Clean wake 280

[cheli]

Is it possible to have a clean wake at 17 mph on a 230. I have a 9 year old that wakeboards at 17 and I can't get him to speed up yet. He is very lite. Any ideas to clean the wake?

[Chexi]

I assume that you have no ballast in the boat. I can't answer your question, but you can try (a) pulling him faster (like 24-25) with him just riding in the middle until 22 seems slow. Or, have him start working on switch at 17mph. That will make regular at 17mph seem very slow. It does for me anyway.

9 is pretty young though to be expecting wake tricks, unless he is a potential future pro.

[AllianceBJJ]

No ballast and the gate all the way forward is your best shot. Every higher mph will clean it up even more.

The wake is extremely soft below 20 mph as well.

[HS]

We bring in the rope one 5' section for our 9 year old so he rides just ahead of the wash at 17 with no ballast...still way less boat than a 230, I realize.

(Mess with the speed, he'll never know! Just kidding.)

[Bevan]

Is it possible to have a clean wake at 17 mph on a 230. I have a 9 year old that wakeboards at 17 and I can't get him to speed up yet. He is very lite. Any ideas to clean the wake?

I don't have a 230, but with my 210 can easily achieve at least one clean wake at that speed by biasing extra weight on the the riders approach side. 17mph is plenty fast for your boy so try this and have him work on one wake tricks only until he has gained the skill to ride at faster speeds. At his age its all about growing confidence by keeping it safe and fun!

[obd666]

for my 10 yr old on my 210, we got it much cleaner by going from 17 up to 19. he never knew until he got done and i told him what he was riding at, and he loved how clean it was ... very little difference in 17 and 19 if you dont tell them

[Chexi]

Blame it on the perfect pass or zero off. Sorry... it must have been malfunctioning...

If you are going to bump the speed up, do it on butter with no wind. Going 25 on butter with no wind feels slower than going 19 on chop with a strong wind in your face.

[Nautyrider]

Keep the speed where he is comfortable, let him jump from inside out of the wake until he has built a foundation. Any base trick can be learned at 17mph without trying to clear the wake. It's less intimidating and less injury! Play with your gate and rope length to help get a lip.

[Chexi]

Only if the wake is clean. Jumping inside out on foam sucks as much as trying to go wtw on foam. I agree that starting with inside out and outside in is good advice, but it's a lot better with a clean wake.

[Nautyrider]

Yes chexi I agree foam sucks. You can't do anything on it. But even at 17mph there is clean wake somewhere. Short rope, play with ballast. It might be better filling them and sinking the back end to help clean it up.

[BKinSoCal]

I have a tough time cleaning my wake up at 17 as well. 20 is about where it cleans up for me. But agree not to pull your son too fast. The faster he rides, the more the falls hurt, the more reluctant he'll be. Get him comfortable before speeding it up. He'll eventually get bored at slower speeds where he can't really do much so he'll ask to speed up.