The Sweet Spot

The "sweet spot " is the part of the wave that generates power to keep you moving forward.  If you are too far back in the wave (where it is curling over) you will find it difficult to keep up. 

With most wakesurf boards, to generate additional speed while riding the wave, apply weight to your front foot.  This will drive the board forward towards the boat.  To slow down, apply weight to your back foot.  Generally, when you apply weight to your back foot to slow down, you will need to put weight on your front foot again to speed up a little.  It is very important to master these fundamentals first as everything else in wake surfing is based on speed control (weight transfer).

Once you have gotten up, pull yourself into the sweet spot by grabbing the rope with your forward hand (regular riders this is your left hand, goofy riders use your right hand) and pulling towards the boat.  Always remember to keep the handle in your other hand.  NEVER let the handle dangle down by your legs.  If you need to coil the rope, do so and hold the coil of rope with the handle in your back hand.  Also, do not wrap the rope around your hands while pulling yourself into the sweet spot. 

When you are first leaning to wake surf, you may find that once you have hit the sweet spot the rope will go slack.  This is a good thing.  You will also find that your instinct is to immediately throw the rope.  Try to fight off this temptation and keep the rope with you for a while and ride with the rope slack.  Do your best to keep the rope slack and ride for a while.  If you find yourself too far away from the wave or too far back, use the rope to pull back into the sweet spot.  While riding with the rope, it is important to only use the rope as a last resort.  Use your weight transfer to speed up and slow down not the rope.

Once you feel like you can ride for a few minutes with the rope slack, it’s time to throw the rope.  When you are first learning, it’s best not to throw the rope back into the boat.  This tends to remove your concentration from riding and focus it towards throwing the rope.  Most new riders throw the rope and watch it as it goes in the boat.  They also fall right afterwards or loose the wave.  To avoid this, without looking up, throw the rope to the other side of the wake (where all the white water is).  The people in the boat can then safely bring the rope back into the boat and you can remain surfing.

Well, you’re wake surfing now.  With a little practice, speeding up and slowing down will become second nature and you can start working on making turns and basic tricks.  Good luck and have fun

By;  Inland Surfer Gang