I also would guess that with some practice you will be surfing like crazy with the same wake that is proving to be a challenge right now. There is a lot you pick up with some practice. So get the wake decent looking and go practice, just keep the rope and try and have it slack. You'll find that point where you will just be holding the rope, not using it. Then practice going back and forth, putting weight forward to speed up and back to slow down. You'll be winging it in no time!!!!!! And, here's a great part, the falls rarely hurt at all, nice, makes continuing on much more pleasant. I used to barefoot quite a lot and I can tell you, that was fun, the falls,,,, they make you want to NOT continue on, I repeat NOT... But it was fun and I was young and dense.