toneeees
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Imagine: as you play in your boat's wake, you carve the water with your board. Without a rope. Nothing propels you except for the power of the wave your boat makes. This is wakesurfing![/FONT]
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]My name is Trevor Miller, and I am a professional wakesurfer.[/FONT]
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Many ask how I got into the sport, and it all began with wakeboarding. Throwing tricks at high speeds began to take a toll on my body. One summer, I limped into the office after a long weekend on the water, and my boss declared that I couldn't come hurt to work anymore. He said he was frustrated by my wakeboarding injures, from my messed up shoulder to the slight daze I'd incur after a really bad concussion. The time had come for me to find a new passion.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]That summer, wakesurfing entered my life. I could still have a ton of fun on the water without demolishing my body or risking losing my job. I loved everything about the sport, from the new challenges I made for myself to the fact that riders of all levels of ability could enjoy the sport together. For the last 11 years, I have been completely obsessed with wakesurfing.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Two years after my first wakesurfing experience, I entered a local competition. Over the years, I've visited the awards podium, including 3rd Place at the My Wake Finals, and a 1st Place finish at the World Series Championship of Wake Surfing in the Outlaw Class. In 2011, I surfed for more than 24 hours to benefit the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. I currently volunteer my time as vice president on the board of the Competitive Wake Surf Association (CWSA) http://thecwsa.org/ , helping create a fair and consistent way for people to organize and judge wakesurf events. I also volunteer with the North West Wake Surf Association (NWWSA)http://nwwsa.org/ , serving as President. The NWWSA manages the longest-running wakesurf competition - and one of the largest wake surf competitions - every year in Monroe, Wash.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]At this point, you must be saying, "Tell me more about this surfing thing" enough about you!? Wakesurfing has existed in some fashion about as long as motorized boats have. I have seen videos of wake surfing in the 1960s, and my grandfather-in-law tells stories about riding a wooden slab behind a boat in the 1930s. Wake surfing as we know it today really got its start in the early 2000s. A few companies worked on wakesurfing, but I credit Jeff Page and all the guys with Inland Surfer for crafting boards and collaborating with boat companies to develop the sport we have today.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Beginning wakesurfing is pretty easy. In general, you need to use a 'ski boat' type boat with a propeller under the boat. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but it's a great rule to follow to make sure that you and your family stays safe.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Unlike wakeboarding, a bigger wake is easier to surf. Adding ballast to the boat will help make the wave bigger. All boats are different, but adding ballast to the boat in a 60/40 percent ratio from front to back will be the best place for you to start. After that, you can adjust the weight to adjust your wave.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The other thing you will need is a good quality wakesurf board and a special rope for wake surfing. Wakesurf boards are different from ocean surf boards. Wakesurfers tend to be flatter with much sharper edges to help them cut into the wave. The ropes are different from water ski ropes or wakeboard ropes; wakesurf ropes are several inches thicker so they are easier to hold onto as you maneuver into the sweet spot of the wave. Wakesurf ropes are also significantly shorter in length than other types because wakesurfers ride only about 10 to 15 feet behind the boat.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]I love introducing others to the sport, and with this column, I will share an in-depth look at wakesurfing to help you get started. Next month, I will talk about different types of boards and provide insights that will help you choose a board that might work best for you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]These great folks sponsor my surfing:[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Supra Boats http://supraboats.com
Ronix 8.3 Ballast System http://www.ronix-wakeboards.com/eight-3-telescope-ballast-system/
Day1 Wake http://day1wake.com
Agenda Surf http://agendasurf.com
Viscous surf wax alternative http://viskus.com[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]My name is Trevor Miller, and I am a professional wakesurfer.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
Many ask how I got into the sport, and it all began with wakeboarding. Throwing tricks at high speeds began to take a toll on my body. One summer, I limped into the office after a long weekend on the water, and my boss declared that I couldn't come hurt to work anymore. He said he was frustrated by my wakeboarding injures, from my messed up shoulder to the slight daze I'd incur after a really bad concussion. The time had come for me to find a new passion.[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]That summer, wakesurfing entered my life. I could still have a ton of fun on the water without demolishing my body or risking losing my job. I loved everything about the sport, from the new challenges I made for myself to the fact that riders of all levels of ability could enjoy the sport together. For the last 11 years, I have been completely obsessed with wakesurfing.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Two years after my first wakesurfing experience, I entered a local competition. Over the years, I've visited the awards podium, including 3rd Place at the My Wake Finals, and a 1st Place finish at the World Series Championship of Wake Surfing in the Outlaw Class. In 2011, I surfed for more than 24 hours to benefit the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. I currently volunteer my time as vice president on the board of the Competitive Wake Surf Association (CWSA) http://thecwsa.org/ , helping create a fair and consistent way for people to organize and judge wakesurf events. I also volunteer with the North West Wake Surf Association (NWWSA)http://nwwsa.org/ , serving as President. The NWWSA manages the longest-running wakesurf competition - and one of the largest wake surf competitions - every year in Monroe, Wash.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]At this point, you must be saying, "Tell me more about this surfing thing" enough about you!? Wakesurfing has existed in some fashion about as long as motorized boats have. I have seen videos of wake surfing in the 1960s, and my grandfather-in-law tells stories about riding a wooden slab behind a boat in the 1930s. Wake surfing as we know it today really got its start in the early 2000s. A few companies worked on wakesurfing, but I credit Jeff Page and all the guys with Inland Surfer for crafting boards and collaborating with boat companies to develop the sport we have today.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Beginning wakesurfing is pretty easy. In general, you need to use a 'ski boat' type boat with a propeller under the boat. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but it's a great rule to follow to make sure that you and your family stays safe.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Unlike wakeboarding, a bigger wake is easier to surf. Adding ballast to the boat will help make the wave bigger. All boats are different, but adding ballast to the boat in a 60/40 percent ratio from front to back will be the best place for you to start. After that, you can adjust the weight to adjust your wave.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The other thing you will need is a good quality wakesurf board and a special rope for wake surfing. Wakesurf boards are different from ocean surf boards. Wakesurfers tend to be flatter with much sharper edges to help them cut into the wave. The ropes are different from water ski ropes or wakeboard ropes; wakesurf ropes are several inches thicker so they are easier to hold onto as you maneuver into the sweet spot of the wave. Wakesurf ropes are also significantly shorter in length than other types because wakesurfers ride only about 10 to 15 feet behind the boat.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]I love introducing others to the sport, and with this column, I will share an in-depth look at wakesurfing to help you get started. Next month, I will talk about different types of boards and provide insights that will help you choose a board that might work best for you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]These great folks sponsor my surfing:[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Supra Boats http://supraboats.com
Ronix 8.3 Ballast System http://www.ronix-wakeboards.com/eight-3-telescope-ballast-system/
Day1 Wake http://day1wake.com
Agenda Surf http://agendasurf.com
Viscous surf wax alternative http://viskus.com[/FONT]