wakesurfing

This weekend was another first for me.  A friend of mine had a bran new 2004 Malibu wakeboarding boat ($50+k new... WOW!).  In the boat are 3 water ballasts, one in the middle and two in each back corner.  What you do is fill up one of the ballasts in the back corner and then put the wedge down (in the back of the boat under the deck, used to produce a big wake).  You then drive the boat at 10-12 mph which at that speed throws a huge wake, especially on the side where the ballast is inflated.  Behind the boat is the surfer, who is riding a funky surfboard which is similar to a wakeboard, except there are no boots.  What you do is get a ski rope and tie it off at a length of 10 feet and surf directly behind the boat on the 3' wake.  Now the catch.  Since the wake is so big, it kind of curls like a wave in the ocean.  So, once you feel comfortable and figure out how to ride the wave, you throw the rope back to the boat and surf the wake!  I had an absolute blast and had at one point rode the wake for a good 30 seconds without a rope!  How cool.