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.

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.

There’s a reason that every boat purported to be for tow sports has a lot of buttons and gadgets and computer programs installed. No matter how cool a boat looks, it’s all about the wake, baby.

While pros are highly attuned to wake characteristics and their impact on performance, the wake affects all enthusiasts, particularly beginners. For instance, the boat’s wake must be tall enough and ­feature a clean, wave-like surface to generate sufficient push for a wakesurfer to finally release the handle.

Here are some tips for achieving optimal wake characteristics for your sport.

The hull’s shape, transom deadrise, and the boat’s weight have the biggest effect on wake size, shape, and quality. A boat with plenty of deadrise (more V shape) will create a bigger wake, as will more weight. However, adjustments made by the driver can also shape the wake.

For wakeboarders and water-­skiers, the boat’s wake should ­always stay symmetrical, and the wake’s table should be level ­because ­performance and fun are diminished when one side of the wake is taller while the other side is smaller. There are several ways that the ­driver can keep the boat’s wake symmetrical. First, the driver should maintain an exact, straight path, except when turning. Even for wakesurfing, where the wake is biased to one side, a straight boat path keeps the surfing wake consistent.

Second, the driver should ensure that the boat is always riding level. A boat that doesn’t have crew and ballast evenly distributed from port to starboard side will not be level, causing the wake to be asymmetrical. The remedy: Move ­passengers to make the boat level.

When it comes to wake size and quality of the wake for ­outboard- and sterndrive-powered boats, trimming the outboard or outdrive up or down will increase or decrease wake size. Trimming down makes for a smaller wake, ideal for water-skiers, and creates a softer table advantageous for barefoot water-skiers. Trimming up creates a bigger wake, ideal for wakeboard riders and kneeboard riders to get more air time during wake maneuvers.

Using weight in the form of ballast and people is another way to create a bigger wake. Placing ­ballast and crew in the stern section creates a taller wake but a shorter wave for surfing, providing more push for the surfer.

Placing additional ballast and people amidships and in the bow pushes the hull deeper into the water while keeping the boat’s attitude more level. This affects wakesurfing by creating a longer wave for surfing.

Read Next: How to Get Up Wakesurfing

For boats with surf tabs or ­using an aftermarket add-on wake shaper, adjustments can further shape and clean the wake for ­surfing. At surfing speeds of approximately 10 to 12 mph, the driver needs to ensure that the top of the wake is crisp and the face of the wave is clean. Minor adjustments in surf tabs or the use of the wake shaper can accomplish this.

Minute adjustments in boatspeed also affect wake shape, ­critical for surfers, wakeboard ­riders and trick skiers. Adjusting the boat’s speed up or down by less than 1 mph can change the quality of the wake. Having a GPS speedometer or speed control makes adjusting boatspeed by small ­increments easier.

Being sensitive to the wake’s characteristics for your favorite tow sport allows you to design and build your personalized optimal wake for maximum on-water fun—no ­matter what your level of expertise.

The post Tips for Shaping the Perfect Wake appeared first on Boating Mag.

When they met in second grade, Duncan Lee and Grant Korgan had no idea that Centurion, the boat company that Duncan’s Watersports Hall of Famer parents founded, would pioneer a new genre of watersports on their home waters of Lake Tahoe. Now these lifelong friends return home for a little nostalgia, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and a few laps around the place they call paradise.

Learn more about the evolution of the wake boat and Centurion centurionboats.com.

The post The First Family of Wakesurfing appeared first on Boating Mag.

Grant Korgan is a world-class adventure athlete who suffered a tragic snowmobiling accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down in 2010. He was still determined to live his adventurous life, enjoy the water and get people stoked on boating.

His athleticism, character, determination and positivity are truly inspiring. Today, he shares his story with us.

The post Grant Korgan: Centurion Team Rider and An Inspiration to All appeared first on Boating Mag.

