Wake Advice

commander315

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
286
I finally got out skiing on my boat. I got some Celebrities and had at it!. Heres the issue: My 8 ton 520hp boat throws a hell of a wake. Its big, aggressive and its wings are crashing. ITs a blast to jump it from the middle to the outside, but every time I try to go back center my face slams the water again and again. No matter how high I try to lift my tips, etc..I tried all kinds of ways to get back center...It wont work.. any suggestions, something Im missing ?? Heres a pic, Even tho it looks small here :
 

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skibrain

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 17, 2004
Messages
766
Re: Wake Advice

...my face slams the...

Not quite understanding what you mean.

The first thing I'd try is a different length rope. Most standard ski ropes are 75'. You might need to add or shorten 15' to get to a more user-friendly part of the wake. Maybe get behind where the wake is curling.
 

commander315

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
286
Re: Wake Advice

...my face slams the...

Not quite understanding what you mean.

The first thing I'd try is a different length rope. Most standard ski ropes are 75'. You might need to add or shorten 15' to get to a more user-friendly part of the wake. Maybe get behind where the wake is curling.
woops..meant to say my face slams the water..as in I kept falling forward as my tips get caught on the curl of the wake. any yea maybe a shorter line would be good. since the upper part of the wake is less violent.... ITs a shame though I wont be able to jump the big part anymore..:p
 

sickwilly

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 9, 2007
Messages
1,089
Re: Wake Advice

Here is what you do -- I guarantee this will work!

After getting out of the wake, when you are ready to get back in, pull out pretty far to whichever side you are on. Once ready to proceed back to the middle of the wake, turn your head and look at the shore totally perpendicular to the direction the boat is going. Your shoulders will follow your head. Bend you knees a little to take the bump and leave you ski on edge over the wake.

Just like that, you are back in the middle.

Head and shoulders is the key --- turn and look where you want to go.

Also, don't look down at the wake, unless you want to go down into the wake.
 

haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: Wake Advice

The most likely issue (which sickwilly sort-of touched on) is that you are "hanging out" too long on the crest of the wake. The reason your skis get swaped is because you're probably staying in the danger zone too long. If you want back in the center, lean more aggressively to expedite the move. The fast you go over it, then less likely you are going to swamp the ski. Don't worry about trying to keep the tips up, there isn't a whole lot you can do when skiing on a pair of skis to adjust tip height, slolam is a different story.

Just don't lean so hard you start jumping the wake back in until you get more comfortable crossing in/out of the wake.
 
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