Wake to Wake--Speed/Tips/Techniques

Looking for tips:
My 17 yr old son been boarding for last 3 summers. This year we upgraded from an old IO with Monster Tower to a Tige 24ve. He also changed his board to a (136-137?) LF Shane (i think). He is coordinated/comfortable on board. He's 5'11", about 150#. He took one clinic this year and knows about keeping rope at hip and gradually then fast cutting into wake to jump.

For a while he was getting close to going W2W, but lately his jumps seems to have lost all height, like he almost skips across wake, fast, but not high.

We run @ 19.5mph, Taps 5-6 with 1,000# ballast.
Rope 2 off.

We were both thinking going faster creates a narrower wake, but I'm wondering if going slower would create a bigger wake, and he would control his speed to pop.

Any suggestions on speed, rope length would be appreciated.

sounds like he's not edging correctly, rope legth, boat spped arent' going ot help.

It does sound like your driving very slow. Does the waske even stay clean at thsoe speeds?

It is hard to critique without seeing pictures or video of his jumps. It does sound like he is flattening his board when he hits the wake. If you have speed coming into the wake and your board is not on edge it will cause you to “skip” over the wake. He could also be absorbing all of the pop with his legs.

What he wants to do is concentrate on his progressive edge. If he cuts out on his toeside as far as he can, it will give him plenty of time to think about and focus on his speed. He should be thinking about gradually building up speed while staying on his edge. The idea is to be edging your hardest when you hit the wake. If you lean against the line it will help you put the board on edge. Once he hits the top of the wake he should apply slight pressure against the wake with his board. This will cause him pop off the wake and not absorb with his legs.

Remember, slow progressive edge and slight press at the top of the wake. Most importantly keep the board on edge and your hands low at your lead hip. Tell you son good luck and keep trying he will get it.

I'm doing the same thing. Hitting the wake flat. I edge hard out in the flats and have plenty of speed but not popping off the wake. Give it to coming from a skiing background.

Thanks for the tip.

Yeah, speed doesn't sound like your problem.

i generally ride somewhere between 21 - 23 MPH

Print out Mike's response and have your son read it, perfect answer.

go faster . you can't wakeboard behind a tige (or most larger v-drives) at speeds under 21mph, especially with some ballast in there. so, go faster, and follow malibumikes advice. the wake behind a 24ve is super wide, but its large enough that with a proper cut he should be soaring over it.

Thanks. Printed out and bringing home for him to read. It does make sense that being flat will cause you to skip like a stone across the water. To make a stone skip high, need the angle.

We're heading to Table Rock this weekend and will hopefully have lots of practice time in good water.

Good luck and let us know how he does.

Definitely speed it up to at least 21 or 22.