Wakesurfing a DD w/ 1.23:1 trans help?

[kvand347]

Read my signature for the details of my boat...

I have tried to wakesurf my boat with different ballast locations and am having troubles finding the pocket. I know DD don't produce a huge pocket like the v-drives, but shouldn't it be more than a foot long?

I know the 1.23:1 trans spins RH as opposed to most of you 1:1 LH'ers, so my question is do I need to learn to ride goofy to get a better wave/pocket since the prop is spinning to the starboard side?

Or is it I am just too much of a newbie right now and need to learn board control?

[wotan2525]

Two things.... can you catch the wave on another boat? If the answer is that you haven't tried... then.... you're just a newbie that is trying to blame the boat.

I participate in a lot of board sports and had surfed in the ocean several times.... it still took me far more days than I'd like to admit to be able to find the pocket. During this time, I was always trying to blame the wave or the board or my weight or foot size or anything else besides my ability level. Now that I know what I'm doing, these factors took care of themselves.

Second thing. More weight. Always more weight. If the rub rail isn't dragging, you can get a bigger wave. More weight in front = longer pocket.... more weight in back = more push. I run with my wakeplate slightly down, ~1800lbs in the back corner and a person or two in the front.

Nobody will have the magic bullet for your setup.... it's all trial and error as even the exact same boat can yield different results. Good luck!

[kvand347]

You got me! I have not tried on another boat before, but have heard that v-drives are easier to find than DD's.

I run ~1450lbs in the back and 350lbs in the front. I then put people on the same side we lean. Usually back seat, spotter's seat, and up front. Surf wave gets to be about mid-thigh high (I'm 6'1") in my estimation. Wish I had pics.

What helped you to know what you are doing? Any technique tips?

[wotan2525]

Sounds like you have enough weight and a big enough wave to me. I'd focus on catching the wave and then worry about tweaking your setup to make it perfect.

Put your weight on the balls of your feet. Bend your knees (you can't do this too much..... ) Feet centered toe/heel on the board. With pressure on the balls of your feet you should be pushing the toe-side edge of the board into the wave. You should be riding with at least 60% of your weight on your front foot... it will feel like you are pushing it down the wave.

When you feel the board start to push towards the boat -- this is the time to shift your weight to your back foot -- if you wait until you're already down the wave, you'll be too late as the board doesn't respond instantaneously. You have to always anticipate where it's going to go. This was a big struggle for me as I was always slightly behind where I needed to be pressuring the board.

Once you begin to "catch" the wave you'll feel slack in the rope. When you can comfortably start to get slack in the rope, work on weaning yourself off of the rope. Move towards holding it with just your front hand and try to get your timing down so that you rely on it less and less. Finally, once you can reliably get slack in the rope, toss it into the boat.... I'm a big believer in getting the rope out of your hands as early in the progression as possible. This will take away this comfortable feeling and force you to surf the wave.

Keep trying! You'll get there and once it starts to click it will feel like second nature. Still struggling? Post a video and I can try to help.... or.... Drive up here to Hudson and I promise to get you on that wave!

[kvand347]

Sounds like you have enough weight and a big enough wave to me. I'd focus on catching the wave and then worry about tweaking your setup to make it perfect.

Put your weight on the balls of your feet. Bend your knees (you can't do this too much..... ) Feet centered toe/heel on the board. With pressure on the balls of your feet you should be pushing the toe-side edge of the board into the wave. You should be riding with at least 60% of your weight on your front foot... it will feel like you are pushing it down the wave.

When you feel the board start to push towards the boat -- this is the time to shift your weight to your back foot -- if you wait until you're already down the wave, you'll be too late as the board doesn't respond instantaneously. You have to always anticipate where it's going to go. This was a big struggle for me as I was always slightly behind where I needed to be pressuring the board.

Once you begin to "catch" the wave you'll feel slack in the rope. When you can comfortably start to get slack in the rope, work on weaning yourself off of the rope. Move towards holding it with just your front hand and try to get your timing down so that you rely on it less and less. Finally, once you can reliably get slack in the rope, toss it into the boat.... I'm a big believer in getting the rope out of your hands as early in the progression as possible. This will take away this comfortable feeling and force you to surf the wave.

Keep trying! You'll get there and once it starts to click it will feel like second nature. Still struggling? Post a video and I can try to help.... or.... Drive up here to Hudson and I promise to get you on that wave!

Thank you for the pointers! I will be trying them out this weekend. I'll see if I can get someone to take a video and post it up for you to see. If I can't go ropeless by the end of July, then I may just take you up on your offer!

[wotan2525]

Oh also -- DONT LOOK DOWN! Pick something in the boat to orient yourself too. Look down, go down. Everyone seems so amazed that they have their feet on a surfboard that they can't stop staring at it..... You'll get it.