It seems like every year, more and more boat companies are offering boats that you can surf behind—runabouts, deck boats and even pontoon boats with V-drives, jet engines or Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive. For most new to the sport, the biggest hurdle is learning how to get up. That’s why we’re here to help. Here’s how to get up on a wakesurf board.

Board Selection

While there are several types of boards available for wakesurfing, start with a longer, more buoyant board that will be more stable underfoot the first time you stand up. Look to start with a board over 5 feet in length and with three fins on the bottom to provide more -stability and control.

Rope Selection

Unlike with wakeboarding and water–skiing, the rope in wakesurfing is not -used to perform the sport, but simply to get up behind the boat and drop into the pocket. When you get comfortable on the board, the ultimate goal is to let go of the rope and surf the wake hands-free. But in the beginning, you’ll -likely hold onto the rope to learn how to remain in the surfable sweet spot. Wakesurfing ropes are typically only 10 to 25 feet in length. Set up the rope on the boat’s tower or hitch point to one side so the surfer can try to stand up outside the boat’s wake and then work their way into the wave as they get more comfortable and confident.

In The Water

Step 1: Face the transom of the boat with the board floating in front of you, perpendicular to the boat’s centerline and with its nose point away from the wake. (For right-footed people, this will be pointing left on the left or port side of the boat; left–footed people would do the opposite.) As the board is lying flat, rest your heels on top of the board about shoulder–width apart. Hold the rope handle so that it’s centered between your legs. Your US Coast Guard-approved life jacket should help you float in position at the ready.

Step 2: The boat’s driver will put the boat into forward idle to make the rope come taut. Once the rope is tight and the driver starts accelerating, bend your knees and press down with your feet against the board. The board will start to flip up until your feet are flat against the board, and water pressure should hold it in place.

Step 3: Don’t lean back and pull against the rope as you would while getting up in water–skiing. Instead, let the boat gently pull you up. As you rotate forward, the board will pop up so that it’s positioned flat on the water underneath your feet. From there, slowly stand up and turn your body so that the nose of the board is pointing forward.

Step 4: You’re up! Hold the rope with your front arm and position yourself to work your way into the wave. Don’t pull yourself into the wave with the rope. Instead, shift your weight onto your front foot to move forward into the wave. To get into position, think of your front foot as the gas pedal and your back foot as the brake.

Step 5: As you move into the wave, the rope will become slack as you find the sweet spot. Drop your front arm to your side to resist using the rope to pull you. Once you can consistently ride with a slack rope, toss the handle onto the swim platform for the spotter to retrieve.

The post How to Get Up on a Wakesurf Board appeared first on Boating Mag.

Not all of us own or have access to a modern-day wake boat with built-in wave-making technology such as Malibu’s Surf Gate or Centurion’s QuickSurf. Fortunately, over the past few years there has been growth in aftermarket products that can attach to the side of your boat to help it produce a sizable wave. It’s easy to see how well these products work on older V-drives thanks to marketing videos and social media, but we wanted to take it to the next level. How well would these wake shapers work on a ski boat?

Originally the idea was to compare and contrast the five devices and make notes on how the wake/wave was different—but we quickly realized that wasn’t possible. The differences were too minute to really make accurate comparisons. What we did grasp was that they all worked, and surprisingly well, at that. On a boat as small as the Sunsetter LXi, what matters most is getting some weight in the boat to displace more water. All of the wave-making apparatuses did what they were designed to do, and in the process surprised everybody in the boat with how well they did it. By deflecting and diverting the flow of the water on one side of the ski boat, each device transformed the mushy, turbulent water into a clean wave that was easily surfable for all the riders in our crew—up to 180 pounds. The biggest difference in our setup was weight distribution. While I was photographing, if I moved from the back of the boat to the front, the 175-pound shift made a big difference in the quality and power of the wave. If you have a bigger V-drive with more weight distributed throughout, you will likely notice more differences between each device’s wave shape and characteristics.

