Anyone know anything about wakesurfing? (1 Viewer)

[bigbottom]

My son picked up wakeboarding last summer. We have a cable park (towed by cables rather than boats) right by our house and he did a bunch of regular wakeboarding at summer camp. So we took the plunge and picked up a used ski boat. In addition to having a wake tower for wakeboarding, the boat has a ballast system for wakesurfing. I've heard that wakesurfing is even easier than wakeboarding, at least for some, but I've never been around wakesurfing before and know virtually nothing about it. I'm not even sure what to look for in a wakesurfing board. We'll probably just stick with wakeboarding (and inner tubing) for the time being, but may consider branching out into wakesurfing down the road. Anyone here a wake surfer?  Is it hard to learn?  Is it a gimmick or an actual fun activity?  Any opinions on gear?

 

[bigbottom]

One last pity bump for those who weren't around this weekend.  Just trying to figure out if this is something actually worth learning and spending money on.  (Any wakesurfing bulletin board is going to be pro-wakesurfing no doubt).

 

[belljr]

My buddy just bought a boat last summer. He goes every weekend.  I think to start they are just using a bigger surfboard.  They surf all the time so it was pretty much the same

I can ask him specific questions if you have them

 

[Galileo]

I have had a boat for a couple of seasons now, but my kids have only been tubing and knee boarding.  Santa gave them skis this past Xmas so we will be exploring that more this summer.  My boat is an inboard/outboard.  I not sure I would be very comfortable with trying to wake surf behind a boat with an exposed prop, so we likely won't be into the sport anytime soon.  Although I have not tried wake surfing, I see people doing it all the time.  Looks to me like the surfer gets a greater degree of freedom without needing a towrope.  Those in the boat, though, are in for a much slower ride...not as much fun IMO unless your surfer is entertaining!

 

[bigbottom]

My buddy just bought a boat last summer. He goes every weekend.  I think to start they are just using a bigger surfboard.  They surf all the time so it was pretty much the same

I can ask him specific questions if you have them

Don't go to any trouble, but if you happen to be talking to the guy, ask him how hard it was to learn to wake surf (as compared to skiing or wakeboarding) and whether his kids are doing it.

Thanks!

 

[bigbottom]

I have had a boat for a couple of seasons now, but my kids have only been tubing and knee boarding.  Santa gave them skis this past Xmas so we will be exploring that more this summer.  My boat is an inboard/outboard.  I not sure I would be very comfortable with trying to wake surf behind a boat with an exposed prop, so we likely won't be into the sport anytime soon.  Although I have not tried wake surfing, I see people doing it all the time.  Looks to me like the surfer gets a greater degree of freedom without needing a towrope.  Those in the boat, though, are in for a much slower ride...not as much fun IMO unless your surfer is entertaining!

The bolded is a really good point and something I had not thought about. Thanks. 

 

[AAABatteries]

BIL has a boat - we went a couple times.  I couldn't wakeboard for #### and didn't get the chance to try wakesurfing.  He said it's easier.  From what I can tell there's more technique and need for strength with boarding where surfing seemed to be more balance.  

Note - with the wakesurfing you are somewhat dangerously close to the boat.  Also, really small kids can just get passed to an adult on the board to ride together

 

[belljr]

Don't go to any trouble, but if you happen to be talking to the guy, ask him how hard it was to learn to wake surf (as compared to skiing or wakeboarding) and whether his kids are doing it.

Thanks!

His kids are doing it. But they all regular surf. It's more like surfing than wake boarding if we are talking about the boats that produce a wake to surf on

The kids are teenagers