How to Wakesurf and Wake Foil Behind Your Axis Boat

Wakesurfing is one of the biggest watersports on the planet right now, and it’s all thanks to the low-impact crashes, quick learning curve and team aspect of having your crew cheer you on from the boat. Add to this that just about anyone from young kids to grandparents can learn to wakesurf and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect summer sport. And whether you’re a veteran surfer who needs some tips to help teach others or you’re learning for the first time yourself, Axis Pro Athlete Guenther Oka will help you save some falls by instilling some solid fundamentals from setting up your boat, to getting up for the first time, to the basics of riding.

For those who have been surfing for several seasons and want to try a new challenge, wake foiling is the next level. The board is similar to wakesurfing, but the feeling is totally different because you’re floating above the chop on a hydrofoil. Together with Guenther, we’ll cover some of the key foiling points that will help you learn this new sport quickly and easily. You can skip ahead to that here.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR AXIS BOAT FOR WAKESURFING

To begin with, you don’t want a full-size wave with all the drive Axis is known for. It will be too much for first-time riders, so aim for a wave that’s just big enough to give the surfer the feeling of the wave’s push. Make the wave as long as possible by evenly weighting the boat from front to back and setting the Power Wedge® III on 1 or 2. You definitely don’t need full ballast. Less is more with beginners and a smaller wave can help get them up and gaining confidence quicker. Set Surf Gate® to whatever side they want and your speed control to around 10 miles per hour and you’re ready to roll. This setup will create a nice long pocket with a mellow face that’s very forgiving for beginners. When the rider is up and ready for more push from the wave, just empty some of the forward ballast and set the Power Wedge® III to somewhere around 3-6 if they’re surfing regular foot (Left-foot forward). This will create a more steep, powerful wave with plenty of push. To counter prop rotation that naturally occurs with all inboard boats, it can be helpful to set the Power Wedge® III at a lower number when your surfer is on the righthand side; somewhere between 1-4 is usually ideal.

Surfing with Surf Band®

One of the great things about surfing behind an Axis is your wave is customizable while you ride with Surf Band®. You can get the wave close to where you want it while you’re in the boat, then hop behind it and tweak settings while you ride, right from your wrist. Adjust speed and music volume up or down, pick which side you want to surf on, and choose your Power Wedge® III setting without ever having to communicate with the driver.

When you’re ready to switch your surf side, just hit the button for the opposite side and you’ll hear a series of horns telling you when to switch. There will be two short bursts, then a long one. Start back on the wave and pump forward as you hear the first two horns. By the time you’re partway through the longer horn you should be at the front of the wave and hopping over to the other side. This will take some practice, but being able to nail the timing with Surf Band® and the surf horns will mean that with practice you will be able to consistently transfer from side to side.

Getting Up

Start with the rider on the boat’s sun pad with the wakesurf line in their hands. Have them lay on their back with their knees bent holding the handle high above their head. Pull on the other end of the handle and tell them to think of doing a sit-up at the same time. This helps illustrate that if they were on the ground and you were helping them up, they would do some of the work by bending their knees and trying to sit up at the same time rather than flattening out and resisting you, which is what most people instinctually do behind the boat when they’re getting up on a wakesurfer for the first time. When this is clear in their mind, take it to the water with a buoyant, stable board that has a large fin for tracking. A skim board or an advanced surf style board is not ideal for learning. Instead, it’s a good idea to keep a wide, somewhat long board in the boat for beginners to learn on. Have them lay in the water with their heels on the board and the handle high above their heads, just like on the sun pad. Make sure they have the front rail facing the back of the boat and have them try to raise the handle as high as they can while the boat slowly gains speed. Use your own tweaks on these fundamentals and your whole crew will be surfing before you know it.

“When they first start to surf, most people’s tendency is to be too close to the platform,” says Oka. “But with Axis you can go unbelievably far back on the wave, and you should take advantage of this length. It’s worth a fall or two to figure out how far back you can go.” Have fun! There’s a world of tricks you can learn from here and you can take it as far as you want, or you can just go out for a cruise and enjoy the wave’s push—that’s the beauty of wakesurfing.

Setting Your Board Up for Success How to Wake Foil Behind your Axis Boat

Start out with a shorter mast, which will be easier to control. Somewhere around 26 inches should be about right. It’s also best to use a smaller wing so starts feel more controlled. 170 square inches or smaller works for most people. Adjust the foil mast to be under your rear foot at the back of the board, which will be the most forgiving position to get started because it forces you to put more weight forward, keeping the board on the water.

Start with your back foot just a little in front of the mast. Hold the board onto your feet with your back hand while your front hand holds the handle. As you get up, keep your weight shifted toward the front to keep the board on the surface of the water.

Riding

When you get more comfortable, try to raise the board up a little by transferring some of your weight to your back foot. As you raise up, you’re going to have to level off your weight or the wing will breach and you’re probably going down. And like most towed watersports, if you look down you will probably fall down, so keep your gaze 15 feet in front of you and don’t bend at the waist like a folding chair. When it comes to turning, says Oka, “don’t think about using your heel and toe edge. Instead, point the nose of the board in the direction you want to go with your front foot, and don’t be afraid to get your upper body involved in turning.” When you’re feeling good, start turning far enough that you cross outside the wakes. As you go across you’re going to feel the wave pushing you, which is a great way to get the feeling of progressing to the first wave where there will be more push. When you’re ready, shorten the line and move up to the first roller and apply the same principles.

Falling

“There’s a lot going on with a wake foil setup, and you don’t want to be anywhere near it when you fall,” says Oka. “So hang onto the rope a little longer than you normally would when you fall to pull yourself away from the mast and wing.” Check your manufacturer’s recommendations for more on foil safety.

“When it comes to foiling, you can explain it all you want, but the reality is you just have to pay your dues and get your reps in,” says Oka. “Some people will learn it quicker than others, but everyone has a blast when they get it.” It’s worth the effort to conquer this fun new challenge behind your Axis Boat. For more information on Axis Boats and to build your custom boat, visit axiswake.com or visit your local dealer for a free water session.