How fast, How much weight, and how far back do you ride?

[Fwat220]

I was just wondering what set up people ride. I have a SANTE 220 and I ride:

24.5 mph
Three standard ballast full plus intergrated bow sac (500 lbs) up front
70 foot line

The wake is pretty steep and it takes some effort to clear. I have attached two photos. The small one is me. I weight 215 lbs. The big one is my buddy. He weights 175 lbs. We ride the same set up.

I was wondering if I should speed up to make the wake easier to clear and easier to boot off of.
So what do you ride at?

[Shooter]

RE: How fast, How much weight, and how far back do you ride?

I have never rode behind a 220, but riding faster than 24.5 with 500lbs ballast sounds fast. I dont know your skill level, but maybe you just need to work on your progressive edge. I would shorten the rope before going faster. You could try adding more weight in the bow if you feel the wake is too steep. If the rope length is at the sweet spot and you cant put more weight in the front without taking on water, I guess more speed is your only other option.

03 210 SANTE
23 MPH
75 FT
stock ballast w/ 700LBS lead mostly in the front

[Fwat220]

RE: How fast, How much weight, and how far back do you ride?

The three stock ballast tanks hold 1100 lbs I think. One center tank (600 lbs) and two rear tanks (250 lbs a peice). SO I ride with a total of 1600 lbs.

[jonfo]

RE: How fast, How much weight, and how far back do you ride?

I have a 220 and most of us ride at 65' - 70' at 22.2 mph - 23.7 mph (GPS verified). We are intermediate riders meaning we each have several inverts and spins. I ride with more ballast in back than you have, and probably the same up front. My advice take a step back and to slow the boat down to 22 or so and ride on the shortest line possible - even 60 ft if you can - it should be easy and you should be able to take short cuts to clear the wake. Work on your height rather than your distance at this rope length and always try to land on the downside of the other wake. If you take huge wide cuts at this length you will end up in the flats which you dont want unless you like frequenting orthopedic surgeons. When you get it dialed go ahead and let out one more section of rope and bump the speed up .3 mph or so. Do this until you get the line length and speed you like and i bet it is around 65-70 at around 22.7 - 23.5 given your body weight. Another tip is that the 220 wake is too steep to hit it bonzai unless you are really good or really like abusing yourself. To get the physics right for the steepness you need to take a bit of a shorter cut and ride it to the top rather than a wide cut and crashing through it. Hope this makes sense and helps a bit.

[BP22]

2006 SAN 210
I ride at 22.7 mph and 75 feet.
1300lbs of ballast

[Fwat220]

About four months ago I was riding a shorter rope (60 feet) with the same ballast set up and going 23. I stepped it up and have been clearing the wake consistently for about two months now. I just want to get more pop like my little buddy here. Maybe I will shorten and slow down for the first pull this week and try to pop more. Then step it back up. Thanks

[thedude]

2003 SAN 210, 24.0-24.5 mph, 75-80 ft, 1500 lbs ballast + however many people are on the boat.

[AllianceBJJ]

I have never tried to ride with the tanks full in my 210...Have no problems clearing the wake at 70...Wonder if I should try to fill those suckers up and get higher?

[WakeSlayer]

I have never tried to ride with the tanks full in my 210...Have no problems clearing the wake at 70...Wonder if I should try to fill those suckers up and get higher?

Awesome !

There is no substitute for form and fundamental skills. No amount of ballast, speed, or line length will improve your riding as much as practice.
Not too many people truly benefit from all that. And most of the guys of that caliber can go throw all their stuff off of an unweighted SN wake.

[Shooter]

I leaned behind a small outboard ski boat with no ballast or tower. It forced me to learn a progressive edge and not rely on a big wake. I could do Tantrums behind that boat. I admit that I dont miss the wake.

[AllianceBJJ]

I have never tried to ride with the tanks full in my 210...Have no problems clearing the wake at 70...Wonder if I should try to fill those suckers up and get higher?

Awesome !

There is no substitute for form and fundamental skills. No amount of ballast, speed, or line length will improve your riding as much as practice.
Not too many people truly benefit from all that. And most of the guys of that caliber can go throw all their stuff off of an unweighted SN wake.

I am by no means good at all yet...Just really got back into it this summer....I have just been happy with the fact I can go w2w at all with a decen theight....Never even thought about filling the tanks for anything but surfing....Not sure I have inverts, 180 or 360 in me yet....Maybe I'll give it a try next spring, even though I hopefully have a month left in the North Texas boating season...

[Hollywood]

Maybe I will shorten and slow down for the first pull this week and try to pop more.

Or empty the tanks, and save money on gas...

[flaudia402]

Also depends on your weight. I ride with a couple bigger guys (190+ pounds) and to keep them on plane we generally pump the speed up a bit. Never more than 23 mph or so though. We ride with the stock factory ballast and generally have between five and six people spread out. For the lighter riders we ride at around 21.5-22.5 mph. The line we keep at around 65 feet or so.

It's all an equation. More ballast - longer line - faster speed to keep it from washing over. In the end also, depends on the weight and skill level of the rider. I've had girls out there that weigh no more than 110 pounds and keep it at around 20 mph. However, we shorten up the line accordingly otherwise the wash will engulf their 5'5 frames.

For you, I'd recommend shortening the line. The extra five feet isn't going to get you more hang time unless you're a pro rider. If you want to ride a longer line, you're going to have to work on your progressive edge and really learn how to gain speed and maintaining an efficient pop - which you won't of course perfect until you've gained proficiency with a shorter line.

Just my two cents.

[Fwat220]

Alright already! I will shorten the line this weekend and slow it down a little. I don't see how emptying the ballast is going to help me get a better pop. The more weight, the bigger the wake. I can't imagine that a smaller wake is going help me pop more. I can see how shortening the rope which will shorten the distance between wakes which will require less speed to clear will help me dial in a better pop. I think my problem is timing. I am in a good power position coming into the wake and I stand up or pop before I reach the top of the wake. Sometimes I am popping in the trough! I need to slow everything down and concentrate on popping at the top of the wake.

I appreciate all the advise. I would like to see some photos on here to accompany advise.
I will take some photos this weekend and post them.

[Hollywood]

"pop" has nothing to do with the wake size.