The right tow point—a water-ski pylon or a wakeboard tower—transforms your boat for watersports. With this addition, it’s not just about the experience in the boat; it’s about what you can do behind it.

For the first few decades ­after Ralph Samuelson invented ­water-skiing in summer 1922, skiers used a lifting ring near the stern of an ­inboard-powered boat to attach a tow rope. Since the late 1950s, competition ski boats have included a pylon placed just forward of their ­midship-mounted inboard engine. This pylon placement helps the driver maintain straight tracking of the ski boat, providing skiers with an optimal tow. Today’s boats have many ­choices, catering to whichever sport you’re pursuing.

Plethora of Tow Points

Most runabouts, pontoons, saltwater fishing boats, and even 40-plus-foot dayboats like those made by Axopar, Beneteau, and Wellcraft offer a dedicated tow-point option. Wakeboard towers, which originated in ­dedicated wakeboard boats in the late 1990s, are now a common option for bowriders and pontoons.

Sterndrive and sport-jet boats typically feature a center-mounted tow eye at the transom, while outboard-powered boats can use a V-shaped tow harness or the TurboSwing—a curved stainless-­steel bar with a swiveling tow point that keeps the ski line clear of the propeller.

Some manufacturers, such as Sea Ray, Bayliner and Boston Whaler, offer tow pylons but recommend using a transom tow point because it offers the most strength for towing the added drag of a tube. The lower tow point is crucial for tubing to inhibit it from going airborne or flipping.

Read Next: Basic Rules of Tow Sports Etiquette

An Upward Tow

Low tow points are great for tubing but not for tow sports because they produce a downward pull, making it harder for skiers and boarders to maneuver. Pylons, TurboSwings, and towers provide upward pull, making it easier to start and perform tricks on wakeboards, kneeboards, and water skis. The higher the tow point, the better the lift—a must for sports such as wakeboarding.

The wakeboard tower provides a much higher tow point than a pylon, enabling wakeboard riders to gain more height and distance during wake jumps. This elevated pull also benefits water-skiers, kneeboard riders, and barefoot water-skiers by making in-water starts, slalom skiing, and performing tricks easier. 

Not every boat can fit a ­tower, but some builders, including Sea Ray and Boston ­Whaler, incorporate tow points on hardtops. What about surfing? Some boats, such as the Regal 38 Surf, feature tow points not only at the traditional center location on the hardtop, but also on the starboard and port sides. This design allows ­water-skiers and wakeboarders to use the ­center tow point, while the side-­mounted tow points make it easier for wakesurfers to get out of the ­water and manage the large wake created behind the boat.

The post High vs. Low Tow Points appeared first on Boating Mag.

What caught on as a rough-water activity for wakeboarders and water skiers, wakesurfing has undeniably driven new participants and wake boat buyers to experience riding the energy of a wave. The deep history of passionate ocean surfers speaks to just how drawn we humans are to the push that wave energy can create. It would be a tough stance to argue that anything that involves gliding across the surface of the water is not one of the branches of the surfing family tree. From traditional slalom skiing to flatwater skimboarding to modern-day foiling, nobody forgets their first time using one of mother nature’s most valuable resources as the medium that surely brought a smile to their face. 

So how exactly does the tree trunk of these various disciplines relate to the heaviest newly grown branch? How do we compare surfing with wakesurfing?  Is it similar?

More fun? Easier? Do the skills cross over? While it would appear at first glance that the answers would be obvious, a deeper dive with elite athletes in each, or in some cases both, disciplines reveals more to the story. 

Tatiana Weston-Webb: Even Olympic Medalists Wait Their Turn

Growing up in Kauai, Tatina Weston-Webb, “ Tati,”  lived in the optimal surfing environment longing for nothing else. However, “in ocean surfing, the wave doesn’t always come to you, or you are not next in the line-up” she admits. Tati finds that when those elements finally do line up and it is your turn, the wave itself isn’t always perfect. 

While taking her skills to wakesurfing she realized, “you can count on the wave doing pretty much the exact same thing” to which she found the benefit of being able to try new maneuvers without putting too much stock in capitalizing on the one of few waves caught in a day.  

The “infinite wave” as she calls it, wakesurfing did not initially mirror her surfing experience from a technique standpoint. Thinking that she would charge the wave and make the turns she would in the ocean, Tati needed just a few tips to make the right adjustments which she believes will allow people of all abilities to enjoy the close cousin to surfing.  

“Wakesurfing is just so much more accessible to people anywhere that doesn’t have an ocean,” Tati shares as one of the coolest things she sees about wakesurfing . Tati, who is sponsored by Body Glove, and others, continued, “Anyone can try wakesurfing, it is a great workout and you have a great time with your friends and family.” High praise from the 2024 Olympic SilverMedalist and 3^rd overall finisher on the Women’s Championship Tour. 

Alyssa Spencer: From Ocean Surfing to Wakesurfing 

Alyssa Spencer, currently ranked #16 in the Championship Tour, shared her insights into transitioning from the vast, unpredictable ocean to the controlled environment of wakesurfing.”I have been a surfer my whole life, only been introduced to wakesurfing a couple times in the past few years,” she said. “I began with ocean surfing; it is my profession, so I surf in the ocean almost every day, but am super new to wakesurfing behind a boat.”

Alyssa noted the distinct differences between ocean surfing and wakesurfing. “It (wakesurfing) has such a different feel to surfing in the ocean because the power of the wave comes from the boat. I was expecting a bit of a challenge the first few waves because learning how to get up and get going was new for me. Once I got the hang of it, it was so fun which I was definitely expecting!” she explained.  

