Question about wake surfing and slight rant

[chris196]

This morning we went out to ski and there were some folks wake surfing.
Of course as a slalom skier we would like perfectly smooth water, but you don't always get it. But these guys were bringing wake surfing to a new level of messing up the water. They had 2 boats going along side by side with a guy surfing in the middle.
I don't have to tell you how much that screwed up the water.
I don't want to sound like a jerk because it's a public lake and everybody has a right to use it, but does the second boat really make a difference?
And do you need smooth water to wake surf?

I'll give them credit that they confined their activities to a certain area and we were able to escape some, but they were also doing this fairly close to the slalom course.
We weren't intending to ski the course anyway, but if we had, it would have certainly been an issue.
We were a half hour late and paid the price for it.

Oh well, there are other days.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

that is called spine surfing. I have never done it, but I am guessing it would be a gas. You are able to go between the waves and and go both toe side and heel side all at once.
When I am on a lake that has a few boats that want to ride, I always suggest we take turns. Everyone can either have a great ride, or every one can have a crappy ride. it works about 75% of the time. Some people just don't care. My boat is as such, that if a skier doesn't want to take turns with us, it is not going to be a very comfortable ride for them in the end. As far as the smooth water, I think we all always want that.
I want everyone to have a good ride so i am willing to wait my turn.

[gride300]

RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

i'm a wakeboarder and take turns with a guy that barefoots on my lake. boarders that know what's up are usually hospitable. even if you are both riding the same spot try and ride the same line or at least parallel with one another. to me, skiing and boarding are vastly different, but i see no reason we can't all get along.

[tmb]

RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

I've never used a second boat while surfing. Calm water is much better to surf than rough but it is not necessary. The one thing you do need is deep water. Were there other deep spots on the lake?

[NAWTEAK]

RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

wake surfing is a waste of gas. go find some real waves...

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

^^ the above comment is stupid...^^

That is pretty easy for you to say, dude, considering where you live.... I am 1700 miles from the ocean. I have injured my back and knee to where surfing is one of my only options, what am I supposed to do? sell my boat?

[TravisFling]

RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

I agree about the above comment. That's just ignorant. It's tough for everyone to get along great, at out lake, we do barefooters at 6am, cause they need the smoothest water, then slalom after they get done until about 8 or so. Everyone runs the course and idles back in line and runs again, then after that we wakeboard. That way everyone can get some good water, and wakeboarding kind of gets hosed, as the water usually not super smooth after that, but it does work out pretty well. It's a bit of a smaller lake though, and private, so it's a little easier to regulate. Usually, and this happens often, the tubers are out and the waters chopped, so we head to the swimming cove and listen to some tunes until late and then get a few sets in later...

[Red57Bird]

Here is a video of "double surfing" on YouTube http://youtube.com/watch?v=NZPdtaIdzlw

Our lake has a long, narrow main lake with lots of fingers and coves. We try to surf and tube (hey, no flames - some friends can't wake board but they still want to have fun on the water :razz: ) out on the main lake, and wake board in the cove areas. One approach may be to go introduce yourselves and strike up a conversation. Then politely ask them if you guys can work out an arrangement with regard to where and what time they surf.

[Mikeski]

IMO wakesurfing is a great rough water/blown out activity. Here is a shot of me surfing the spine. Did it once was tough to get the boats close enough to get it right.

Yes, this completely destroys the water for other activities. We did it up river at the end of the day after everybody else had left because the water was so rough (they left before we did it).

[81nautique]

Never surfed but I must say that looks like a lot more fun that a single boat. How close are those boats from each other, certainly not 100' right?

[TravisFling]

Wow... that looks like a great activity for a rough day. Probably protects the water on the inside and that looks like a monster wave there! Hmmm... Now, who do I know with a wakeboard boat...

[clubmyke]

i have done a lot of surfing and only got to spin surf once.. it is pretty rare so that will more than likely the last time you see it..

[Mikeski]

Definately more of a novelty than sport. We had been trying to get together with a few different boats off and on for a while. It's more of a boat driving challenge than anything else.

The peak of the wake moves around quite a bit as the boats get closer/farther apart, no they are not 100' apart but technically neither are pulling a skier...

With two good boat drivers I was able to ride it for a couple hundred feet before it shot me towards the boats shooting me in front of the wave. When the wave caught back up to me I could not stay with it.

[saceone]

Re: RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

i'm a wakeboarder and take turns with a guy that barefoots on my lake. boarders that know what's up are usually hospitable. even if you are both riding the same spot try and ride the same line or at least parallel with one another. to me, skiing and boarding are vastly different, but i see no reason we can't all get along.

I totally agree.
I'm 22 rocking a skulled out byerly cap and I get looks all the time so I need to work twice harder to maintain our ''wakeboarders are classy people'' image. you gotta do whatcha gotta do eh!

:mrgreen:

[NAWTEAK]

Re: RE: Question about wake surfing and slight rant

^^ the above comment is stupid...^^

That is pretty easy for you to say, dude, considering where you live.... I am 1700 miles from the ocean. I have injured my back and knee to where surfing is one of my only options, what am I supposed to do? sell my boat?

fair point, how much do you want for your boat?