Surfing on smallish wake

(bmock50) · (bmock50) **Join Date: Feb 2011** 01-12-2012, 9:02 PM

Wakesurfing looks like a blast so I was wondering if its possible with the right board to surf on a smallish wake. I have a late 80s ski boat with 1600lbs of ballast plumbed in, I know this won't throw the biggest or best wake, but do you think it would be possible? Im 5'7" and 150-160.

(gotwake133) · (gotwake133) **Join Date: May 2010** 01-12-2012, 9:14 PM

I would say it is very possible! Fill up all the weight on whichever desired side of the boat, go about 8-11 mph and adjust some ballast until you get the cleanest wave you can! Im guessing its a smaller boat (19-22ft)? So you shouldn't need a ton of ballast to get a surf able wave.

(bmock50) · (bmock50) **Join Date: Feb 2011** 01-12-2012, 9:30 PM

Awesome!!!! It's a 1987 American Skier Advance (20ft) What size board should I use???

(duramat) · (duramat) **Join Date: Feb 2008** 01-12-2012, 9:41 PM

Probably an inland surfer "red woody" would be a good try

(guma) · (guma) **Join Date: Sep 2009** 01-12-2012, 10:40 PM

The depth of the lake will probably be your biggest concern. Too shallow and the wave can bounce off the bottom and ruin the wave on top of the water. I have seen a noticeable difference in the wave in depths less than 10' as compared to deeper than 10'. For our setup anything less than 15' deep and the wave would lose a lot of its push.

(ragboy) · (ragboy) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 01-13-2012, 4:13 AM

Just my opinion, I don't think you need to go as big as a red woody. Only 160, I bet the new Sweet Spot would work, and be a lot funner. That's a fun board, but very fast and decent size and surface area, I bet it will feel the bill fine, and yet be fun.

(tuneman) · (tuneman) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 01-13-2012, 6:47 AM

Sweet Spot? That's waaaay to challenging for a newbie, unless you like diving for pearls. Go with the Swallow V2 for quality, Squirt if you're short on cash, Triple X Nitro 5' for something in the middle.

Your boat will be surfable, but you'll need a board that's typically a bit big for you.

(bmock50) · (bmock50) **Join Date: Feb 2011** 01-13-2012, 9:36 AM

I thought that might be the case. We run in water thats anywhere from 4ft-15ft+ so the bouncing effect might be in play. Thanks for the info

(ragboy) · (ragboy) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 01-13-2012, 10:32 AM

@tuneman, sorry, I meant the new sweet spot, the pro. The first one, it was definitely a pearl diver, not the new one. And if you put in all 4 fins on the new one, its very stable. If you haven't tried the new one, you should.

(malibu) · (malibu) **Join Date: Sep 2004** 01-13-2012, 10:56 AM

I surfed a direct drive Malibu Sportster when I was learning. I started on a Hyperlite Landlock and went to the Phase Five prop with a rainbow fin. I think it was called the "surf dog" fin. The deeper fin helped me stay in the smaller wave. We had a wedge on our Malibu and extra bags. It was a fun wave to surf and I learned how to keep weight on my front foot and toes to stay in that small pocket.

(guma) · (guma) **Join Date: Sep 2009** 01-14-2012, 8:43 PM

When I first read and replied to this thread I glanced over the title and thought I read "smallish lake"... hence my reply was about the depth of the lake. Oh well, glad to see it actually did apply to you.. GL on learning to surf, beware it is addicting!