“The atmosphere on the boat was my favorite part of the experience! Everything from riding the wave, to having music blaring, and your friends to cheer you on as you surf is all pretty cool. It makes the experience of a day on the lake a lot of fun.” 

Mirroring Tati’s experience, Alyssa emphasized the predictable nature of wakesurfing, highlighting, “Wake surfing is a much more controlled environment; the wave is pretty similar every time so you can expect what you will get. In the ocean, it is less controlled because you are dealing with mother nature, and you have to paddle into your waves. I felt like surfing on the wake was a challenge for me just because it feels so different to the ocean. The more time you put into something, the easier it gets.” 

When asked if Alyssa found wakesurfing to be beneficial for her ocean surfing she responded, “I actually went straight from wakesurfing one day, into a surf competition the next day and won the competition! So,  I think it helped get me get warmed up to surf in small waves. I think having the controlled environment in wakesurfing could give you the opportunity to get repetitions of learning new maneuvers and airs that could be translated into the ocean.” 

Reflecting on the broader experience, she added, “The wake surfing and boating experience is more of an all-day experience, while ocean surfing can be an hour or two. If you don’t have access to the ocean, wakesurfing is a great alternative to learning how to surf and getting a similar adrenaline rush. Both are easily accessible depending on where you are located.” 

When asked what might surprise ocean surfers about their first time wakesurfing, Alyssa offered an enlightening response.

“The biggest thing that surprised me was how long the wave was; I was able to ride for 1-2 minutes! In the ocean, your rides aren’t ever much longer than 10-20 seconds. So,  it’s pretty cool to ride such a long wave and also a custom wave. On the Volvo Penta Forward Drive boats, the Water Sports Control lets surfers personalize settings and create custom waves, so experiencing the ability to create my own perfect wave was something I could never experience when ocean surfing.” 

Noah Flegel: Blending a Life on Water 

Noah Flegel, an accomplished wakeboarder and many-time world wakesurf and foil champion shared his journey and insights from growing up on the water. “I’ve been on the water my whole life. It was like coming out of the womb and water was a part of it all. My first memories were my parents pushing me into waves and being on a boat at 3 years old,” he recalled. His introduction to surfing was naturally intertwined with family beach days and the convenience of having the intercoastal as his backyard. 

Known as the single most versatile towed watersports athlete on the planet, Noah’s transition to wakesurfing began early, driven by the desire to continuously improve his board skills. “We would tow behind my friend’s dinghy, long-line on a surfboard. Every day it felt like I was getting better, learning airs, carving harder.” The time spent up on the board mastering the nuances of board control is what Noah credits his ability to translate his skills to the other disciplines. 

He noted the differences between wakesurfing and ocean surfing, particularly in terms of ease and consistency. “For sure wakesurfing is easier. Consistent wave, endless attempts. Have a coach right there to help you. With surfing, you are at the mercy of mother nature instead.” 

Despite the controlled environment of wakesurfing, Noah still appreciates the unique pleasures of ocean surfing. “Walking out into the waves is a simple pleasure of life, a blissful experience with mother nature.” 

Sean Silvera: Lake Life Advocate 

Four-time Pro Wakesurf Tour Winner, Sean Silvera, has a unique perspective with his background in skateboarding, ocean surfing, flow riding, and wakesurfing.

“I started surfing at 13 years old with my first surfboard and later got into flow riding at 17-18 years old. I started wakesurfing 10 years later,” he recounted. His move to Florida was driven by the desire for consistent wakesurfing access, something he found challenging in California. 

Sean finds that there are technical differences between the disciplines. “The tricks felt the same, but the balance is different. Manipulating your weight forward and back was different. It actually took a while to break old habits but having the board control helped me a ton.”

When it comes to teaching someone who has never ocean surfed or wake surfed, Sean sees value in both experiences. “Teaching someone I would do both! You are going to have good time either way. I would probably push someone into a few mellow waves in an ocean surfing set first, then head out for a boat session since learning a deep water start can take a few tries.”  

Sean finds that the “lake life” culture that wake surfing is encompassed by is the reason he keeps coming back to it. “Boating with people who love the same things that you do provides for lifelong friendships.”  

Elite athlete, or first-timer, all can agree that time on the ocean and time on the boat are both an experience that we should all feel so lucky to have. Add in the exhilaration and challenge of surfing a wave made by nature or a boat and you have two activities that drive passionate life decisions like living near the ocean or buying that new wakesurf boat. Making memories and learning a skill crosses over to another fun activity is what keeps everyone coming back.

Moving Forward

In the video above, check out what professional surfers and wakesurfers, like Parker Payne, Alyssa Spencer and Tatiana Weston-Webb have to say about comparing wakesurfing to ocean surfing, and about their experiences riding behind boats powered by Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive. Know that ocean access is available to these three, yet they still enjoy wakesurfing. Learn what these professionals have to say.

The post Wakesurfing vs. Ocean Surfing appeared first on Boating Mag.

Only in Wisconsin might freestyle water-skiing and free sweet corn be highlights of the same event. This past August, I found myself sitting on a bench overlooking Lake Mary, watching a national champion on a single ski launch a massive back mobius flip off a jump while I munched on my third ear of sweet corn. Or maybe my fourth. On a hot summer afternoon, nothing tastes better than free Wisconsin corn. And the kid stuck the landing.

