Wakeboarding on a river?

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

Do alot of people wakeboard on rivers or main lakes? every year we have a family trip to go to the Colorado river and was wondering if its hard to wakeboard on a river and safe. I know the water gets chappy so i would have to go in the early morning and afternoon, and just cruise in between. Also. I see pics of people keeping there boats on the shore, is this a good idea with a V-drive?

wakerider07 · Posted: Apr 11, 2005 2:22 pm Post subject:

man the water on rivers near hear are almost always smooth because they turn alot. so one bend might be choppy but you turn a corner and BUTTER! as for being safe, it should be fine. just stay in the middle if you are worried about stumps. and if it has recently rained keep an eye out for debris but other than that its fine

doubleup138 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 145

Yea, I ride on the Colorado, just stay in the middle and you can go pretty close to the shore without hitting, at least where I ride. Where do you ride at on it?

Stephan · Guest

I also ride the Colorado. There are places to avoid but that comes with experience & riding with people familiar with it. If you go to the same part of the river I do, the Parker Strip, be careful riding really early in the AM. They don't release the same amount of water as later in the day when AC's are pumpin full blast. It's therefore at least two feet shallower everywhere. Let me know where you go, if I'm out there I'd be happy to show you the spots.

CrescentBarBoy · Criminal Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 55 City: Mount Vernon

I donno if this counts but i wakeboard in the columbia river..... but its really big so theres not really a current. but everyone should ride all over.... lakes rivers ponds and drainage ditches if your really kewl Very Happy

ridehatzic · Posted: Apr 11, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject:

I sometimes ride in a river, when the lake goes down. The water is really refreshing and its not too choppy, but the current gets kind of annoying, and the water is kinda gross.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

We stay at Park. The camp site we stay at is Rio something or another. We usually go in mid to end of june.

Now last year i know the people nexst to us beached there boat almost, it wasnt a v-drive, but like i said i see pics of V-drives tied up on shore and was wondering if thats a wise idea to do at Colorado? what angel or steapness does it has to be?

doubleup138 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 145

Do you ride in Bay City, at Rio Colorado?

oshensurfer · Posted: Apr 11, 2005 4:09 pm Post subject:

Thats where I ride during the season. Early and late, we ride the lake, but peak season is pretty much always on the Sacramento River.

There are different methods to driving on a river. More debris is definitely a concern, but if you are a experienced driver and stay alert, you should be ok. I suggest getting to know the river you are riding on before going full steam ahead. Know the sandbars, the normal debris areas, where the currents are the fastest, etc. No doubt they are generally more dangerous than a lake, imo.

oshensurfer · Posted: Apr 11, 2005 4:10 pm Post subject:

I would try to get someone who is familiar with the river to be a guide and a coach the first time though.

DadKid · Outlaw Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 140 City: Ottawa

I ride both. The river is closer to home, it warms up faster, and you don't get a heavy chop. The boat traffic is heavier but the wakes all go straight to shore. On our lake you get all kinds of rollers coming from different directions so on a calm day the lake can be a mess if there's tubers out. When I swallow water I much prefer the lake though.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

I kinda know the river already as i have been going there for like 8 yrs. And thats it Rio Colorado, that where we stay. My uncle will have a deck boat by then so i think we will go around explore the river and see where its low and stuff.

doubleup138 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 145

It is low around Rio Colorado. It's better around the bowling alley. Do you know where that is? That is where I drop in at. At some spots at Rio, you could see the bottom crossing over it with a Jet Ski.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

I know its really low at that spot off to the right, we will have to be very careful about that.

doubleup138 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 145

Yea to the right it is shallow, but it is good to the left if you go down a little bit.

pedboydan · Outlaw Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Posts: 129 City: SJSU

I ride at this place called the San Joaquin river Twisted Evil

lots of good water

udontbootme · Newbie Joined: 20 Aug 2004 Posts: 48

I ride in the Rio Grande. It's fun grinding on illegal aliens swimming across... LOL

CrescentBarBoy · Criminal Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 55 City: Mount Vernon