Tips

• While all the wave shapers made the Malibu Sunsetter surfable, they are all different. Moving the position and angle of each has a different effect on the wave. The bigger units, such as The Wakesurf Shaper and Roswell Deflector, perform better mounted closer to the transom. Others such as the Delta 2.0 and XLR8 seem to do better farther forward. All of this depends on your specific boat—and where these can be mounted based on design characteristics on the side of the boat.

• Your board matters, especially on smaller, less powerful waves. A bigger board with more volume will be easier to surf and get into the pocket of the wave.

• Each of the devices is relatively easy to mount, thanks to their suction cups—some took more effort than others—and all of them float. This makes changing sides or adjusting positions hassle-free.

The post Wakesurfing a Ski Boat appeared first on Boating Mag.

A former NASCAR pit crew member, the fun-loving Robby Maschhaupt has made it his mission to spread his love for wakesurfing to as many people as he can through the Pass the Handle movement. This summer he’s teamed up with Centurion boats, Roswell Marine, Monster Energy, and other sponsors to create an epic tour that’s free for any who want to come ride with him.

What’s the Pass the Handle movement all about and what does it mean to you?
At its core, Pass the Handle was created to help introduce the fun of towed watersports to new people. For me personally, it’s about giving back to the sports and lifestyle I love so much. I get so much joy out of not only teaching people to wakesurf, but in knowing that it’s helping the industry as a whole by introducing new people to it.

Since you started offering free clinics through the Pass the Handle initiative, about how many people have you pulled?
Over 3,000. And I know for a fact we’ve been directly responsible for 28 people buying boats after coming to one of our events. But the numbers aren’t what matter, it’s the experience and making sure everybody has as much fun as possible, as well as the skills to take with them and teach their friends and family.

What can somebody expect if they sign up for one of your clinics?
I hear it a lot; “That was my best day ever!” A lot of people come out thinking they’ll never be able to do it, but by the end of the day they’re riding and having a blast. Our goal is to have 100 percent success rate in getting people to wakesurf without the rope, and over the years we’ve kept darn near that number. And it’s all free of charge, thanks to the sponsors. No matter what, you’re going to have a good time, especially on my new Centurion Ri257 — the wave is amazing!

The post Pass The Handle Ambassador Robby Maschhaupt appeared first on Boating Mag.

Orlando, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2015) — Supra Boats and Bonnier’s Corp.’s Events & Entertainment Group announces the creation of the inaugural Supra Boats Pro Wakesurf Tour, stated earlier today by Rick Tinker, president of Skier’s Choice, manufacturer of Supra Boats. The new three-stop, $30,000 purse, series including the top surf and skim riders will take place at The Colony, TX (Dallas area), Acworth, GA (Atlanta Area), and Lathrop, CA (Sacramento area) in conjunction with the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour.

“Supra Boats and the family here at Skier’s Choice is pleased to announce the brand new, first-ever Pro Wakesurf Tour, in conjunction with the Pro Wakeboard Tour,” said Tinker. “Having the best pro men’s athletes in two competition disciplines like surf and skim, in addition to wakeboarding at one epic event, is a tremendous undertaking. We’re thrilled to see the best riding to date behind the massive wakes that the SE550 produces!”

The world’s top riders in Surf and Skim, will compete for their share of a $10,000 per-stop purse, for a total purse of $30,000. Additionally, the top points finishers will receive a series bonus at the end of the tour. The Supra Boats SE550 will be the official towboat of the Pro Wakesurf Tour. The SE550 is also the official towboat of the Pro Wakeboard Tour.

“I am super excited to be able to ride in the first ever Pro Wakesurf Tour,” said Trevor Miller, Pro Wake Surfer and Supra Boats Team rider. “Riding at the Pro Tour will put competitive wakesurfing in front of more people than ever before and will be the perfect platform to showcase the amazing athleticism that goes on at this level of wakesurfing. I could not thing of a better boat to pull this event than the new SE550. I have seen first-hand how it can throw both a pro level wakeboard wake and an equally amazing pro level surf wave. Be prepared to see some of the best wakesurfing witnessed at a competition!”