The location is the village of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, population 6,363. The venue is Lance Park, home of Aquanut Water Shows, the local water-ski show team. The event is TL Summer Nights, a competitive showcase featuring freestyle water-ski jumping, trick skiing, kneeboarding, and shoe skiing with, as a grand finale, the combined evening performance of the Aquanuts, the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team and the Muskego ­Waterbugs. Plus free sweet corn! All this crammed into a Friday evening and a full day on Saturday.

The backstory to TL Summer Nights is a long tale, best told by the event organizer, Danny “Dano the Mano” Amir, best known as the ­energetic announcer for pro-level tow-sports events and, with his girlfriend, Jayne Levy, the impresario behind Touch of the North Events (TOTN Events), which promotes TL Summer Nights and a number of other tow-sports events around the country. Amir, now all of 42 years old, first got started in tow sports as a junior Aquanut.

“I grew up in northern Illinois and learned to ski when I was 7 or 8 years old, on Eagle Lake near Kansasville, Wisconsin,” Amir recalls. “I was first exposed to show skiing when my family watched a performance of the Browns Lake Aquaducks and I was captivated by the scene. When I was 11 years old, I tried out for the Aquanuts. You had to be able to do a deepwater start on a slalom ski. Making the team was very competitive, and you started on the junior squad. When you were 14, you were eligible to advance or try out for the senior team.”

Wisconsin is the epicenter of show skiing in North America. According to Aaron Schoelzel, president of the Wisconsin Water Ski Federation, there are about 40 water-ski show teams in the state, more teams than all other states combined, and nobody really seems to know why. Schoelzel thinks that after World War II, lakefront resorts in northern Wisconsin started organizing water-ski exhibitions to entertain guests, and the complexity of these shows grew as the performers sought to compete with neighboring teams. The Tommy Bartlett Show, which combined show skiing with powerboat stunts and acrobatic stage acts, was another huge influence. Formed as a professional traveling act in 1952, the show found a permanent home on Lake Delton in Wisconsin Dells in 1953 and became an institution that fueled the development of what is today a $1.2 billion tourist ­industry in that community. Throughout its 67-year history, more than 30 million visitors watched one of its more than 18,700 daily shows, including, it seems, almost every resident of Wisconsin. The Tommy Bartlett Ski, Sky and Stage show closed permanently in 2020, an economic victim of the pandemic and rising waterfront property values.

The sport of competitive show skiing started in 1967 with the first Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Tournament, organized with the vision of Wisconsin Rapids native Jack Lukes at Red Sands Beach on Lake Wazeecha. The Wisconsin tournament established rules for judging show-ski competitions that are still in use today. That first tournament featured seven teams. Today the Wisconsin Championships, which attracts 30 teams and thousands of people to Lake Wazeecha, is the largest tournament of its kind in the world, and the most competitive within the sport. The Wisconsin title is considered more prestigious than the national championship.

Founded in 1972 and ­featuring multitime state and national champions, Aquanut Water Shows have 50 senior team skiers, 30 junior skiers, and about 40 nonskiing members who include boat drivers, a show director, and members of various committees—more than 120 people in total. Aquanut Water Shows is nonprofit, and every member pays an annual fee to be on the team. Fundraising and sponsorships add to an annual budget that tops $100,000. The team owns five specialized tow boats, two pickup boats, a ramp, and docks. Portable barges are used to stage skiers away from the show area, which is a terraced section of a city park overlooking the water. In addition to training for tournaments, show-ski teams typically perform for a local audience twice a week, forming pyramids and ballet lines, demonstrating trick skiing and jumping, all with flair that combines the circus with a Las ­Vegas review. The Aquanuts also host the Aquanut Adaptive ­Aquatics clinics program for individuals of varying disabilities, with 150 participants each summer over eight total clinic days.

This is the milieu that Amir joined when he made the Aquanuts team in 1993, an environment that combined competition and entertainment. As Amir progressed with the team, he became one of the top show trick skiers in the state, winning the Mark Black ­Memorial Award three times for being the outstanding trick skier.

“I graduated from high school in 2000, went to work at Munson Ski & Marine, and saved $20,000,” Amir says. “The idea was I would move to Florida and ski every day and find a way to make a living. So I moved in with my friend Erik Ruck, who is from Twin Lakes and was an Aquanut, and Parks Bonifay, who started show skiing with his parents as a baby at Cypress Gardens. Erik and Parks, of course, both ­became ­wakeboard champs and hall of ­famers. I burned through that 20 grand in a few months, but I skied for 700 days in a row. I aspired to show-ski professionally, but was humbled pretty quickly in the mecca of pro watersports.”

There are currently only a handful of professional ski shows in the world—Legoland Florida Resort (formerly Cypress Gardens), Sea World San Antonio and a show team in Singapore—so opportunities for show skiers are limited.

“By 2003, I was working at ­Performance Ski & Surf in ­Orlando and was interacting with skiers and boarders every day,” Amir says. “The dismissive attitude each camp had for the other really bothered me, and I tried to find ways to bring all the sides together. Bridging the gap across all aspects of towed watersports became an obsession.”

In 2005, Amir’s career took a turn when he was invited to be the announcer for the World Wake Association National Wakeboard Championships. Already starting to make a name for himself around the industry in the persona of Dano the Mano, Amir injected a new level of energy to the event, bringing a unique voice to the sport that mixed his knowledge of all tow sports with a rather hyperbolic emcee style that took cues from pro wrestling. He quit his day job in 2007 to exclusively announce tow-sports events, often commentating at more than 35 events a year. Today, he ­continues announcing select events—such as the Nautique Regattas, Nautique Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament and, most recently, Red Bull Wake the City—and is also a sales representative for ­Roswell  ­Marine.

