Board
My first purchase. Phase 5 Danielo Diamond Wakesurf board
After extensive research I found that this board would be work best for me. Since I have had many years of experience wakeboarding and was a wakeboard instructor, I wanted to get a board that I could progress on. I wanted a skim type board with good amount of rocker. I found this board online through research and recommendation from other riders that I know. It was definitely I little more than what I wanted to spend, but we can call it an early graduation present.
The reason I wanted a skim board was it makes it easier to perform spins on the wake. If you picked up a surf style, it will do maneuvers, but the design of the board makes it a little bit more difficult. Also I wanted one with a good amount of rocker so that if I do progress far enough along, I will be able to do aerials.
Now just have to Pray for the air to warm up or find my old wetsuit.
After extensive research I found that this board would be work best for me. Since I have had many years of experience wakeboarding and was a wakeboard instructor, I wanted to get a board that I could progress on. I wanted a skim type board with good amount of rocker. I found this board online through research and recommendation from other riders that I know. It was definitely I little more than what I wanted to spend, but we can call it an early graduation present.
The reason I wanted a skim board was it makes it easier to perform spins on the wake. If you picked up a surf style, it will do maneuvers, but the design of the board makes it a little bit more difficult. Also I wanted one with a good amount of rocker so that if I do progress far enough along, I will be able to do aerials.
Now just have to Pray for the air to warm up or find my old wetsuit.
And First attempt...
So after the purchase, and convincing of friends and family to going out to the Colorado river near Imperial Dam, I got my first (very short and cold) attempt at Wakesurfing. The air temp was a blistering 75 degrees, which totally made up for the water temp...56 degrees. Needless to say, I was in-out and done before any real attempt could be made. But it was fun and next time will get it.
What have I learned from this experience?
That it is not too hard to pick up on. If you have the background like I do at wakeboarding, then getting up is not going to be an issue. It is just like getting up on a wakeskate, a board without any binding. It is a little bit more boyeunt than a wakeskate, but the overall process of getting up is the same. The board was really nice to ride, very smooth and fast. By fast I mean, when I put more weight in the front, it responded quickly by moving down the wake towards the boat. The rope, even though not needed, is a nice touch to the experience. The larger handle of a wakeboarding handle could possibly get in the way when throwing it back into the boat. Or might knock someones tooth out when it hits them in the face. The knots in the front of the handle also helps with positioning into the sweet spot of the wake. I still stand by my idea that you do not need this type of handle, but I will admit it is nice to have.
The boat worked really well for this. It is an older model, but with the wedge and a few people in the back, the wake was nice enough to keep me going for short periods of time. With practice, transitioning my weight from back to front, I feel that I will be able to make the wake produced by this boat work for me. I will make sure the next time I go out, I will get a video to share on my blog.
What have I learned from this experience?
That it is not too hard to pick up on. If you have the background like I do at wakeboarding, then getting up is not going to be an issue. It is just like getting up on a wakeskate, a board without any binding. It is a little bit more boyeunt than a wakeskate, but the overall process of getting up is the same. The board was really nice to ride, very smooth and fast. By fast I mean, when I put more weight in the front, it responded quickly by moving down the wake towards the boat. The rope, even though not needed, is a nice touch to the experience. The larger handle of a wakeboarding handle could possibly get in the way when throwing it back into the boat. Or might knock someones tooth out when it hits them in the face. The knots in the front of the handle also helps with positioning into the sweet spot of the wake. I still stand by my idea that you do not need this type of handle, but I will admit it is nice to have.
The boat worked really well for this. It is an older model, but with the wedge and a few people in the back, the wake was nice enough to keep me going for short periods of time. With practice, transitioning my weight from back to front, I feel that I will be able to make the wake produced by this boat work for me. I will make sure the next time I go out, I will get a video to share on my blog.