Picking up surfers and riders the right way

[RDT-G23]

Good vid, and spot on. I came from a stern drive/slalom oriented boat, but learned this technique quickly from friends. It works great.

[Dgee]

One of the main reasons many of us are pushing this video is because of the problems a few have caused for us here again in the NW.

Recently a bunch of homeowners have decided to get together and hire a lobbyist to try and pass a law outright banning all wakeboard boats for a 20 mile stretch of the upper Willamette river unless they're running under what would be a newly posted 5mph no wake zone. Thankfully many local boat owners have banned together to fight this and so far making a little progress. Sadly my opinion it's only a matter of time before they figure out a way to push this through and we lose another great section of the river.

For those interested here's a link to House Bill 4099 you can read it for yourself here. The fight definitely isn't over!

https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/201...099/Introduced

[Nautiquehunter]

Point of video was to educate people on how to do it correctly with least effect on others/environment...bravo! since too many ignorant jerkoffs on the water who don't know how to drive safely, much less properly. I always try to be conscious and respectful of others....live and let live, however most people neither think that way nor will any amount of education make them become any less selfish. Some will learn since they do it simply out of ignorance which is why videos like this are great. Most know and don't care.
That is an entirely different point tho. No one sport has more of a "right" to be there than any other, and regardless of my desire to please others and be selfless, if some skier or wakeboarder were to come to me at/before 9am telling me to "wait till later to surf" or "go somewhere else on the lake that is not so nice" cause he is the only person who has the right to be on the "perfect glass", I would LAUGH in his face. Those are just the facts, lakes are only so big and if I got up early to go surfing, I would not be packing up early and going home cause someone was mad that I decided to go to the lake on the same day they did and now they don't have perfect glass. If that was the case, I would never get to go out on the boat. ****, I have never even seen perfect glass except in pictures, guess I live in the wrong place.

Spoken like a typical ignorant selfish surfer. I see you are on Norman about the same size and shape as Lanier . I have been on both so I know there is plenty of space for both sking and wakesurfing . Ski coves are typically small sheltered areas that is why the water is better for sking. Home owners that live in them have to deal with damage to boats,docks and shoreline.This is why you are starting to see more no wake zones and wakesurf bans.Go ahead and keep it up you have the right nobody can stop you because its all about you right?

[jtryon]

i agree with the video except for the reversing part. i wonder how many people this summer will run over their ropes as a result.

i simply come off throttle and start the turn in the opposite direction that the surfer was on once the boat is at idle speed (couple seconds). the boat swings around just fine and doesn't take any water over the front no matter how much weight i'm running.

[Kmayotte]

i agree with the video except for the reversing part. i wonder how many people this summer will run over their ropes as a result.

i simply come off throttle and start the turn in the opposite direction that the surfer was on once the boat is at idle speed (couple seconds). the boat swings around just fine and doesn't take any water over the front no matter how much weight i'm running.

I find that a tap of reverse helps kick the rear end of the boat (to the right on a G) so you reach the finish of your 180 more quickly and it also slows down the forward momentum of the boat a bit. It's not nearly enough reverse to have the boat actually go backwards and certainly not enough to run over the rope (Which has usually been pulled in the boat anyway when the rider was surfing).

[Kmayotte]

Point of video was to educate people on how to do it correctly with least effect on others/environment...bravo! since too many ignorant jerkoffs on the water who don't know how to drive safely, much less properly. I always try to be conscious and respectful of others....live and let live, however most people neither think that way nor will any amount of education make them become any less selfish. Some will learn since they do it simply out of ignorance which is why videos like this are great. Most know and don't care.
That is an entirely different point tho. No one sport has more of a "right" to be there than any other, and regardless of my desire to please others and be selfless, if some skier or wakeboarder were to come to me at/before 9am telling me to "wait till later to surf" or "go somewhere else on the lake that is not so nice" cause he is the only person who has the right to be on the "perfect glass", I would LAUGH in his face. Those are just the facts, lakes are only so big and if I got up early to go surfing, I would not be packing up early and going home cause someone was mad that I decided to go to the lake on the same day they did and now they don't have perfect glass. If that was the case, I would never get to go out on the boat. ****, I have never even seen perfect glass except in pictures, guess I live in the wrong place.

Of course you have a right to do anything you want. In our small bay (on a very large lake, 288 miles of shoreline) most people I've encountered quickly understand the mentality to preserve calm water and how there are plenty of other places that are appropriate for early morning surfing. Rarely there are people who just don't care and only think about themselves. We can run 2-4 wake and ski boats simultaneously if everyone understands how to drive their set and when to wait etc. Can't do it with someone surfing at the same time.

[scottb7]

I understand the points of view that believes education on how, where, and when to ride would help. And I guess it would. But I also believe it would be difficult to do that education. I, like was noted above would probably not take it well if a boat cruised up to me and was like hey go over there and told me why.

It would be difficult to accept the message even if it makes sense since everyone has the right to do what they want, and even though
it might make sense it would be tough to hear, "hey you should move, but I am good where I am".

[Infinity]

Spoken like a typical ignorant selfish surfer. I see you are on Norman about the same size and shape as Lanier . I have been on both so I know there is plenty of space for both sking and wakesurfing . Ski coves are typically small sheltered areas that is why the water is better for sking. Home owners that live in them have to deal with damage to boats,docks and shoreline.This is why you are starting to see more no wake zones and wakesurf bans.Go ahead and keep it up you have the right nobody can stop you because its all about you right?