Stick with me. This story is ­gradually working its way around to TL Summer Nights. In Florida, Amir socialized with pro wakeboarders who would let him trick-ski behind their boat when they were done with a board session. As a bit of a goof, in 2005, Amir and a group of prominent riders proposed a barefoot contest for wakeboarders only that they called Feet on Fire.

“We did this in the middle of the week, and it was just these pro wakeboarders trying to barefoot and see who could go the longest,” Amir says. “Maybe 150 people showed up to watch, just friends and family. It was a party. Later that summer, I went back to Twin Lakes, connected with my buddy and show-skiing mentor, Kenny Meyer, and started Feet on Fire North, with eight Aquanuts and eight Aquanut alumni. And we did this for a few years.”

In 2015, Amir returned to the Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Tournament and was disappointed to learn that the Mark Black Memorial Award had been discontinued for lack of a sponsor.

“So I went back to Twin Lakes and partnered with Kenny’s son, Jarad, to organize an informal trick-skiing contest for 15 competitors,” Amir says. “To attract a little crowd and just for fun, we came up with the idea of free sweet corn. We gave away 150 ears of corn and raised $300 to sponsor the Mark Black award. In 2016, we came back and combined the trick-skiing ­contest with Feet on Fire, and we had 32 barefooters show up and more than 200 spectators, and gave away 500 ears of corn.”

Then Jayne stepped in.

“She pointed out that I was working pretty hard to organize these events but not breaking even,” Amir says. “She has a background in franchising, so she brings the business mindset and organizational skills, and I bring the ideas and relationships. We started working together, with Jayne managing the overall ­operations and marketing.”

Amir remained focused on finding ways to bring together different elements of the tow-sports community. In 2017, he organized a slalom contest on Lake Mary at the home of Kenny Meyer. Thirty-three athletes signed up, and 30 of them had never skied on a slalom course.

“We thought if we set out the slalom course at dusk the night before, nobody would notice, but of course, the local water patrol caught us dropping buoys,” Amir says. “We had to get a permit. So the next day, I went to see the city president, and he gave us permission on the condition that in the future we had to ­follow the rules.”

Thus was born the Twin Lakes ­CornFest, a one-day event in ­August 2018 at the Aquanut’s Lance Park venue that featured freestyle trick skiing and jumping, ­endurance barefooting, and swivel ­skiing—with free corn. Admission was charged, the Twin Lakes Chamber of Commerce secured a permit to sell beer, and multiple sponsors set up displays at the site. The event was a big success, and in 2019, the Twin Lakes CornFest expanded its length to two days, adding wakeboarding, ­long-distance jumping, and kids tow-sports competition.

The Twin Lakes CornFest competition differs from a traditional three-event tournament in that the judging is purely subjective.

“In a pro trick-skiing tournament, for example, the judging is objective,” Amir explains. “Each trick has specific points, and the skier needs to build a routine that crams as many points into each run as possible. A show trick skier is concerned only with entertaining the audience, by  throwing some impressive tricks, but also by engaging with the crowd. At our event, we judge the trick, but also the style. A pro ski jumper is going only for distance. In our Ramp Master Superstar LD Jump event, we put a pin 125 feet from the ramp—an unimpressive distance for a pro jumper. The point being to see who can come closest to landing on the pin while also showing some style and showmanship that the judges consider. We level the playing field between pros, semipros and amateurs, and make it easier for those new to the sport to understand and be engaged.”

This approach seems to make the event a lot of fun for all of the ­competitors.

“We bring a variety of disciplines and skill levels together—pros, competitive college skiers, barefooters, wakeboarders, wakeskaters, show skiers and more—in an event that pays tribute and respect to tradition while adding a fun, new-school twist. A community-focused event like Twin Lakes CornFest, with the free all-you-can-eat corn, may draw someone in for the food, but they stay for the entertainment on the water,” Amir says.

By 2023, a three-day Twin Lakes CornFest event drew a crowd of 3,000 spectators and more than 130 competitors and featured a performance by 75 show skiers. Multiple pro athletes participated in the contests or supported with judging and on-water logistics, including pro wakeboarders Mike Dowdy and JB O’Neill, as well as pro water-skiers Jon Travers and Natallia Berdinkava and pro wakeboarder/trick skier Erika Lang. To keep the event fresh and avoid conflict with the biannual Show Ski Worlds, Dan and Jayne decided to make Twin Lakes CornFest an every-other-year deal but were persuaded by the community to host a smaller event in 2024: TL Summer Nights. Full-blown Twin Lakes CornFest will be back August 14-16, 2025.

Read Next: The History of Ski Nautique

At TL Summer Nights, the crowd and number of competitors were smaller than at TL CornFest, but there were still some impressive performances. At the top of my list is Kailey Koehler, a 28-year-old special-education teacher from East Troy, Wisconsin, who joined the Aquanuts at age 6 and went on to become a state-, national- and world-champion show skier, a ­national- and world-champion barefoot competitor, and the only three-time winner of the Willa Cook Award, presented to the best female performer at the National Water Ski Show Tournament. At TL Summer Nights, Koehler bested 23 entries in the barefoot competition with the longest distance of about 1.25 laps around a quarter-mile course, a run that lasted 55.28 seconds—an impressive feat considering that the choppy conditions were the same you’d find on any busy lake in the summer. The fact that she did this while barefooting backward, and that she dock-started backward, added a significant degree of difficulty. Koehler also won the head-to-head barefoot contest. Other barefooters won awards for dressed to impress, slowest speed, and best crash, which gives you an idea of the flavor of the event. Everyone is competing but also having fun. Winners were presented with refinished-wood water skis provided by ­industry legend Larry Meddock.