THat one guy has a good point the water is gross but the current thing is awsome because it just rolls the waves out so its usually calm

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

doubleup138,

How often do you go? You planning on going this summer?

alafiaboarder · Posted: Apr 12, 2005 6:46 am Post subject:

i live on the alafia river in florida, when it is smooth, and the tide isnt rippin or really low, its wonderful....i'd rather ride on a lake though, water feels nicer and softer when your ride then where i live where its pretty salty and the water feels a little harder on landings, just an observation though. as for being safe? your always gonna be surrounded by idiots who dont know how to drive boats,(got ran into last weekend by some stupid fisherman who didnt think to put it in reverse as he slammed into me.) its not bad if u know what you are doing though

bigredfig04 · Newbie Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 10 City: Bay City

Centrider and doubleup138,

How often do you ski in Bay City? Last summer I was out there about 3-4 days a week. My parent have a house on the river so I am always in the water. The water level is still about 4 feet low and I'm not sure when they plan to raise it up. I been going to Selkirk for the last three weeks and it been real nice down there.
Doubleup138, what boat do you have? I bound to have seen you in the water.

SMFB8 · Posted: Apr 12, 2005 9:51 am Post subject:

I ride at Dale Hollow Lake most of the time and the others at the Ohio River around Madison, Indiana. I prefer the Lake..

mikeeb · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 10 City: mason neck

Lake over river deff. Lakes are always clearer and the lake I ride Smith Mountain Lake is so deep, never have to worry about hittin anything. But I live on a river and got used to it. Have to wait for good water and dodge boats and there wakes, and the water is real shallow

mikeeb · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 10 City: mason neck

Lake over river deff. Lakes are always clearer and the lake I ride Smith Mountain Lake is so deep, never have to worry about hittin anything. But I live on a river and got used to it. Have to wait for good water and dodge boats and there wakes, and the water is real shallow

doubleup138 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 145

I have an old outboard. It was white last year, but it is now blue. I usually go around every weekend and drop in at the Bowling Alley.

doubleup138 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 145

Heybigredfig04, you are Mr. Newton? I see your Tristar all the time.

DunDunDun · Posted: Apr 12, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject:

i think ima wakebaord on the scugog river this weekend:S:S i dunno though. there still about 6 inches of ice on the lake, but the river is open Mr. Green

Liquid*Force*Rider · Posted: Apr 12, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject:

I went wakeboarding on a River for my first time with Stephan on the Colorado.

Beaver · Posted: Apr 12, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:

ive been on a river boarding. Pretty fun.

bigredfig04 · Newbie Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 10 City: Bay City

doubleup138,
ya, thats me. I'll be out there on Sunday and makeby Saturday. doubleup138, who are you?

wkebrd3 · Posted: Apr 13, 2005 5:25 am Post subject:

I think I've only wakeboarded on a lake a dozen or so times. We ride on the fox river in Illinois. It's pretty sweet. We can always find flat water. It's not really that wide (but plenty wide enough to wakeboard) so that the rollers from other boats disapate really quick. The only problem we have is on the weekends, so we like to get an early start and get our riding in before all the families take their river cruises.

Wakeguru · Outlaw Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 150 City: CFL

Rivers can be great when they're not crowded, but you usually have a lot of pleasure boaters. You want to make sure that if you get over-run with 40 ft cruisers or speedboats that you have a plan and can communicate with your rider from the boat.

If I see boats plowing up from the rear when I have a rider on I'll put two fists in the air to signal to the rider to hang on and keep watch. If the water is just crap and I can't turn around safely I'll signal to have the rider cut hard to the side and then I'll whip the boat in the same direction and wait until the water settles.

doubleup138 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 145

bigredfig04, You teach at my school. I will probably be out either Friday or Saturday in my old outboard.

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

I only ride on a river. The best part is doing a double-up off the wake of a 50ft sea ray. I've only landed one of those once.
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inflation causes

cezza · Posted: Apr 13, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject:

i ride on a river!! its sweet as!! theres even beaches you can stop at. its get quite narrow somethimes- even about 20m Very Happy