Apparently you did not read what I wrote, saw what you wanted thru your blurred vision and lashed out with your ignorant comment. I said if THEY come up to me telling me to leave that area, like they are the only ones with a "right" to be there and trying to kick me out. I am always reasonable in response to a reasonable request, but come at me with attitude and you will get it right back. I was simply making a point tho, not only do I not get up early to go surfing on glass (you skiers are welcome to it).....but also would not be in a small cove surfing anyway, especially if there was a ski course set up. A larger cove...yes, I will surf there all day going back and forth just like that video showed.... since the main channels have big cruisers running bow up all day every day and the chop/traffic is terrible. Its not conducive to a good surf wave, but even more importantly its not a safe place to surf with all the idiots running up and down the channel paying no attention to their surroundings and many time drinking more than they should responsibly. I would not want to be a rider in a place like that, and certainly would not allow my kids or anyone else I was responsible for while driving, to surf in main channel either. I am sure lots of lakes have a reasonably calm channel, ours is not one of them and there are plenty of large coves to hit....and we do.

[Dgee]

Like I said above, it's all fine and dandy till people start spending 15K+ to hire a lobbyist to push through laws under your nose to kick you off of a public waterway.

It takes a lot less effort be be respectful than it does to be a dick.

[scottb7]

Yeah, your probably nicer than me. i would be like yeah, thanks for sharing that great info. but i was here first so blow...

i have been so mistreated trying to be reasonable and respectful of others peoples water, and then no one ever reciprocates and respects me back. So i have given up. i do what i want. and honestly, and whatever, people can hate me for it...but if they ban wakeboard boats too bad so sad, i will sell and move somewhere i can snowboard more...

[Nautiquehunter]

Apparently you did not read what I wrote, saw what you wanted thru your blurred vision and lashed out with your ignorant comment. I said if THEY come up to me telling me to leave that area, like they are the only ones with a "right" to be there and trying to kick me out. I am always reasonable in response to a reasonable request, but come at me with attitude and you will get it right back. I was simply making a point tho, not only do I not get up early to go surfing on glass (you skiers are welcome to it).....but also would not be in a small cove surfing anyway, especially if there was a ski course set up. A larger cove...yes, I will surf there all day going back and forth just like that video showed.... since the main channels have big cruisers running bow up all day every day and the chop/traffic is terrible. Its not conducive to a good surf wave, but even more importantly its not a safe place to surf with all the idiots running up and down the channel paying no attention to their surroundings and many time drinking more than they should responsibly. I would not want to be a rider in a place like that, and certainly would not allow my kids or anyone else I was responsible for while driving, to surf in main channel either. I am sure lots of lakes have a reasonably calm channel, ours is not one of them and there are plenty of large coves to hit....and we do.

I am still not sure what you meant? So if I am sking in a calm cove and you come in and start surfing its up to me to come over and ask nicely to wait your turn. Then if you take it as having an attitude then you will escalate the situation and give it right back? How many fights do you get in a season. Why don't you take a trip to Lanier and we will show you how skiers and surfers can get along using common sense and respect.

[jtryon]

It's not nearly enough reverse to have the boat actually go backwards and certainly not enough to run over the rope (Which has usually been pulled in the boat anyway when the rider was surfing).

this is true with my boat, as i use a shorter rope that gets thrown in each time. i do see a lot of boats using those longer ropes though, where the rider will throw it to the side opposite that they are surfing.

[JieemQ]

i agree with the video except for the reversing part. i wonder how many people this summer will run over their ropes as a result.

i simply come off throttle and start the turn in the opposite direction that the surfer was on once the boat is at idle speed (couple seconds). the boat swings around just fine and doesn't take any water over the front no matter how much weight i'm running.

If you are using a proper wakesurf rope it should float and not sink.

[wakerider107]

Yeah, your probably nicer than me. i would be like yeah, thanks for sharing that great info. but i was here first so blow...

i have been so mistreated trying to be reasonable and respectful of others peoples water, and then no one ever reciprocates and respects me back. So i have given up. i do what i want. and honestly, and whatever, people can hate me for it...but if they ban wakeboard boats too bad so sad, i will sell and move somewhere i can snowboard more...

I've unfortunately experienced the same. I've tried to pull up to many other surfers and boarders and politely suggest how we both can share the water and keep it calm by surfing at opposite ends, running straight lines, not power turning, etc. and I usually just get blank stares and "ok dude". They then continue on without a care in the world.

Same thing goes with trying to educate the few surfers who are getting too close to shore/docks or blaring inappropriate music on a small lake. The local lake association is making headway with lawmakers about regulation, and so many boaters could not care less - I don't get it.

[72Miles]

The problem with calling out surfers is, there's always someone else to call you out. The skiers hate the surfers. The fishermen hate the skiers. The paddle boarders hate the fishermen. The property owners hate everyone who doesn't own property. I'm not Rodney King but can't we all just get along. Be as courteous as you can. If there is traffic out there that gets in your way somehow just remember you don't own the lake. They want to have fun too. If it gets too bad drop anchor and pour a cocktail.