Looking for Suggestions - unable to go "ropeless" (wireless)

[HyperCVAD198]

Hey all,

Got a 2011 Sunsport 22V, and been trying to wake surf behind it this summer. We're getting up without a problem, and pulling nicely into the flats, but notice that we can't quite seem to get off the rope. We seem to be able to get good slack in the rope, but no real "push" to be able to drop the rope and stay off completely. Don't get me wrong, we're having ALOT of fun trying - but it would be nice to be able to ride the wave entirely this year, and cruise along for awhile. We've mastered the "don't be heavy on the back foot" and noticed we're getting more aggressive with the front foot down - which helps tremendously. Every time we try to come off the rope though, it seems that we end up washing out the back.

We're riding a smaller board (Liquid Force 4'10 Custom - 20.4" wide) which I think is somewhat playing into the reason we can't go without rope. We've noted that we have a more "advanced" board - one which is tougher for beginners and more of a shredding/skim type board - or so it seems. Story there is that I got a good deal on craigslist and figured it would be a decent way to try the sport fairly cheaply.

We're also only running stock ballast bags. I believe the ballast configuration is as follows:

Center Ski Locker: 650 lbs (*may only be 550 - trying to remember specs)
Back Left Locker: 400 lbs
Back Right Locker: 400 lbs

Usually I have the boat configured in the following manner:

Center: 100% (full) - heard more weight up front will give a longer "pocket"
Back Left: 100% (surfside) - the only side we surf on
Back Right: 50% (to add some weight to the back end)
WakePlate: 10-20% - depending on how we can get it dialed in
Speed: 10.5 MPH

The number of people we have on the boat varies from 4 to 12 - but one time we had the above config PLUS 8 people on the back left corner. (+1 driver)(all 8 seated - everyone snuggled up nice and close). The wave looked HUGE compared to normal, and we were rocking the gangster lean - but it was a choppy day - so tough to get a good read on how that worked. We've played with wake plate settings, with speed, and a bit with the ballast - but the above config seems to put us as close as possible to going ropeless.

I have two "purchase now" options - both should be implemented before Summer 2014, but I wanted to see which one the forums thought would have the most impact IMMEDIATELY: (we would love to conquer rope-less before this summer finally breaks for good)

1. New Board - We've been researching various boards, and note that our board is MUCH narrower than most of the normal surf style boards - so we've considered a HyperLite Broadcast (5'6) as well as a Hyperlite LandLock (5'10) as good beginner boards. Some CWB boards are also in the mix as well. We're not sure we wanna go with the $500+ (Inland Surfer) boards that everyone seems to LOVE - until we can get some people off-rope first. We note that the Landlock may be too much chill and not enough fun as we progress - but we also have some bigger friends 250+ and less aggressive friends who won't wanna shred on the skim-type boards and will just enjoy getting up and cruising. Right now, we figure the cost is at least 25-33% lower than normal on some of these boards at end of year- so it may be worth it to pick one up @ $200 - $300.

2. Add a 1100lbs FlyHigh sack to the back left - and take the 400lbs for somewhere else on boat. (front/left back seats) I've been thinking long and hard about this option as well. $200 bucks and 15 min install guarantees us a big wake surf-side, even if we're light on people. Loaded down- we become a wave making MACHINE. I like that idea - and obviously the extra weight will come in handy next year as well. However, if we're on the wrong board, it's possible that no matter WHAT amount of ballast I have, I may have a tough time getting to go without rope.

So, as you can see - I'm torn. Each option has benefits that are likely to help the cause, but I'm not sure which is best to go for at this point in time- so I am looking to my fellow Supra owners to help with suggestions. All thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Will provide some pics of the wake shortly.

HyperCVAD198

[Scottysspeedshop]

We have a 24 SSV I have 750 fat sacs in the back we fill only the side we will be surfing on and fill the front sac full 1100# I think and the wake plate at 0 . The board we use is a inland surf Red rocket . We have no problem getting off the rope with this set up this includes my self
280 # intermediate surfer my daughter 100# beginner and my son 170 # intermediate.