More fun: There was the Corn Cob Shoe Line—eight show skiers clad in costumes alternating an ear of corn and a stick of butter. There was Dan Emerson trying to start his barefoot run by standing on a canoe paddle. Collin Barber was crowned King of Shoes for landing a front flip on shoe skis and starting his run with a skit impersonating late celebrity painter Bob Ross. Ethan Shulda, Sarah Fiedorowicz and Dallas Hovda won Gangsters of Flight’s first-ever GOF Invitational freestyle water-ski jump competition, introducing a fresh format to the sport.

And there was corn. Wisconsin Style Barbecue used a giant portable pizza oven to roast 4,000 ears of corn, which was sourced locally through Rubber Ducky Country Market and from Reynold’s Farm. That works out to about 2.6 ears per attendee. I guess I got more than my share.

Ski-Show Team Names

A tradition among Wisconsin ski-show teams is coming up with a clever name. These are some of our favorites:

• Min-Aqua Bats of Minoqua, Wisconsin
• Webfooters of Fremont, Wisconsin
• Beaverland Must-Skis of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
• Aquaducks of Burlington, Wisconsin
• Kwahamots of Tomahawk, Wisconsin
• Chain Skimmers of Conover, Wisconsin
• Badwater Ski-Ters of Spread Eagle, Wisconsin

The post Soaking Up Tow-Sports Fun at TL Summer Nights appeared first on Boating Mag.

In watersports, change through progression is a constant. Ever-improving technology, mind-blowing athletic advancements, and the search for the newest iteration of water gliding go on. Foiling is the newest big thing, providing a vehicle for progression without the impact.

If you’re interested in ­foiling behind a boat, then read this ­article. In it, wakeboarding legend and early foil adopter Jeff ­McKee and three-time Wakeskate World Champion—and the poster child for a Red Bull athlete—­Brian Grubb offer five key areas you should focus on when getting started.

Prerequisites: ­Experience and Board Control

McKee shares: “I recommend that you have at least beginner ­experience in wakeboarding or wakesurfing. However, the preference would be intermediate experience so that you’re comfortable riding a board ­sideways behind the boat.”

The key here is balance. Because foiling introduces an extra layer of complexity (the lift of the foil), mastering basic board and body control is essential.

Start Slow: Rope and Speed Control

McKee opines that foiling is not like wakesurfing and advises starting slow. “A big mistake is to start with a wakesurf rope and a wakesurf wave, and let go of the rope and surf the foil the first day. That’s ­jumping too far ahead.”

Instead, keep a long rope in hand, start at the slowest speed possible, and gradually increase to around 11 to 13 mph. This will give you the time and stability to focus on controlling the foil ­without worrying about flying too soon. Treat the ­initial deepwater start like ­pulling up a child who has never wakeboarded ­before.

Positioning: Mastering the Stance

For beginners, foot position and weight distribution on the board are keys to control.

McKee uses an aviation comparison. “You’re standing on an airplane, so leaning forward over and putting weight over the nose will hold the plane on the runway, and leaning or standing back on the board forces the plane to take off at a slower speed. You’re flying a plane with your feet.”

Make sure you keep your body upright and avoid bending over too much, “like you would when standing on stilts,” McKee states. Stay tall and centered, with your chest up, bending only at the knees when necessary.

Grubb adds: “You want to have your back foot in front of wherever the mast is set up. A wide stance is not helpful while foiling, so start at about shoulder width or slightly wider.”

Board Setup: ­Equipment Matters

Start with a ­­beginner-friendly board, around 4 feet 6 inches in length, with a shorter mast and a larger wing for ­stability.

Grubb says: “Start with a bigger wing, such as a 1,000-square-­centimeter (150-square-inch) if you weigh up to 200 pounds. If you have an option to use a ­bigger stabilizer, or “rear wing,” do so, because it will help stabilize the foil in the beginning. Also, ensure that the foil mast is positioned as far back as possible to reduce the amount of lift, making it easier to control the board during initial start-up.” 

Read Next: Foiling Tips and Tricks

Flight Control: Practice Patience

“You’re flying a plane with your feet; you’re standing on top of the fuselage. I always tell people, when you start flying, don’t change a thing. Don’t even breathe. Don’t move a muscle. Be a statue and enjoy the ride,” McKee says.

Final Thoughts

By mastering these foundational skills, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the ride and progressing as a foiler.

The post 5 Keys to Wakefoiling Behind a Boat appeared first on Boating Mag.

Volvo Penta is redefining the capabilities of joystick technology with the introduction of a joystick for wake boats – Joystick Surfing for Twin Forward Drive, gasoline-powered boats. Joystick Surfing builds on Volvo Penta’s Joystick Driving feature, released to the market in 2023, which enables full control of the boat without using the steering wheel or throttle, allowing for precise single-hand maneuvering.

This latest advancement works in conjunction with the Watersports Control display while in Surf Mode, creating a system that incorporates new functionalities specifically designed to enhance the surfing experience in wake boats, offering exceptional comfort and intuitive boating experience for both seasoned and new watersports enthusiasts.

