On Tuesday 13th June, Total Croatia Sailing put Wake Riders to the test to see if it is possible to learn to wake surf in one day.
Gone are the holidays filled with lazy sun-kissed days – eat, drink, swim, nap, repeat. Well, ok, they are not quite gone; many come sailing in Croatia to enjoy the coastline, sunshine and tranquillity that only being anchored in your own private bay can afford.
But, just as many are discovering Croatia to be a hot spot for all sorts of adventure activities, from mountain biking and dune buggies, to diving, zip-lining, kite-surfing… and, of course, the calm waters of the Adriatic make it a perfect spot for water-sports – jet skis, water-skiing, wakeboarding and now wake-surfing.
Wake Riders officially launched last week, the first of its kind in Croatia. I saw the promo video and thought – that looks pretty freakin’ cool. But, of course we all know that in promo videos they always get the experts in, so I was dubious as to whether an average individual with minimum water-sports experience could do this and be able to (at the very least) get out of the water on the first attempt.
So, I got in contact and organised to go out for a trial, so I could find out for myself.
As we got on the boat, we were greeted by ‘Scotty’ – I was happy to find another kiwi out here (we are a rare breed after all). Scotty has a colourful background including having been a tour guide for Kiwi Experience back in NZ, trekked through the wilderness in NZ (almost a real life ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’), guided around South America and loads more I am sure he didn’t share. This made Scotty a pretty cool dude with a chilled vibe – which helped for those who were a little apprehensive on the trip.
Scotty went through the basics of safety onboard, before he began with the ins and outs of how to wake surf. It seemed simple enough – ‘get in the water, feet on the board, heels down, arms straight, knees bent and then just let the boat pull you out of the water…’
Scotty’s safety briefing
This cool character is Igor, the driver.
Ok, it wasn’t this simple. First attempts by ended in some decent wipeouts for all, but after the initial fails (totalling a mere few mins in the water), everyone began to get a feel for it and it wasn’t long before we were all ‘popping-up’ on the board. I was impressed, I honestly didn’t think anyone would be able to get up – there were six of us in the group and no one really had any experience with water-sports. But proof is in the pudding – or the video below…
I have wake-boarded a couple of times in my past, but this actually didn’t help me, because I kept veering out to the side of the boat – picking up WAY too much speed and flying off the board. You are meant to stay directly behind the boat, get in close, so eventually, the point is to let go of the rope and ride the wake like surfing. None of us got to this point, but we were all very close, I think a few more tries and I would have got there!
Of course, Scotty got in the water at one point to show us what it is supposed to look like…
Credit: Wake Riders
Why would anyone want to spend an afternoon wake surfing, or who does it suit? Well, it’s definitely not for the mild-mannered, or faint-hearted. This is for those who want a little something out-of-the-ordinary in their holiday. Honestly, the day we went out it was a ‘sweaty betty’ kinda day, so it was such a relief to be on a boat and doing something that required getting in the water. While the crowds in the heart of Split were battling it out on the streets and in search of shade, we were on the water with the wind in our face and getting a panoramic sightseeing view of Split at the same time (2-for-1).
So, can you learn to wake surf in one day? Yes. You might not turn pro in one day, but we all got up and managed to ride for a while and had an absolute blast in the process. Though if you have the time, you may want to do it a couple of days in a row; I think if I went out for one more day I would be riding the wake like a pro… well, that’s what I tell myself anyway.
For more info on Wake Riders, check them out here.
If you are interested in more stories from the water this season, visit Total Croatia Sailing and like our Facebook Page.