[wax]

You should absolutely upgrade to the 1100lb, at least for the side you surf on mostly. It's the best $200 you'll spend. If most of you and your crew are regular, then get a 1100 for the left and leave the 400 on the right. You don't need more than 400 on each side for wakeboarding really, and the goofy side will make an easier wake than the left due to LH prop rotation so if you have any goofy riders I bet the wake will be fine on the right for them with just the 400. I have 1100 on left and 650 on right, and the surf wake on the right with the 650 is about as good as the left with 1100.

As for boards, I highly suggest a CWB Ride. It's relatively inexpensive and they've been around for a long time pretty much unchanged, so there's a good chance you can find one used on forums or craigslist. It is a GREAT board for beginners/intermediates and is very fast and buoyant; it's even a decent board once you become more advanced. I bought it as my first board 7 years ago, and I still ride it (although my skills are surpassing it now, so a new higher level board is on the horizon for me shortly). It's great for all sizes and ablility of riders. I'm 220 and I surf it easily, and I even take my 4 year old with me on it sometimes.

Those two things may be able to be done for about $400 total if you find a used board, and I'm sure they will greatly improve your surfing experience. However, there's still technique involved also...

[jaywidhalm]

Plus, if you upgrade your 400 lb bag I will buy your old one from you and help offset some of the cost!

[trayson]

If you go over to wake9 there is a great vid about going ropeless. The "superman" technique helps a lot. I have a sunsport direct drive and put 250 inder the rear seat and 1100 olong the surfside with zero in the bow. On my liquid force fish 5'6 I can surf for the length of a whole song...
I will admit that it takes a little more balance to do the same with my 4'9 broascast, but I certainly can freeride with either.
Are you all standing on the board with emphasis to the toe edge?

Maybe try zero on the non surf side???

Where is your water level when underway? Mine has water at the rubrail all the way to the rear cleat.

[trayson]

also look for Deals. I found my 4'9 broadcast with a rope for $75 on CL.

And see if u can find someone on the forums in your area with an easier board you can demo. I can surf for days on my liquid force fish 5'6.

Lastly call the guys at wakemakers.com they are wizards and will be able to help you out. One call to them resulted in a reconfigure for me that took my surf wave to winning status for a DD.

[CornRickey]

save your money on bags and buy quick fill caps for one bag. Fill your surf side in the compartment. take your other side, put the connectors on it and put it on the floor on tbe surf side. leave the front empty and build some simple surf gates. that will be plenty weight and you won't have the crazy lean and you will have money for beer. my friend just made one out of three cutting boards and 45 minutes that is reversible from one side to the other. It pissed me of because I took two week and about 200.

[OneCent]

Change your Board .

We changed our board to a longer Ronix, and had no problems anymore with "ropeless".

[2500HD]

I'm 200 pounds and can go ropeless with much less weight than 1500#'s. I'm riding a cwb ride that is 5'-0.
One of your problems could just be your stance on the board. I like to ride with my back foot straight across the board and my front foot angled to the front at 45 degrees. I keep a weight forward stance and keep my weight on my toes. This keeps the board planted into the wave. Hope some of this helps. Good luck.

[HyperCVAD198]

All awesome suggestions guys - thanks for the info!

While out this past weekend, I did start to play with the speed - noted that as we got up to 12.5 we were seeming to have luck going "off rope" for a handful of seconds. (For some reason, I previously kept sticking to 10.5 when I'm sure I remember seeing people say that faster or slower speeds can also make a difference -blame it on info overload). So, that, plus a further emphasis on the toes (standing facing a slight uphill, heels slightly off the ground) seemed to give us more success. We were stoked for that development. So that combined with the realization that a busy fall convinced me that we can stay with the current configuration to end out the season. We should be able to get off the rope, just going to need to put in some more hours.

Of course, over the winter, we will be adding board and ballast to get next summer kicked off even bigger.

Thanks for the suggestions/tips!