wakesurfing?

Can't you wakesurf in small chop water? It really wasn't that bad out at one of our local lakes in AZ, in the middle of the lake, and could have wakeboarded almost anywhere Saturday morning, but there were like 4 boats wakesurfing at 7am in the back of the lake (protected by wind) on GLASS water. It started destroying the water. I couldn't believe it.

I grew up surfing in Hawaii and am definitely not against it, but on glass water? I remember pulling my buddy at one point and couldn't see him wakeboarding behind the boat because we had to go over some HUGE wakes from wakesurfing. Never seen that before. Aghhhhhhhhh!

Oh yeah, if there is glass why mess it up by surfing?

If there is glass, even if i'm wakeboarding i try to go to a different part of the lake than the slalom skiers to keep the water nice for them. I agree with you Keith.

Yah, I know some won't agree with me. That's cool too. That's why I posted this. I wanted to see what others thought.

Don't you also love when wakesurfers or wakeboarders fall and then the driver POWERS the boat at full throttle to do a 180 degree turn to pick up the rider and throw a Tsunami out (plus waste gas). LOVE it!!!

maybe I just see it because the lake that I was at is so small. You notice a lot more things going on.

Yes, you can wakesurf in small chop but like every other watersport it's better to do in good conditions. To think that any one group deserves good water over another is narrow-minded, short sighted, and somewhat elitist.

thats why you should have wakeboards and surfboards on the boat!! so you can ride in any type of water conditions!! i do hate to see it when ppl. full power 180 to pick up a fallen boarder!! then they complain when the rollers come over the bow, and how much gas they use!!!!

I agree with some of the comments above - if you are serious about progressing in wakesurfing, cleaner water is better. However, common courtesy is always appreciated -- if we see somebody slightly behind us just about to pull a wakeboarder or skier out of the water, we typically wait until they go by and then start our run.

On the note of power turning -- Jeff W -- maybe you should do one of your cool write ups on how to pick up a fallen rider.

Its too bad there is not an option to make a "sticky" on the top of this forum for some of these topics.

hahahhahahahah, now i'm "narrow-minded, short sighted, and somewhat elitist." for thinking that way. LMAO... that was great.

Keith, I hear you, but if I'm riding at the level in the picture below, I don't want chop. Nor should I ride chop so that someone can wakeboard. I think it's just a matter of education and common courtesy.

We as wakesurfers, hopefully can be respectful. So like others pointed out...not doing power turns. If you're just goofing around and not riding HARD like James is in this picture...you can leave the butter for folks that need it to practice their sport - slalom and wakeboarding/skating.

Also, as surfers we need to be cognizant of how our rollers get tossed. Not only do we send rollers out along the side of the wake, but our tables are massive and we send those down the line. Be aware of folks in front of you too. It's pretty easy for everyone to find relatively smooth water.

And to everyone that is wakeboarding, if all you are doing is goofing, you don't need the butter either. I would ask that respect be given, not to treat wakesurfers with a level of prejudice or disdain, or assume that everyone that is surfing is just cruising OR for that matter that any single watersport is somehow more entitled than any other. Keith, not addressed at you.

Give respect and expect respect in return. The folks over at www.endofropegang.com have an excellent article that talks to respect for other boaters.

Keith, that was a little over the top on my part. I have plenty of respect for other boats on the lake and hate power-turners as much as the next guy. Where I differ is the notion that wakesurfing should be left to the choppier parts of the lake.

True True. It's all good Sean...


Nice pic Jeff and nice write up! I have respect as well. I've been surfing in Hawaii since I was 10. I think it's the newbies out there that buy wake tow boat that have NO idea what they are doing. It's just too bad they don't make you take a test before you buy one of these boats. Or read our threads we post on WakeWorld.

We board out in lake havasu city AZ. We usually start at 5am. The good water usually lasts till about 7:30 or 8 with wakesurfing till about 10 after that it turns into the pacific and we are off the water or just chillin.The good thing is at that time of morning we can spread out and not really bother eachother.

Hey cant we all get along? My opinion is whomever gets up early gets the worm! or gets the water in my case. Sorry but half the wakeboarders out there do not know how to keep the lake smooth and buttery, they are constantly power turning when their rider falls. So I say ride your session then let the next guy go, and please111 try to keep the lake smooth (educate yourself!)

Keith sounds like you were at saguaro.I was there sun and there were power turners at 6am in the back.I talked to one of them and showed him how to turn around with out making a mess,he was cool about it.He had no idea he was destroying the water.

you rock Bill!! A little "teaching others" always helps.

But basically yes, I was at Saguaro and that's probably my frustration right there. I should have kept going all the way to roosevelt like I normally do (that day).

Anthony, you can only educate so many people! Some people just don't get it as I didn't when I first started wakeboarding in the mid 90's

The day I power turned inside a slalom coarse, was the day I realized that it's wrong (got yelled at). We've all done it, but....

It would seem to be standard part of boat delivery instruction. the dealer could teach the new boat owners... and/or add it to a basic checklist of things they hand out when you pick up your boat. At Number 1 at the top: When picking up a fallen rider DO NOT power turn like James Bond. It is safer and more courteous to others on the lake if you ease off the prop, turn around slowly without sending rollers down the lake and return to pick up your rider at no more than 2-3 mph... or something like that.

Yo Keith. You are right , you can't educate everyone. It sure would be nice though if evryone whom is into the sport would at least try to learn some courtesy. ( I know wishful thinking) Hey I always need more people to go out and ride, anyone here in the PNW (Tacoma area) that wants to ride? ( American Lake)?