Wakesurfing, Getting Up

Wakesurfing is a very social sport and is becoming more and more popular every season. Since you wakesurf fairly close to the boat, you can easily hear hecklers in the boat, ask someone to pass you a cold beverage or best of all have someone right there to teach you the basics of wakesurfing. This article will teach you the basics you need to know for getting up on a wakesurf board for the first time.

When starting out or trying to teach someone to wakesurf for the first time, try to find some reasonably calm water. This will make it easier for the rider to find their balance and take one more distraction out of the learning process.

Before the rider enters the water pick a life jacket, also referred to as a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) that fits snuggly and will not ride up on the rider once they are in the water. A life jacket that is USCG (United States Coast Guard) approved is the best and offers the most floatation. Remember the ONLY way a life jacket can save your life is if you put it on. NEVER wakesurf without some form of floatation device that will keep you floating at the surface of the water without having to paddle in case you are knocked unconscious.

Once in the water put your heals up on the wakesurf board and float on your back with your knees slightly bent like you are floating in a pool with your heals up on the edge. Your feet should be spread apart a little more than shoulder width and slightly off center towards the rear of the wakesurf board (see Photo-1). Before trying to get up have the driver put the boat in gear and work on your balance. Holding the rope with both hands will give you the most balance, if you start to rotate out of position, on the regular foot or port side of the boat, with the boat in gear, hold the rope with your left hand only and you will rotate to your right and if you hold the rope with your right hand only you will rotate to the left, the opposite is true on the starboard or goofy foot side. Once the boat is in gear put your weight slightly on your rear foot, bend your knees into a squatting position pushing your heals down on the edge of the wakesurf board. This will push the edge of the wakesurf board closest to you down into the water. At this point you should be slowly plowing through the water with the nose of the wakesurfer up (see Photo-2).

Once you have found your balance have the driver give the boat some throttle, when you feel the extra force from the boat, let the rope pull you up. You should always use the tow spool on the tower if you have one, this will create a higher fulcrum making it easier for the rider to come up out of the water. Coming out of the water for the first time is similar in feeling to someone extending a hand to you and pulling you up, out of a chair. As the boat speeds up lean back straightening your legs till your knees are only slightly bent, with more weight on your rear foot than your front. This will help you lean away from the boat, helping you to get outside the wake before it builds. (see Photo-3) Note: it is sometimes helpful to someone new to wakesurfing, if a person in the boat pushes on or leads the rope to help get the rider outside of the wake. Once you are up and wakesurfing take your time, ride with the rope (see Photo-4), find your balance, make slight deliberate adjustments, get use to the feel of the wakesurf board (see Photo-5) and you will be a wakesurfing without the rope in no time.

Be sure to click on the film strip below to check out the video of this process in action.

Remember your wake may not seem big to you but, may be to smaller boats, Share the Knowledge and Wakesurf Safely.