How To

Wakeboard: The shorter the rope, the easier it is to get up. Rope length should be somewhere between 30 and 50 feet.

As you are in the water, have your body facing the boat, and the board perpendicular to the boat. The board will naturally swing towards the boat as you plane out of the water. Make sure the toe of the board is slightly above water.

Have your arms extended and placed on each side of your front knee as you hold on to the handle.

Pull your ankles in close, with your knees close to your chest, in a squatting position. The closer you are to the board, the easier the start will be. Push your chest slightly up.

Relax and do not fight it. This cannot be stressed enough.

Weight distribution and balance are key. As the boat starts to pull you out of the water, have about 60 percent of your weight on your front foot, and the other 40 percent on your back foot. This will cause the board to not waggle and go out of control as the boat pulls you up.

Stay squatted down until you are out of the water and balanced. Stand up slowly and with your upper body first.

Shift your weight back after you have stood up. Don't try to stand up too fast. Take it slow.

After you are up, keep the rope handle low to gain more control.

 

Wakesurf: You start in the water on the side of the boat on which you intend to surf.

With a surf style board, put your feet on the board like you were on a wakeboard or wakeskate. Place the board in front of you with both feet upon the board. Use one hand to hold the board to your feet and the other to hold the rope. When you are ready, signal the driver to accelerate slowly. As soon as the boat starts moving, you can let go of the board and hold the handle with both hands. The force of the moving water will hold the board firmly against your feet. Now stand slowly.

Your goal is to be balanced on the board and then find the zone of the wave that will push the board forward. Staying in the zone takes practice and very little shift in weight or position. Be patient; unless you are an experienced surfer, you will not likely "catch the wave" your first try. Most people ride several times before they catch the wave. Just hang on to the handle and have fun. Cut back and forth, ride up and down the face of the wave, attempt side slides, 180s and 360s. There is a lot you can do on a surf board while holding the handle (lineriding); of course, you also want to practice catching the wave (freeriding).

Most beginners will catch the wave, accelerate rapidly towards the boat, and then slow down too much. That is OK because it is important that you know how to slow down. Once you feel comfortable and your rope is consistently slack, gently toss the rope into the boat or to the opposite side of the wave. At this point you will probably loose the wave and sink (most beginners do). Your initial surfing will probably consist of short rides. With practice you can get to the point where you can surf until someone in the boat makes you quit so they can have a ride.