Surfing Help

[cpatten]

Any suggestions for improvement here would be great, I have an O8 LSV with a 750 in the left V-Drive locker and the stock 400 ballast bag in the ski locker. I am still struggling at trying to surf with no rope, my question is do I need more ballast or, could it be that I am to fat for surfing weighing in at a solid 230? I have toyed with the idea of taking the spare 400LBs fat sac and filling it up and placing it in the boat as well. Any suggestions would be great, it is really starting to frustrate me.

Chad Patten

11819

[lsvboombox]

what board are you trying to ride?

i would definietly get another 400 or 750 and throw on the surf side in the cockpit

[bergermaister]

Hey Chad - doubt you're too big of a guy... As mentioned you will definitely benefit from a bigger wave being a heavier rider = more ballast on the surf side. I've seen guys at 250lbs free riding. Also you ever see someone double riding a surf with one of their kids you know they're pretty heavy.

Also, being able to free ride can depend on your board size. A bigger board will be your friend for sure. A bigger wave will handle a bigger rider as well as smaller boards. Smaller waves usually require bigger boards for biggers guys to find and hold the sweet spot. Technique factors in there as well.

[cpatten]

I am riding a liquid force Custom 4-10, I really like the board but can't seem to get to a point of releasing that handle.

[Martin Jr]

your ballast set-up is fine.

You simply need to find the proper stance on your board, and learn the gas/brake routine

[bergermaister]

I disagree. That's a pretty short board for a big guy.
Add the 400lb to your surf side and/or try a bigger board, especially if you can borrow one, and give it a go.

[kaneboats]

Yup, that board is too small for the push you are getting. I'm trying to drop a few pounds right now cuz my board keeps getting smaller.

[Martin Jr]

Sorry, I missed the size of your board when I wrote my response.

I agree with all, that is a small board for your size - for learning.

Get a longer...THEN work on stance

[cab13367]

I am riding a liquid force Custom 4-10, I really like the board but can't seem to get to a point of releasing that handle.

I have a 2006 LSV with and surf with the same set up as you - 750 in the rear and 400 in the front - and can freeride all day on a 4'-9" custom board. But I weigh 175 and I know I would have trouble if I weighed 230. I think you need to get a bigger board (something around 5'-3" to 5'-6" and/or run more ballast. I have a 5'-3" CWB Ride that lots of people have been able to freesurf with, some around 200 lbs. Suggest you get the 1100 for the rear and possibly more weight for the bow or the observer seat. Or just bring more people with you.

I think you could eventually get there with your current board but it will take you longer.

And yes, taking your other 400 and placing it on the surf side rear corner seat would help a bunch.

[cpatten]

Thanks for all the feedback, is something like a 5'11" a big enough board?

[kaneboats]

All you need is a Broadcast or something that size-- around 5'5" or 5'6". If the 5'11" is the one I think it is then you don't want it.

[mmandley]

Your boat isnt looking like its listed to the side enough, also there is a lot of wash in that wave. With 750 in the rear and 400 in from and a 5.4 board like the CWB ride you can free surf it. Thats how Cabs boat is and i weight what you weigh and i can free rope it. Not for a long period but thats because im just getting to the point of free roping. It really takes a bit of time to learn and they heavier you are the more the learning curve is because the push is whats making up for your weight. Smaller people need smaller waves which equals less push.

Also with your pic what speed are you going? The more weight you have the more speed you will need. 750 and 400 up front is a nice 10.5 speed wave run more weight like my boat 750 rear 1050 in front and you will see the 11mph range to get a solid wave. With me upgrading to 1100 rear and 1050 up front i expect to see closer to 12mph to clean it up nicely.

I mention the speeds because i just spent a weekend with Ragboy < Wake9 > and hes really knowledgable in surf wakes and surfing. Hes running 1500 in the rear plus 800 in front and another 1000 with 6 people average in his boat and they are going 12 to 12.6 to clean that wave up.

What i would do is get the bags full, have the people all sit on one side of the boat, goto 10 mph and look at the wave then slowly adjust the Wake Plate up and down and watch the wave height and length change. If you dont have a clear dark wave with no wash to surf in speed up a bit more. Keep doing this till that wave has a dark section about 3 or 4ft wide to surf in. Also you dont want to surf in the curl or where the wave starts crashing down as this slows the board down.

Try that and i bet you will get a cleaner wave and be able to surf it a lot better.

Your biggest set back right now is your small board, with your lower skill level and using a very fast board you will have a lot of trouble.

[THSEADOO]

I have the same boat we fill the stock ballast and add another 450 bag on top of that also put a 450 bag in floor on surf side plus the stock center filled. Wake plate all the way deployed. We get a great wave going with that. On the board I would go with at least a 5'3" board. You should have no problem with this type set up. I have had Malibu and MC guys say they are very impressed with our wake.

[cpatten]

Looks like I need to order a Tsunami to fill my spare 400 sac and go board shopping, another $400 dollars to the wake gods!

[moombadaze]

recomend adding that xtra 400 to the port seat, little bigger board, and then we need a short video or maybe some photos to help, but remember your surf stance is a little more forwards than a wakeboard stance if you wakeboard--dont toss the rope till you can surf with slack in the rope first, when tossing the rope at first just flip it to the other side of the wake as when most people first start tossing it into the boat it, the action will cause you to majorly put on the brakes for some reason-that rope will just stay on the other side and be out of you way till someone pulls it in.

hope .02 also will help you out

[saskyrider]

yep... bigger board for sure! I'm 200 lbs and had a 4'6" obrien alias... couldn't freeride to save my life, then i picked up the 5' alias and bang was surfing with less weight in the boat no problem. I can now ride the 4'6" alias ropeless but i need to be pretty much maxed on weight and i lose the wave easily... I've also riden a buddies phase 5 board that is 4'6" long and i can go ropeless all day with that thing and carve and mess around to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlpXynYvX7w

here is a vid of me surfing with 750 rear 400 floor 400 beind driver and 400 in the nose. plus about 225lbs of people weight. and 100lbs was on the wrong side of the boat. speed was 10.7 according to pp stargazer.