, The Wake Isn’t Going Anywhere
Take a moment to get settled before you move to get on the wave. You are behind a boat, so the wake is going to be there no matter how long you take. Taking that moment will result in more time riding the wave and less swimming in the long run.
Tip 33. – Common Mistake Is Getting On The Wave Too Soon Or Too Fast
It is a common mistake seen a lot, people will get up and try to be on the wave before the boat even gets the speed settled, chill bro 😀
Tip 34. – Drift On To The Wave
If you roll a little outside the wake with the rope, let yourself drift back in towards the wave, try to naturally let the board transition onto the wave and find the speed to run with it. It will also help you to be able to recatch the wave if you lose it when you start carving around a lot more.
Tip 35. – Stay Tall Over The Center Of The Board
Just like holding nice posture, stay upright in a strong way, stand with confidence, not tension.
Tip 36. – Find The Pocket
Every wave will have what is referred to as a pocket. This is the place on the wave that you will most easily be able to maintain. The shape, slope, height, and speed all come together in that one place to make for the best cruise. On some boats, this spot will be huge; on others, it will be pretty tough to find. Focus on finding that spot with each new boat you ride behind, so you know where your safety spot is.
Tip 37. – Practice Staying In The Same Exact Spot As Long As You Can
As a drill, work on holding the exact same spot on the wave without moving. This will help build control and finest, as it requires micro muscle adjustments to keep your balance there with so much movement around you.
Tip 38. – Drive With Your Hips
When you go to steer or move, do it with your hips. If you lead with your hips, then your entire body weight will move in the same direction, which is a good thing. It will be of huge benefit if you learn to feel your hips from as early as possible, they are crucial to all movement in the progression.
Tip 38.1 – Common Mistake Of Using Your Shoulders
Sometimes people think they are moving their weight in a direction, but they are really just folding over in that way with their shoulders.
Tip 39. – Using A Surf Board?? Start Lying Down
If you are using a traditional surfboard, then try lying down on the board with the handle and standing up once the boat has some speed. Try to keep it to a shortboard too, longboards can be tough will not much room
Tip 40. – Salt Is More Buoyant Than Fresh Water, Makes The Boards Different
If you are coming from traditional surfing, then expect this to be a bit different. Even the way you feel suspended in the water is different and is a large part of the different designs of boards.
Tip 41. – Fall Correctly, Go Limp
If you lose your balance, there is no way to save yourself, unless you still have the handle, even then it is not guaranteed. The safest thing to do is just to go limp and allow yourself to collapse into the water. This will also make sure that you are in the water, and the boat is moving away from you before you ever have a chance of hitting the backboard.
Tip 42. – Your First Tricks Should Be Carves
When you get comfortable with riding the wave and want to progress, work on your carving and sharp turns, they will be critical for most of the tricks you will be able to learn.
Tip 43. – Don’t Get Put Off Thinking It Will Be Hard
If you have someone who has done it before, then don’t stress, with a little bit of time and perseverance, everyone can get up and give it a go. At worst, you fall in the water a lot, not like you are going fast so it won’t hurt.
Tip 44. – Check Out My Article On The More Advanced Tips For Starting Tricks Here
Disclaimer
The tips here are a collection of the tools I use while coaching. Not all these tips will work together, and some may even be contradictory to some degree. A lot may be missing as coaches tailor advice to the individual and their previous experiences.
Without being there to see you ski, I don’t know which of these tools to give you to maximize your learning curve. Every person is different and reacts differently to the same advice. I put so much in here to accommodate as many different learning styles as possible.
Not all the tips here will work for you. The idea here is to get you thinking along the right lines about the fundamentals. Use whatever tips make sense to you, and use the rest as inspiration to experiment on the water. Find out exactly what makes you feel the most comfortable, and use it, because comfort is the main goal. If you’re comfortable, fun and progression come easily.
