7 Wakesurfing Tips

Wakesurfing is one of the fastest growing watersports on the planet. When the season is right and it is time to hit the waves, it’s important to keep these 7 helpful tips in mind to make sure your day on the water goes smoothly.

Boat Weighting
To be able to stay on the wake while wakesurfing, it’s important to weight your boat. Keep in mind that more weight in the front of the boat creates a short, long wake and vice versa if there is more weight in the back. Only one side of the wake is being surfed; therefore, you should increase the amount of weight on that side of the boat.

Watching the Rider
As soon as a rider falls, the driver must be ready to react. Put the boat in neutral and steer the wheel all the way to the side opposite of the wake. This helps to avoid driving over waves that have already been created. Failing to do this will flood the boat with water.

Standing Up
It has been recommended to start wakesurfing by lying in the water with your heels resting on the board. As the boat speeds up, hold onto the rope and use its tension to pull yourself up onto the board. Bend your knees for balance and position your feet shoulder-width apart. You may want to stand towards the back of the board so the front won’t get caught on the surface of the water, submerging the board. Of course, this is all depending on your skill level and personal preference!

Boat Speed
The average boat speed for wakesurfing is around 10mph, but it can be as slow as 9mph or as fast as 13mph. The speed depends on boat factors like the hull, the length of the boat, and the amount of ballast, as well as board factors such as rocker and length. As you get to know your boards and test, you will find each of their sweet spots for speed.

Feet Positioning
As stated earlier, you generally should have your feet shoulder-width apart. Your back foot is recommended to be anywhere from 6 to 18 inches from the back of the board. Keep in mind this can be different depending on the wakesurf board you use. Generally, your feet should be closest to the edge of the side of the board that is cutting into the wake. This will allow you to keep your balance while finding your sweet spot. Remember to use your feet as your brake and gas. Putting weight on your front foot acts as the gas, and shifting your weight to your back foot acts as your brakes. As you gain experience and start doing tricks, you will be moving your feet all over your board to regain balance.

Rope Selection
One of the most important factors when wakesuring is selecting the right type of rope. Wakesurfers can accelerate forward along with the boat which allows them to get ahead of the rope handle. Make sure to select a thicker rope at an appropriate length for easy access, with or without a handle. If selecting a rope with a handle, it’s essential to understand that if you get a rope handle that is too wide, you can get tangled in the rope and can cause serious injury.

Signals
When wakesurfing in areas where there are other boaters around, put up a flag to signal to other boaters in the area that someone is in the water. It will help others to be more cautious when passing by.
Hopefully these tips have given you some ideas on how to enjoy one of your favorite watersports. As you gain experience and skills, these tools can help to make you the #1 expert of your favorite watersport, wakesurfing.