Stop number one at The Colony, TX, is a two-day event featuring an open qualifier in order to determine the elite field of riders for the following two, one-day events. Stops two and three will feature a roster of the best six in surf and six in skim.

“The CWSA is excited to continue to promote the sport of wake surfing through our association with the Supra Boats Pro Wake Surf Tour,” said Scott Culp of the Competitive Wake Surf Association. “We strive to support the most successful wake surf events that engage the riders and help grow the sport of wake surfing. The tour will be a fun competition that will utilize the CWSA recommended consistent and fair standards, which govern all results. ”

​ For more information on the Supra Boats Pro Wake Surf Tour and Pro Wakeboard Tour, visit SupraBoatsPWT.com.

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Supra Boats fuels passion for water sports with high-performance, bold designs and interior refinement achieved through precision-engineered tow boats. The flagship wakeboard boat brand manufactured by Skier’s Choice Inc., Supra Boats are the result of a quest for continual improvement in every aspect of boatbuilding. Thirty-five years of award-winning tow boats prove that fact. Everything from wake performance to ride and handling to interior refinement to production processes to the ownership experience is constantly being improved. Supra builds high-performance wake boats with a level of precision matched only by your extreme passion for water sports. Supra Boats: where passion meets precision.

For more information on Supra Boats, visit http://supraboats.com/

Bonnier Corp.’s Events & Entertainment Group manages and executes events, including the Pro Wakeboard Tour, Marlin University, the Deer & Turkey Expos, the NOOD Regattas and the fishing tournaments — Los Cabos, Offshore World Championship, Charter Boat Classic, Bermuda Tournaments and FishStock. Bonnier Corp.’s Events & Entertainment Group coordinates the scheduling, televising, global sponsorships, public relations, venue evaluation and event selection for these properties.

The post New Supra Boats Pro Wakesurf Tour Announced appeared first on Boating Mag.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Don’t look now, but that cherished pair of Cypress Gardens combo skis is gathering dust in the corner of your garage. So too is your favorite slalom ski. For better or worse, today’s generation is less interested in crisscrossing the wake and far more stoked on flying above it, or surfing down its face. It’s the rise of board-oriented, sideways-stance “wake” sports, a revolution that is taking over waterways around the globe.

Even our boats have changed to follow suit. Those wakes we once tried so hard to diminish are now the main attraction, boosted by everything from computer-controlled onboard ballast systems and trim tabs to portable, waterbed-like sacks. Tow bridles, ski eyes and pylons are also going the way of the dinosaur, giving way to water-sports towers that anchor tow ropes high above the water and offer the real estate to get those toys off the cockpit floor. Even simple cockpit layout has seen a shift in focus, now concentrated just as much on what happens behind the boat as on what lies ahead.

Is there still a place for the average boating family in this new world of extreme air and style? We rounded up a few of the latest toys, brought in wake pros Josh Palma and George Daniels to show us the ropes, and then threw everything at Mom, Dad, teenager and tween to find out.

Judging by their reactions, you may never don a pair of combos — and face forward — again.

Wakeboarding
If there’s a primary mover and shaker in this tectonic shift away from strapping on skis to standing sideways on a board, it’s wakeboarding. A mix of surfing, water skiing and skateboarding, and a whole lot like its wintry cousin snowboarding, wakeboarding can be as challenging — or as simple — as you desire. With their massive surface areas, wakeboards are relatively easy to get up on. Once on top of the water, you can slash and carve the wakes if you prefer to keep things mellow, or use those wakes as one big launch ramp. Master the art of the progressive edge (progressively angling the board on its rails so that you dramatically increase your speed as you edge toward the wake), and you’ll be able to launch skyward en route to a dizzying array of aerial maneuvers.

