You've watched somebody toss the rope and surf behind the boat. Now you want to see if you can do it too.
Good news: you don't have to know what you're doing before you show up. That's kind of the point.
Big Thunder Wake Experience offers coached wakesurf / Foil sessions at Lake of the Ozarks for complete beginners, families and experienced riders who want to get better.
Is wakesurfing hard to learn?
Every rider is different, but beginners can absolutely learn to wakesurf. A lot of the frustration comes from trying the same thing over and over without knowing what needs to change.
Sometimes it's your feet. Sometimes it's your weight distribution or body position. A coach can see those things from the boat and make adjustments in real time.
What is Foiling?
Foiling is similar to wakesurfing but also very different. You still are riding behind the boat and catching the wave but the board looks like it's hovering over the water. You are riding the hydrofoil wing which is under the water. It gives you a flying sensation, imagine riding a magic carpet in real life.
Is Foiling Hard to Learn?
Learning to Foil is more challenging than wakesurfing, because balancing on a foil is the complete opposite of every other board sport you've tried. You are more front foot dominant and it can feel awkward when first starting out. I always recommend taking an E-Foil lesson prior to Wake Foiling because the E-Foil makes learning to Foil extremely easy.
What is an E-Foil?
It is a Motorized Hydrofoil board. Powered by a battery and a built in motor you are able to control your E-Foil and learn to fly. The boards might look intimidating but you will discover riding an E-Foil is surprisingly easy. If you can paddleboard then you can E-Foil.
What happens during your first lesson?
We start with the basics before you ever get behind the boat. Your coach will go over the equipment, starting position, safety and what to expect once the boat begins to pull.
From there, we work through it one step at a time:
- Get comfortable with the board in the water
- Find the right starting position
- Learn to let the boat bring you up instead of fighting it
- Get comfortable standing and finding your balance
- Learn where you need to be on the wave
- Start taking pressure off the rope
- Work toward surfing the wave without the rope
You don't have to check every box on your first day. The goal is to make progress and have fun doing it.
Why does coaching help?
There's a big difference between your buddy yelling "stand up!" from the boat and having someone tell you exactly what to change.
Small adjustments to your feet, knees, posture, balance or position on the wave can completely change a run. Getting that feedback right away saves a lot of trial and error.
Meet Coach Mike Smith
Mike Smith has more than 18 years of watersports experience, including wake sports, kiteboarding, wake foiling and e-foiling. He's also competed in e-foil racing, finishing second in a Fliteboard Cup race, and has spent years coaching riders here at Lake of the Ozarks.
That doesn't mean you need to show up ready to compete. Far from it. Mike works with all skill levels, including people who have never stood on a wakesurf board before.
Do you need your own gear?
No. We provide the equipment for your session along with USCG-approved life jackets. You don't need to buy a board just to find out whether you like wakesurfing. Show up ready to ride and we'll take care of the setup.
Can families do it together?
Absolutely. One of the nice things about a coached session is that everyone can work at their own level. One person might be trying to stand up for the first time while somebody else is working on riding without the rope.
You don't all have to be at the same skill level to have a good time.
Already know how to wakesurf?
We'll meet you where you are. Coaching isn't just for beginners. More experienced riders can work on positioning, control and technique, or mix things up by trying wake foiling or e-foiling.
Come ride with us
You don't need your own wake boat. You don't need your own board. And you definitely don't need to already know how to wakesurf.
If you've been wanting to try it, come see us. Big Thunder Wake Experience will get you on the water with the gear, coaching and time you need to start figuring it out.
Ready to ride? Book your Big Thunder Wake Experience and let's get after it.