Rope Length Help

I just bought an MC X-5 and I my skill level is somewhere between a beginner and an intermediate level rider...closer to beginner. The extent of my tricks are HS/TS WTW, and HS 180. This will be my only 2nd year wakeboarding, and first behind a tow boat with a tower. I also just bought a 75' SL mainline and 5' Accurate handle...so the two together would obviously be 80'.

Question is what rope length should I be riding at with about 1800lbs of ballast in the X-5...I am 5'10" 175lbs if that makes any difference.

Please advise...thanks for the help.

Whatever length puts you on a good clean spot of the wake where you can comfortable clear the wake. I would imagine you are riding at about 23mph and I would guess that a total length of 75 or 80' would work best if you cutting well. The speed plays a big part in rope length.

Mike...good advice....thanks! Another thing that you might be able to help me with...how do you determine what speed to ride at? Is it the speed that your boat throws the sharpest and largest wake or is it more personal preference?

It's really both. Some people are more comfortable at slower speeds other at faster speeds. However, with more weight, you need to go faster to keep the wake clean farther out.

Sooo...

The length you ride at is really personal preference in combination with where the wake is clean and narrow enough for you to be consistent in your jumps.

More weight usually means either a faster speed or a shorter line as the wake will begin breaking down at slower speeds and clean up farther and farther out the faster you go.