The beauty of wakeboarding is that it can be done behind virtually any boat. Our 13-year-old popped up as easily behind a Sea-Doo Wake Pro 155 as she did behind the fully tricked-out MasterCraft X46. Riders with growing skills, however, will appreciate a serious wake. MasterCraft, like most other wake-boat builders, shapes and sizes that wake with onboard ballast systems. Aboard our MasterCraft, that ballast was controlled via a trick touch-screen display, which allowed us to monitor the status of the tanks and even balance an uneven passenger load. Once fully loaded, it produced a near-perfect launch ramp on each side of the wake.

Not interested in investing in a dedicated wakeboard boat? Pimp out your own ride with a few choice options. Portable ballast bags, filled by bilge pumps, allow you to temporarily weigh down the hull — and in turn beef up the wake — without permanent modifications. Ballast is typically concentrated toward the stern, but adding some of that weight to the bow will settle the hull more naturally into the water and produce a more rideable wake shape. It will also make your boat easier to drive. You can also find numerous styles of wakeboard towers on the aftermarket, many of which can be a do-it-yourself project for those with basic mechanical skills. If the idea sounds too daunting to try yourself, a local marine tower fabricator can probably do the job.

How addicting is wakeboarding? Our family, all brought up on skis, now wakeboards almost exclusively. Dad, however, has suffered the fate of many a serious rider and sports the scars of an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction. He now stays in lower-earth orbit, but the rest are still looking to the skies. “This summer I’m definitely going to learn my first big wake jump,” said our wannabe teen wake queen. “I’m going big!”

Wakesurfing
Wakeboarding may be cool, but our wake family believes the Beach Boys were onto something. “If everybody had an ocean across the USA, then everybody’d be surfin’ … like Californ-I-A.”

Of course, oceans are in short supply across middle America. Weigh down an inboard just right, however, and you’ll discover the next best thing — an endless wave, ready to break from the Adirondacks to Arizona.

As we discovered, wakeboarding is great fun, but doing it at a higher level can result in some abuse on your body. Maybe that’s one reason why wakesurfing, with its slow speeds and easy falls, has begun to catch on so quickly. The other is that wakesurfing is so darn much fun. Get underway like on a wakeboard and find your spot in the wake’s pocket, and you can toss the tow rope back to the boat and surf. No ocean required.

Of course, there is a catch. Because it takes place but several feet behind the swim platform, wakesurfing is just not safe behind an outboard or sterndrive. Jet boats offer the safety advantage of no exposed prop, but nothing compares to the safety and wake potential of an inboard or V-drive that both tucks the prop safely under the hull and offers the displacement to truly shape a monster wake. That limits wakesurfing’s audience, but don’t think that you have to get an ultimate ride like our MasterCraft X46’s to join in on the fun. Countless manufacturers, including MasterCraft, make far more affordable models that can be configured for wakesurfing. You can also use your existing inboard or V-drive. Just load up the ballast to favor one side and encourage your passengers to follow suit, and the wake will take on the look of a mini Banzai Pipeline.

Though the idea of a start without bindings may sound difficult, in reality it’s very similar to a wakeboard start. Begin with the board lying perpendicular to your body in the water and your heels resting on the board’s heelside edge. Signal the driver to put the boat into gear, and the board will be pushed flush against the soles of your feet. From there, a slow, steady acceleration up to about 10 to 12 mph is all that’s necessary. The wakesurf board’s broad surface area will pop nearly anyone atop the water. Just be sure to use a wakesurf-specific tow line. Its braided end, or minimal T-handle, won’t pose a hazard should you fall forward.

Once you’re up, the secret is to find that sweet spot between the wake’s lip and the bottom of the trough made by the hull. Weight on the forward foot acts like an accelerator, moving you closer to the boat. Weight on the back foot slows this motion and creates more distance. Find the point where you no longer need rope tension but are simply being pushed along by the wake, and you can toss the tow rope back into the boat and truly surf. “It’s my new favorite water sport!” exclaimed Mom after her first wakesurf session. “Now we just need a new boat.”

