Surfin' Smoked Butter

[ragboy]

Man, I am feeling good this morning. Finally got out on the lake. Evac orders all removed, fires are getting under control, but still a bit smokey.





It was sunday, the lake is so low, ramps will close within 2 weeks, houseboats are being taken out of marina due to level. Ramp is tiny and tough, and it was smokey. Cool, cuz that meant on a hot July day on SUNDAY, there was NO ONE there. Maybe the upside, is the diehards are going to get butter the rest of the season. Normally, on a day like that, overflow parking by 10am, which is why we stay off mostly on the weekend.

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[ragboy]

First, the WAKE.

I decided I was going to take my remaining summer, and really work on ballast, get it just right. So I bought back in my boat, a FAT brick, 150 lbs, and the integrated bow sac, which we filled to about 500lbs. So we had about 1500lbs of ballast, and about 1000 lbs of people and gear with all of us.

Wake was VERY long with taps at 3, which we normally do. RJ said it lost its punch, not as steep, and putting taps at 5-6 helped resolve that. Here are some pics of RJ on goofy at 11.8 mph.



This one REALLY shows how much room we have. The bow weight, and speed make a long wake.



The wake was still plenty big, though, as seen by this picture.



My 10 yr old daughter is starting to really get confident, but I slow to about 10.4 mph. Normally I go to 9.8 for her, but the wake looked like it was going to EAT her. It scared her so I sped up to 10.4, which bought it down a bit, but it was still big, and I dropped taps to like 2, to bring down, and here it is.



Its hard to tell from pics, but when she was in the sweet spot, it was to her shoulders, even when she wasn't crouched.



We didn't get many pictures of the reg side, it was getting dark, here is one. It was still clean and big.



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[ragboy]

RJ Hits it

Have you seen the movie, "The Big Lebowsky"? Its a funny movie, and I made the mistake of renting it on the Apple TV and showing my 3 older kids. My favorite part in the movie is when John Tutorro as Jesus does his little taunt and like dance/pelvic thrust. Its a bit nasty, but hilarious. Well here was RJ, doing his best Jesus WOOH! While surfing.

Almost embarrassed to post this, but it was pretty darn funny.



We had the wake set up pretty well, to give him run up room, something to pop from, but he just can't quite pump to get the momentum. Hopefully by end of summer, he will be able to catch a bit of sky under his board, but his tail slides look good.





Ramping up.





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[ragboy]

The Chocolate Leprachaun will be Surfin soon

Jesse asked me if she could surf with RJ. I said ok. We stopped and she just jumped out there and grabbed the rope. No fear, whatsoever, and she was dead serious. She was touching the wake and trying to lean, she wanted it bad. I can't wait to get this kid doing it on her own.









This is funny, cuz RJ is famous for the tongue pictures.



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[ragboy]

Whitney's Turn

We didn't get out til 3, so by the time whit was up, it was a bit darker, so the pics aren't that great, but she was having fun, still not quite used to the green loogey.









Whitney uses this method for getting up, we call it "The Birthing Pose", not very flattering.



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[ragboy]

Maddie (10)

Man, this kid is skinny, but she is getting really confident surfing, she isn't doing much yet, but having fun.







Thomas will be trying to get up next time, he is 7.

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[ragboy]

Ashley (17)

I love watching Ash surf, she turns into a little girl. She just loves doing her own thing, and is all smiles. Although she gets a bit testy when a song comes on she doesn't like, so whit moves forward from the rear remote.





She really loves the new blue lake.





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[dogbert]

Great pics, especially the doubles surfing. What a great way to get kids over their fear of riding behind the boat.

[ragboy]

Boat Upgrades

Well, I have told you all I love the new tower setup. This was the first time with it we closed down the lake, and the lights were AWESOME. Maybe not for wakeboarding at 65', but for wakesurfing, we could do it night no problem if we chose to. Here in this pic, it is dusk, you can really see the moon in the pic. The light on ash is NOT from the flash, it is from the rear facing tower lights.



I don't have a pic for this, but when I am out on the boat, the sound starts to get muddy, and then can totally distort after a period of running it, like 2 hours or so. Got 2 batts, took longer, but still does it. Well, during the down time, I had a 150 amp alternator installed. What a HUGE difference. Not only did I NEVER hear it start to get muddy or drop out, but the sound was CRYSTAL clear, and louder. I didn't have to turn up the volume as much to get same loudness. Everyone noticed it, even mom, which was good, since it was a bit pricey. The new FOCAL tower speakers from samson are incredible now with the correct juice.

[dogbert]

Ok, I'm not finding the moon in the picture.

[ragboy]

A few more

Sorry, I am making up for lost time. My kids always ask me, "Dad, did you post my pics up for your Tige buddies?".

RJ goofing off and cool pics, check how low the boat is.





Another nice wake pic.



RJ going down, only like he can.





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Sorry, still not quite done....

[dogbert]

Ok, ragboy, you're busted. Clearly you need more ballast. It ain't a surf wake until you have water flowing over the rubrails!

[ragboy]

Some pics of the Fam

Some great pics, and why I love my Tigé.



Crap, this one is going to give me a run for my money.



And this one too.





Some others.









ok, don't care who you are, this is cute.








OK, thats it! I feel much better now. Hope I can get out at least 2x this week. Sorry for the huge post, making up for lost time!

[ragboy]

Ok, I'm not finding the moon in the picture.

I fixed it, posted the wrong one.

[dogbert]

I fixed it, posted the wrong one.

Good to know I'm not blind...yet.