Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

This past weekend was the Supreme Wake Surfing Contest in Parker. It kicked off the North American portion of the World Series of Wake Surfing. We went and had an absolute blast. Never been around a more friendly and happy group of athletes. Since it was our “home lake” I was one of only a couple who had a wake boat in the water – other than the official contest tow boats. On Thursday, the day before the competition started we willed the A22 with a group of surfers and everyone was sharing boards, tips, tricks, and generally having fun helping each other.

Right away I was told I needed to kill the wake since the massive Axis wake with all that “push” was way more wake than the Supreme would have. So we dropped ballast and leaned it over a lot. We never made it like the Supreme, but it was closer (and much less fun to everyone). The Supreme was a longer wake and nice and steep. What it lacked was the “push” we get from the wake curving around with Surfgates. Only one of my ballast crew had a similar wake (Malibu owner), and everyone else was totally in love with the Axis wake. We were running full stock, 950 in the front, and 750s in the rear. We dropped about ¼ of the 750 on the non-rider side to c lean up the wake a bit. I had 6 adults in the back watching the boarder sort of evenly spaced. I could have used a bit more in the front, but it was still very fun for everyone at about 11.1 mph.

My 330 with its 14” pitch prop had plenty of umph, and I was getting complaints that some thought I pulled them up faster than they liked. My daughter did terrible in the contest as she kept losing the small wake in a shallow section. But they had a raffle for a couple of boards – one skim style from Phase 5 with carbon fiber (apparently it was the one used in the catalog photo shoot and had slightly unusual graphics that I would never notice) and a Jimmy Redmon shaped surf style glass board. I won them both!!!

When it was all over, a whole lot of folks came over and complimented me on the 2014 Axis A22 for its wake, roominess, and good looks. I was one happy Axis Owner!

https://www.facebook.com/officalSWSC

Also look for hashtag #SWSC15 on facebook and Instagram for my pix and a boatload of other people's pix.

Wayne

Wayne, what are your prop spec's. Are you running a 1939.

Originally it was a 13.5 X 16 (ACME 537). After screwing it up I had Wilmington Propeller Service remake it as a 13.5 X 14 and I love it. Lots of pulling power and OK speed. I never seem to go over 30 MPH anyway We can ski, wakeboard, wake surf, tube with ease.

Wayne, who told you to kill the wake?

Congrats on the raffle prizes. I heard from a few of our customers and team riders who competed about that shallow spot in the course. Also heard the wake was lacking the first day and they had to grab some of Sean Cummin's personal bags and add another 400lbs or so to each contest boat.

Wayne

What type of sets were the old surf guys pulling off. We talking big airs? Or we talking 360s, 180s etc? Kind of curious on how the other divisions are playing out. I have seen Hazen and walker ride and that is mind blowing to me.

The guys in my boat who said I needed to reduce my wake were folks who regularly ride Supremes and particularly ones at contests. They said my axis wake was significantly larger and had a lot more push from behind than the Supreme. They said it was more fun and more forgiving, but it was not good contest practice since it was easier to surf well on the Axis - especially when doing Skim Style. I forget which guys it was, but they all ended up on the podium in their divisions.

So on the first day the goofy wake was terrible with several competitors unable to ride the first half of the course. Shortly after the first buoy the wake just went away. The second day they moved the course a little and weighted the boats differently and it was certainly better.

Regular side was much better than goofy on both days. I thought that was odd since all our props are lefty's and my goofy wave is bigger than regular. I walked away with even more appreciation for my A22.

But we all had a blast!

I saw a lot of airs. BIG AIRS. The surf style folks were mostly doing airs that made me think they had velcro to keep the board stuck to their feet.

The skim stylers were amazing with 3602 and 720s galore. Also a lot of air beneath their boards.

When we were playing with guests in my boat I found it funny how many different ways the boarders communicated with the driver. As an old geezer water skier (until I blew out my knees) I had been taught phrases like "In Gear" and "Hit it". I instead heard terms like "Slack it" for take up slack by going "In gear". Mostly I heard folks say "Yup" for "hit it". One group said "Go Boat" instead of "yup" or "hit it".

Finally I have always pulled folks up without much delay. Not flooring it, mind you, but bringing the boat to speed without a lot of delay - or overshoot. In skiing and wakeboarding this has always seemed normal. But I was intrigued that several people asked my to pull them up slower. My daughter said she thought something was wrong with the contest boat the first time because it so slowly crept up to speed.

Your saying if someone wants to start competing in the surf style.. Big air is the focus? You can podium by working on air?