Wakeskating
If you think a lot of these new wake sports have something in common with skateboarding, you’re right. Which is why many skate types have decided to ditch the bindings or surf-style boards altogether, throw on a pair of sneakers, and ride a simple, finless, grip-tape-covered wooden board known as a wakeskate.

Wakeskates resemble oversize skateboards, minus the trucks and wheels. And as you might expect, the tricks closely resemble those on their pavement-preferring counterparts. Rather than go for big air, wakeskaters typically use the wake to perform skateboard tricks like kickflips, shuvits and other maneuvers during which the rider manipulates the board with the feet so that it spins, rolls or twists as the rider jumps off its surface.

While the basic wake-skate start is little different from wakeboarding’s or wakesurfing’s, mastery of the tricks is obviously easier for those with existing skateboarding skills. The choice of tow boat, however, is by far the most economical of the bunch. Due to their smaller wakes, ability to maneuver in and out of obstacle-strewn parks, and overall cost and ease of use, personal watercraft are the choice of wakeskaters. Enter Sea-Doo’s Wake series. Designed with an emphasis on wake sports, Wake models feature extendable aft tow pylons to get the tow rope out of the craft’s jet wash and provide a more solid pull; removable board racks to make it easier to transport boards out onto the water; and electronic speed controls that allow the driver to lock in a set speed as well as control the aggressiveness of the acceleration.

Wakeskating’s close ties to traditional skateboarding somewhat limited our family’s level of appreciation for the sport. Whereas all were able to easily master the start and basic riding behind the boat, the lack of skate-specific skills limited some of the potential fun. The lack of bindings also resulted in the occasional splitlike fall when attempting a jump, because one foot could come off the surface and catch in the water while the other stayed atop the skidding board.

For the skate rat in your crew, however, the opportunity to bring the fun of the street to the fun (and more gentle impact) of the water is hard to resist. “Imagine the thrill of skateboarding, minus the road rash and mixed with the carving of surfing, wakeboarding or snowboarding,” said the kids’ visiting uncle, a 20-something squarely in wakeskating’s demographic. “And you don’t need an expensive boat to do it.”

The “Wake” Start
Whether strapped onto a board or standing atop it, the basic wake start is surprisingly similar across all three disciplines. Start in the water with the board sideways in front of you. Knees should be bent toward the chest and arms extended holding the tow-rope handle. As the boat begins to idle forward, the board will flip up against your feet for wakesurfing and wakeskating, mimicking the attached-to-the-board feel of wakeboarding. In all three, relax and let the boat do the work, allowing it to pull you atop the water and avoiding trying to muscle yourself into position. Pointing your toes toward the boat may decrease drag and let the board pop up more easily on top of the water.

Which foot do you put forward? If you don’t already do some kind of board sport, try this simple trick. Think about trying to write your name with a foot in the sand. The foot you choose is typically the more dominant one.

Once the board is on top of the water and supporting your weight, pivot your lead hip toward the tow handle. This will bring the board around so that the front tip is pointing at the boat. All that’s left is to keep your weight centered and knees bent, and enjoy the ride.

Want to see even more Wakesurfing video?

Are PWCs the Ultimate Water-Sports Teaching Tool?
Personal watercraft are far more than a vehicle for wakeskating. They’re also one of the very best tools to introduce kids, or beginners of all ages, to any water sport, including traditional water skiing.

Why? Consider a PWC’s open profile. Rather than looking at the intimidating transom of a boat, kids see the familiar face of a rear-facing spotter, often a parent, offering support and encouragement. PWCs also take off gently, produce a much smaller wake to deal with once up, and quickly maneuver back to the rider after a fall. They also eliminate kids’ — and parents’ — worries about a prop.

Think you can’t drive one as smoothly as a boat? Today’s models nearly all feature speed controls that prevent that jerky hand on the throttle — and eliminate any complaints from the kiddies in tow.

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