Wake Boating Made Simple

By integrating Joystick Surfing with the Watersport Control display, boaters can simply select their preferred surf profile in Surf Mode and activate the joystick to begin cruising. The functionality helps to enhance the operator experience and maneuverability at lower speeds, while wake surfers enjoy their perfect waves. The Joystick Surfing feature also offers driving versatility with steering, throttle and gear control at higher speeds when in regular cruising.

“Joystick Surfing combines a range of innovations to ensure a comfortable and relaxing boating experience for the entire journey – whether you are crushing the waves on your board or launching through them while savoring the view,” said Jens Bering, vice president of marine sales for Volvo Penta North America. “By removing complexities and expanding user capabilities, this new solution is designed to make maneuvering a wake boat more effortless and enjoyable than ever.”

Navigating New Audiences

Joystick Surfing provides wake boating fans with an advanced level of control and precision to deliver a truly unique watersports experience – where the operator has the option to maneuver with ease, without engaging the steering wheel or control lever. A groundbreaking innovation for the marine industry, Volvo Penta’s latest technology will help remove barriers and open doors for new boating and watersports enthusiasts, particularly for forward drive boats.

“Joystick Surfing is perfect for modern, tech-savvy boaters who thrive while operating intuitive and easy-to-use systems,” added Bering. “Catered to help meet evolving, user-centric industry demands, this cutting-edge technology sets a new standard for the design of innovative and versatile helm stations that are transforming the watersports market.”

Read Next: Using a Forward-Facing Sterndrive for Tow Sports

Wake Boats – Anchored in Comfort and Safety

With Joystick Surfing, the joystick can be conveniently installed on the armrest of the driver’s seat, ensuring an ergonomic driving posture and comfort over an extended period of time. This keeps the operator involved in the watersport action and aware of the surfer while making easy course corrections with one hand, providing an ideal solution for wake boats.

Smart safety features also help to ensure a smooth journey for boaters. If the joystick is released in reverse, it will automatically default to a neutral position for safety. Joystick Surfing makes course corrections with the autopilot by turning a couple of degrees with a twist of the wrist.

Forward Is the Only Way

Joystick Surfing is paired with the Volvo Penta Twin Forward Drive system, an extension of its forward-facing, counter-rotating prop design with gasoline engines. This powerful combination enables all the benefits of the Forward Drive – superior maneuverability and efficiency, quick acceleration and time to plane, powerful thrust and performance, and noticeable onboard comfort – to be applied to larger boats. This equates to bigger wakes, additional passengers and more fun for watersports lovers, making it a significant leap for Forward Drive boats.

Joystick Surfing expands Volvo Penta’s innovation in joystick technology, which has been an integral part of the company’s trademark helm-to-propeller approach since 2012. The introduction of Joystick Surfing with Twin Forward Drive and additional enhancements to the Volvo Penta portfolio drive home the company’s commitment to make boating more intuitive, accessible and customizable.

The post Volvo Penta Debuts Joystick Wakesurfing appeared first on Boating Mag.

I was lying on my ­stomach, floating on the Ashley ­River on what appeared to be a surfboard until I pressed a couple of ­buttons on the remote-control unit strapped to my wrist. I started to glide across the water’s surface, and then I pushed myself up into a standing position. After getting used to controlling the movement of the board by shifting weight between my front and back foot, I pressed down slightly with my back foot, and suddenly I was flying.

Foiling is the next big thing in water toys, and Fliteboard is leading the way with its series of e-foils—battery-powered hydrofoils that, once you work through a small learning curve, literally let you fly through the air as the foil underneath knifes through the water and lifts you above the surface. It’s like surfing without a good swell or wakesurfing without a boat, but the foil ­underneath adds that extra dynamic that makes it so exciting to play with.

David Trewern, Fliteboard’s founder, first started conceptualizing the idea for an e-foil in Australia in 2016, and first brought the unit to the US in 2019. I got to test one at the Fort Lauderdale ­International Boat Show in the fall of that year, and instantly thought it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had. There was one catch: The price tag for it was around $20,000, keeping it out of reach for most watersports enthusiasts, save for wealthy yacht owners looking to add to their toy ­collection. Brunswick bought Fliteboard in 2023, realizing its potential appeal, and set out to make it more accessible. Soon after, Fliteboard introduced the Flite Air, a beginner-friendly model with a board made from a soft but rigid foam board, as opposed to the more advanced carbon-fiber boards, that starts at $6,995. It’s similar to the original model I tested in 2019, and offers greater ­stability for first-time users.

In Charleston, South Carolina, I rode a demo with the new 100L EVA Soft Top, which has a fiberglass core with a forgiving foam top that adds to its stability and is also great for beginners. The board houses a lithium battery inside. (Our unit had an Explore battery that provides two and a half hours of run time and takes two hours to charge.) The battery is connected to a computer module that regulates the propeller on the bottom of the foil. Our test model had the Cruiser 1100 Wing foil unit, paired with the EVO Soft Top to ­provide predictable ­handling for ­beginner riders or those who just want to cruise. The foil shafts can be made of aluminum or carbon fiber and range in length from 2 to 3 feet. At the bottom of the shaft, there is a large forward wing, a small tail wing, and a propeller with a circular encasement to protect riders from contact with it. The wings act like airplane wings to provide lift to the board, and also to lower it back down, depending on how you shift your weight. Everything works through the handheld Flite Controller unit that attaches to your wrist. The Flite Controller is like a video-game controller and controls the board’s starting, stopping, and speed through a trigger and two ­intuitive buttons. With it you can control and monitor your speed as well as the board’s battery level.

