Wake Surfing How To Get Up

Tips to get up on a wakesurf board.

You have the boat, now you need to get up on a wakesurf board and start surfing. Wakesurfing is bigger than ever! It seems like this year, our favorite sport has seem exponential growth. More and more boat companies are offering boats that you can surf behind and for most people who are just starting with the the sport, the biggest hurdle is learning how to get up and stand up on a wakesurf board. That's why we're here to help! Here's exactly how to get up on a wakesurf board.

Wakesurf Board Selection

There are several types and styles of boards available for wakesurfing. As a beginner, you are going to want to start with a longer, more buoyant board that will be more stable as you get up the first time. You will want to make sure your board has three fins on the bottom, as this will give you more control and stability. Wakesurf Stance

Wakesurf Rope Selection

The wakesurf rope is there just to get you up behind the boat. You will want to drop it once you are in the pocket of your surf wave. Most people hold onto the rope to learn how to remain in the surfable "sweet spot."

Wakesurfing ropes range from 10 to 25 feet in length. You will wrap the wakesurf rope on the boat's tower. You will want to put yourself on the side where your dominate foot will be in back.

Wakesurfing

Wakesurfing Foot Placement

First, make sure you are positioned facing the back of the boat. The board should be floating in front of you, with its nose point away from the wake. (Right-footed people, this will be pointing left on the port side or left side of the boat. Left–footed should switch that around.) Rest your heels on top of the board a little more than shoulder width apart. Hold the rope so that it's centered between your legs. DO NOT forget to wear a USGA approved flotation device!

Next, the driver of the boat will put the boat into forward idle to make the rope have tension. Once the rope is tight and the driver starts increasing speed, bend your knees and press down with your feet. The board will flip up until your feet are flat against the board.

Wakesurf Rope

Important: Don't pull against the rope and the boat. This is a tug of war you will not win. Let the boat pull you up and do the work.

If you are having trouble with this in the water, try this land based exercise to help you get the feeling. Think of it as being in a sitting position on the ground, with your legs bent and in front of you. When you need to get up, have a friend, pull you up by extending their arm towards you and pulling you up from the ground.