recommendations on shaping wake?

jtryon · Criminal Joined: 27 Apr 2011 Posts: 54

hi all, haven't posted here much but have been lurking for a year or two. we're starting to get into surfing and my buddy bought a skim-style wakesurf board for us to learn on, but we can't get to the point where we can surf without the rope. i'm not sure if this is because we're learning on a skim-style board instead of a longboard, or if it's because of the wake shape. the setup is as follows: '88 supra sunsport with a 650 bag up front and 2 550's in the rear left (port) side, and all the heavy guys sitting portside Laughing

running a 10.5 pitched prop as well. here are some pics of the wake, let me know your thoughts/tips/ideas!

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10051 City: Edmond

That wave actually looks pretty good as far as size and shape. It isn't curling around behind you a whole lot, but that doesn't seem to always be an issue from what I've seen. Try playing around with a little less weight and/or no front weight and see how it changes. Also try different speeds. You look like you have a good wave and you are probably pretty close to the sweet spot to ride ropeless. May take a bit of experimentation to find the exact right combination that works.

fropappy · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 434 City: Benton, AR

I have found that riding with a wider stance seems to help beginners find the sweet spot.
Remember that putting more weight on your front foot will make the board accelerate.
Too much and it may pearl (dip the front)
Putting more weight on your back foot will make it slow down.
Make tiny adjustment and experiment with your distance from the boat.

Every photo seems to show the board pointing away from the wake or straight ahead.
Try to climb the wake a little by cutting towards it.
That's how I found 'the push' the first time I went ropeless.

That wave looks plenty large.
Shouldn't be a problem.

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7455

Yeah that wake looks good. Is that a coex? And you are 180+ lbs?

More on the front foot will push you to the boat. If the nose is riding high in the front that is going to send you back. Like fropappy says.. Try and get in closer to the wake. Get a foot or so behind the boat and see if that is where your sweet spot is.

More weight in the nose of the boat will give you a longer wake. If you have to much in the rear you will have a short sweetspot real close to the platform.

Rhawn · Posted: Jun 13, 2012 4:13 am Post subject:

Wake looks real steep, which can make finding the sweet spot very tricky. I would test weight distros from side to side to try and change that shape. Might need a little weight in the SB locker, or just less in the port locker.

That Broadcast is also a heavy pig, not helping the cause at all.

jtryon · Criminal Joined: 27 Apr 2011 Posts: 54

Pretty sure it's a Hyperlite Broadcast, 4'8". Joe is probably about 180, I'm around 210 so he has an easier time getting slack on the rope, but still not enough to throw the rope.

Thanks for all the ideas, hopefully we can figure this thing out.

Rhawn · Posted: Jun 13, 2012 7:09 am Post subject:

210 is pushing it on that board.

jtryon · Criminal Joined: 27 Apr 2011 Posts: 54

are you calling me fat?! i'm 6'4", i figured i need a bigger board anyway Laughing

Rhawn · Posted: Jun 13, 2012 8:15 am Post subject:

I'm 6'4 and 240, so no. Too big for a 4'8" brick? Yes.

Do yourself a favor and get a better board sir.

jtryon · Criminal Joined: 27 Apr 2011 Posts: 54

I went last weekend on a friend's boat and he surfed with a Ronix Cortez, 5'4" i think and he got surfing pretty easily. Is that a good board? Other recommendations?

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7455

The cortez is still a 'wakeboard' style surf board. The Koal from Ronix is more of a surfboard style wakesurf board. Make like a surfboard. They are lighter, faster and highend. I would consider the cortez along the same level as the CWB Ride, Hyperlite Broadcast, and LF Venture.

WakeSurf22 · Newbie Joined: 19 Dec 2016 Posts: 1

Agree with Fropappy, suggest pointing the board up wake, maybe a little more front foot weight. Also wake looks steep, adding some more front ballast or less stern would help lengthen the sweet spot. You're close!

Do you have a wake shaper on there? You could balance the ballasts left and right and get a nice long curly wake. I started Nauticurl a while back, check it out, professionally engineered and under $200. www.nauticurl.com

Obrien Nalu is a good hybrid/starter board to get you going, pretty affordable and I've gotten many first timers up on it.

Keep at it!