Read Next: Foiling Tips and Tricks

The Fliteboard proved surprisingly easy to learn. We had a crew of about eight first-timers, and all of them got up on the board within an hour. From there, you can up your game as much as you want, from mastering speed runs to performing crazy tricks. Or you can take it easy and just glide above the water, taking it all in and having a blast. The only two caveats are that when you fall, you have to try to fall away from the board to avoid hitting the board itself or getting nicked by the foil. And a Fliteboard doesn’t circle back to you like a PWC would, so you have to swim to retrieve it.

Fliteboard offers several models as well as the option to mix boards, shafts and foil wings to your preference. Prices of the complete models range from the $6,995 starting point to around $17,500, and prices go up from there depending on customization.

All I know is that if you decide to take flight, you’ll have a blast.

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The story of the specialized ski and wake category in boating begins with an idea inspired by a problem. Today, we take for granted specialized boats for watersports enthusiasts, providing perfectly shaped wakes, ample engine power, and accurate speeds down to 0.1 mph. However, this wasn’t always the case.

Leo Bentz, who celebrated his 100th birthday this past July, and Correct Craft significantly impacted the boating world. Their intertwined stories mark the origins of a new boating category.

In the mid-1950s, Bentz and his wife, Mary, owned and operated the Lee Water Ski School along the Intracoastal Waterway just north of Miami Beach, Florida. As a passionate water-skier and coach, Bentz was dissatisfied with the boats they used, such as the wooden Higgins or Century Resorter, which cast too large a wake and required constant maintenance.

In 1957, Bentz decided to ­design a boat specifically for water-­skiing. He chose fiberglass, then rare in boatbuilding, for its low maintenance, seeing it as the future of boat manufacturing. He ­outsourced the mold-making to a Miami boatbuilder, using the hull of an 18-foot Higgins as a base. He designed a wider hull to produce a smaller wake. Additionally, he equipped the boat with an 8-cylinder 215 hp Interceptor direct-drive inboard engine placed amidships to provide water-skiers with ample power. Additional features included a ski pylon placed just forward of the engine, a ski mirror, and a larger dash for gauges, including a speedometer.

The boat needed a name, which came fortuitously in September 1959 when Leo and Mary traveled to the French Riviera after attending the Water Ski World ­Championship in Milan, Italy. There, they saw signs for “L’ecole de Ski ­Nautique” (water-ski school) and decided that Ski Nautique would be a perfect name.

By 1960, they showcased the Ski Nautique at tournaments in Miami and central Florida, where its fiberglass construction, smaller wake, and powerful engine intrigued water-skiers, leading to sales. Bentz sold several, but with a successful water-ski school and a family, he did not envision becoming a full-fledged boat manufacturer. In spring 1961, Bentz decided to sell the Ski Nautique and ­traveled to Pine Castle, Florida (near ­Orlando), to sell it to Correct Craft.

Initially, Correct Craft rejected his $10,000 offer for the mold and name. However, several months later, influenced by water-skiers’ praise for the Ski Nautique, Walt Meloon Sr. and Walt Meloon Jr. of Correct Craft traveled to ­Miami Beach to meet with Bentz. Instead of offering him $10,000, the Meloons offered him one Ski Nautique per year for three years and servicing for the Ski Nautique boats he had already sold. Wanting out of the boatbuilding business, Bentz accepted the offer.

Read Next: Celebrating the Birth of Water-Skiing

Correct Craft marketed the Ski Nautique to a wide audience. Success brought competition from the MasterCraft ski boat in 1968, and later, Ski Supreme.

Today, the Ski Nautique is in its 8th generation, significantly evolved from Bentz’s original design 65 years ago. As Bentz and Correct Craft celebrate their milestones, their shared legacy is undeniable. The Ski Nautique became a global phenomenon, used in tournaments and by water-skiers on every continent except ­Antarctica, and Bentz’s vision continues to shape the way we enjoy the sports experienced behind a boat.

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At the gateway to a national forest, you’ll usually be greeted by the classic brown-and-yellow sign proclaiming the slogan “Land of Many Uses.” I’m beginning to think that we need a similar sign at our launch ramps. Something like “Lake of Many Uses.”

The head honcho at a national forest has to manage the competing interests of grazing and timber and mineral extractors with those of hunters, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, rock climbers, skiers and snowmobilers. On a busy summer weekend, your lake or coastline might host anglers, cruisers, poker runners, sand bar and cove dwellers, divers, and wakesports enthusiasts on a variety of craft, from stand-up paddleboards to go-fast powerboats. In each case—the forest and the lake—there is the potential for conflict among these many users. For example, the Swanson kid recently dropped in at the Lake View Inn with this story.

“The other day, we were trolling on Big Green, and a wakeboarder came so near my boat that he actually had to jump over my planer board. That’s getting way too close. Everyone on the lake is out to have fun, but you gotta be safe.”

And there was the kerfuffle in March over in Waupaca County, where a town board, at the request of lakefront-property owners, passed an ordinance to prohibit wake-enhanced boating on two lakes. According to one source, 17 other towns in Wisconsin have also restricted or prohibited wake-enhanced boating. Late last year, a bill was introduced in the state legislature that would prohibit the operation of a “motorboat causing a hazardous wake” on a lake smaller than 1,500 acres, with use limits on larger lakes. That bill did not get a hearing, but in Vermont, a new law restricts wakesports to defined zones and identifies 30 inland lakes and ponds eligible for wakesports. Clearly a backlash is building.

