We've covered other tips for beginner wakesurfers -- but getting up and moving on the board in the first place is arguably the most difficult part of learning to ride. So, let's help!
Here are some of the key things you must do to get started on your wakesurf board. Follow these tips and tricks, and you're likely to get going on your first try.
(Wear a Proper Life Jacket)
The proper setup for getting on top of the wakesurf board requires that you lie in the water on your back, with your legs and feet elevated with the board. This is going to place leverage against your upper body, essentially pushing your torso below the waterline.
You'll see plenty of experienced riders wearing lightweight comp vests. But as a beginner wakesurfer, it's highly recommended you wear a full life jacket. This isn't just for your safety -- it makes getting started on the board easier!
Wearing a life jacket will some much needed buoyancy while you lie in the starting position. You'll likely find yourself in this position longer than usual as a beginner. So, having a jacket do the heavy lifting (literally) will allow you to focus on proper foot placement and form without sinking or getting fatigued.
(Practice With a Surf-Style Board)
Pictured: Ronix Flyweight Atlantik
Certain board styles -- like skim boards -- are simply too difficult to learn on for a first-time rider. It's best to stick with a traditional surf-style board with at least a triple-fin setup.
The Flyweight Atlantik from Ronix is a great choice for beginners. So too is the Connelly Ride.
Learn more about all wakesurf board types here.
The Proper Starting Position
As you prep for your first attempt at getting up on the board, remember these four key things:
Keep the Board Flat
New riders often fidget with their foot placement, or they try to get some foothold atop the board while they're resting in the water, before moving. Don't do this.
This will cause the board to tilt and dip into the water, ruining your form and likely forcing the board away from you before you even start moving.
Keep the board flat in the water. The board should always rest flat atop the water until the moment you push on it to flip it up against your feet.
Heels on the Edge, Toes Up
Rest both heels directly against the edge of the board, approximately shoulder-width apart. Keep your feet flat and point your toes up into the sky. Avoid flaring your feet outward.
This will cause you to take an unstable, wobbly stance atop the board as you transition o standing, and you'll likely fall forward or wipeout.
Keep a Deep Squat
While in the starting position, keep your knees bent as much as possible, holding a deep squat while resting your heels against the board. The goal is to maintain this position while transitioning to a standing, crouched position.
Keeping this position while getting up on the board naturally forces your heels to drive the board down, facilitating an easy transition from lying to standing.
Don't stretch your legs. New wakesurfers tend to stretch their legs out and exit the squat when attempting to get up on the board. This will cause the board to get away from you and you'll likely plow through the water, unable to get up on the board.
Keep Your Arms Straight
For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. Many new riders tend to pull on the tow handle and tuck their arms in while attempting to stand on the board. Doing this will force you to kick your legs out and forward, ruining your squat.
Instead of trying to pull the rope toward your body, keep your arms straight and allow the tension of the tow rope to pull you up over the board.
Transitioning to Riding
As you begin moving and working to get up on the board, follow these other tips to maintain good balance and a stable riding position. Then you can focus on learning to carve in the wake.
Keep Your Head Up, Look Where You Want to Go
It's natural to want to look down at the board and stare at your feet while you work to get up and standing. Keep your head and eyes up. Looking down at the board will cause instability.
Looking up and forward promotes better balance and allows you to work on building muscle memory in the transition.
Instead, look where you want to go. Your body and footwork will naturally follow.
Walk Your Feet to The Toe Side
As soon as you're atop the board and moving, shift your feet, one at a time, closer to the toe side of the board to improve your center of gravity and stability.
Stay Crouched and Loose
Keeping a deep squat atop the board will help you remain stable while you learn to ride at lower speeds. Keep your knees bent, and avoiding tensing up your quads and calves.
Drop your Non-Dominant Arm
Don't do the newbie-two-grip. Holding the tow handle with both hands will force your body into an uncomfortable twist, and the board will want to sway back and forth. A two-handed grip also encourages you to tense up, so drop your non-dominant arm and let it hang by your side.
Lean With The Board
New riders tend to try to counterbalance their body weight in response to the board tilting in the wake. Avoid counterbalancing. Doing this increases the likelihood the board gets away from you by shooting out from under your feet.
Instead, lean your body left and right to control the tilt of the board. Trying to keep your weight centered over your toes, instead of your heels, to help promote this movement.
You should also use your non-dominant hand, which is free of the tow handle, to help promote better balance. Hold your hand out, back, and away from your body, pointing it toward the wake and behind the board. You can then use your outstretched hand as additional leverage to dial in your lean.
Control Your Speed With Your Feet
Think of your front foot as your gas pedal, and your rear foot as your brake. To help prevent the board from getting away from you in the wake, practice placing more or less weight on either foot to control your speed and dial in your position inside the pocket of the wake.
Tips for Boaters
When it comes to riding a wakesurf board successfully as a beginner, those of you on the boat are just as important for the learning process as the rider's own techniques. Do these things to help out your new surfer:
Guide the Rider Into The Pocket
As soon as the rider's up and moving, gently guide the tow rope toward the center line of the boat. This will help pull the rider into the pocket, so they can sustain speed and let go of the handle (exampled above).
Quiet Down The Passengers
It's tempting to want to shout advice and commands at the rider -- but too many teachers is never helpful. Designate one person to provide help to your new wakesurfer, and remember that they should be allowed to focus on the tips and tricks above without a constant barrage of instructions being shouted at them.
Ready to ride? Grab your first wakesurf board here! Got a youth rider? We've got you covered there, too, with our kid's wakesurf boards.