Opponents of wake-enhanced boating—specifically wakesurfing—usually stand behind science, citing legitimate environmental concerns regarding shore erosion, the churning of lake sediments by prop wash, and the transport of invasive species in ballast water.

“Everyone knows that the science is an excuse,” opined my good friend Chuck Larson at the Lake View. “This is really about annoying rich people. A gaggle of kids with a booming stereo in a boat that costs more than my house, throwing a wake large enough to wash over my dock, is nothing more than a big middle finger. Send in the lawyers and lobbyists.” What Chuck means is there’s science, and then there’s social science.

“The day a state senator’s granddaughter gets tossed off her paddleboard by a surf wake is the day they ban wakeboating,” bartender Wally said. 

Read Next: Proper Tow Sports Etiquette

There’s science, and then there’s political science.

If you’ve been around the water for a while, this might seem familiar. Twenty-five years ago, the anti-PWC crowd waved the environmental flag, but it was really two-stroke noise and annoying behavior that fueled conflict, and rightly so. Ultimately it was education, a peer pressure campaign, and quiet four-stroke power that settled down PWC discord.

The consensus at the Lake View Inn is that wakesurfers are not malicious. A few can just be oblivious. If you like wakesports, stay in the middle of big lakes, turn down the audio, steer clear of anglers and rafted-up boats—in other words, stop flipping off other boaters. And we should all take a tip from those 1990s PWC riders and let fellow enthusiasts know when they are out of line.

The post Sharing the Lake With Wakeboaters appeared first on Boating Mag.

When you first learn to get up on water skis or a wakeboard, it’s an exhilarating experience. The feeling is euphoric when you let go of the handle and surf behind the boat for the first time. But once you’ve mastered getting up and following the boat on skis, kneeboard, wakeboard or wakesurfer, you might ask yourself, “What’s next?”

It’s human nature always to want more. Once we accomplish a goal, we’re ready for the next step.

When you’re ready to move past just following the boat, there are two keys to work on. The first is to direct the ski or board away from a straight path. Water-skiers and wakeboard riders do this by crossing the boat’s wake back and forth. Wakesurfers do so by carving the board up and down the wave.

The second key is to execute a 180- or 360-degree rotation on a wakeboard, wakesurfer, kneeboard, or trick ski. By moving past merely following the boat, you can improve your skill level and ­develop a long list of tricks.

The first golden rule to understand is that the lower body does the work when crossing from side to side or when doing rotations. The upper body follows the lower body. Many incorrectly use the upper body to create movement ­either across the boat’s wake or when initiating a rotation.

Crossing the Wake

In water-­skiing and wakeboarding, because the skier or rider is holding the handle, the tendency is to lean away from the boat, and that pull on the upper body causes the skier or rider to pull even more against the handle to initiate movement. That’s why it is imperative that you ski or ride over the center of the ski or board to eliminate the feeling of pull on the upper body.

Instead of thinking that you are crossing the wake, think of the ski or board as leading the way and your upper body follows. To have the ski or board lead the way, focus on using the strength in your feet and legs to direct the ski or board in the desired direction. By doing so, you are putting the ski or board on edge to get direction either to your right or left.

Rotation

When you turn a wakeboard, wakesurfer, kneeboard, or trick ski around, the board needs to lead the rotation. Focus on using the strength in your hips, legs, and feet to rotate the board either on the surface of the water or when getting air time by using the boat’s wake.

On YouTube, watch a super-­slow-motion video of Olympic figure skaters doing triple or quad rotations in midair. The skater lifts from the ice and gets rotation in the air by using leg strength. As the figure skater begins the rotation, the arms and hands draw close to the body, and the upper body ­follows the lower body. 

Read Next: Three Keys for Tow-Sports Safety

Control Your Eyes

Your eyes play a crucial role when it comes to crossing the wake, carving the wake on a wakesurfer, or executing any rotation. When crossing the wake, most people are looking down at the water ahead of them. This leads to your upper body breaking at your waist, resulting in leading with your upper body. Instead, keep your back and head upright and focus on the horizon. This technique will allow you to lead with the ski or board.

When performing a rotation, it is common to lead the turn with your eyes. However, when initiating a rotation, look at the boat just above the boat’s windshield. This technique will enable you to turn the board while keeping the upper body quiet.

Understanding these techniques will allow you to go beyond just following the boat and expanding what you can do, and you will have more fun with your favorite new tow sport.

The post Take Your Tow-Sports Skills to the Next Level appeared first on Boating Mag.

Pass The Handle week starts Monday, July 15 and runs through Sunday, July 21, 2024.

This week, Pass The Handle encourages watersports enthusiasts everywhere to introduce new people of all ages to the excitement of water sports. From wakeboarding, water skiing, and wakesurfing;  to kneeboarding and tubing; to barefooting, wakeskating, and other fun on the water, this is the week to grow participation in the water sports so many  know and love.

Follow Pass The Handle on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates throughout the week of events happening across the country. If you are participating, be sure to tag @PassTheHandle and utilize the #PassTheHandle hashtag for a chance to be featured on our channels! We also created a social media guide with helpful tips, sample captions, and example posts to support your #PassTheHandle efforts during the week.

Check out the video from PTH, produced with Zane Schwenk, and Watersports Industry Association. It’s just one of the many ways you can help new people enjoy the sports you love. 

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