SMED Wakesurfing -- wakesurf blog

Wake Skiing

2009-12-08T09:33:00.002-06:00

About 18 months ago, I get a call from a guy who wants me to help him build skis to wakesurf with. It took me a few minutes to really get my head around what he wanted to do, but we worked together on coming up with a design that would work to 'surfski'.

He just launched www.starrsurfskis.com and is looking to go big -- he's got pro surfers riding them on some big waves in Hawaii -- movie coming soon.

For now, here's some video of surfing on skis behind a boat

November Wakesurfing in Austin

2009-11-18T22:01:00.001-06:00

Catching a quick afternoon wakesurf set on Lake Austin on a warm, windless day.

Wakesurfing in Montana

2009-06-28T21:53:00.003-05:00

Some boys up on Whitefish Lake in Montana pulled the trigger on a Smed Wombat a few weeks back. From the looks on their faces it seems they didn't like the board at all... they just ordered another... :)

This last pic was on an 87' 19ft Nautique. The fairly flat rocker line on the Wombat makes it versatile for various wake sizes...

One more Wombat

2009-06-05T16:54:00.004-05:00

This is a bright neon yellow -- looks really great on the water.
Shiny gloss coat -- nice durable epoxy. Get it while it lasts.
$375

Boards for Sale

2009-05-28T11:06:00.003-05:00

I've got a couple of Wombats that I'm letting go for cheap.

Bennett PU foam blank with 3ply stringer / Epoxy finish
4'8" x 21.5"
double layer of 6oz S-glass top and bottom.
Quad Futures setup
Custom airbrush
Xtrak Traction
$400

EPS/Epoxy
4'6"x 21"
double layer 6oz s-glass top and bottom
Futures Twin setup
Custom Airbrush
Xtrak Traction
$400

Slaysh! Blog

2009-01-09T13:02:00.002-06:00

Things have been a bit quiet the last month or so -- last time out on the water was weekend of Thanksgiving with the Khun brothers crew.

In the meantime, some of my buddies from Shredstixx have created a blog and are putting good stuff up there all the time. Check out www.slayshBlog.com

Four Way Fin System

2008-12-16T12:17:00.001-06:00

In my opinion, one of the least explored areas in making surfboards is fin placement.

4Way Fin System allows you to adjust your fins to try different set ups in ways that used to require purchasing another board with a different set up.

Here's a few pics of the 4Way Fin System. Forward/Back; Toed-in or out; Canted more or less.

RJ takes 3rd in Men's Open

2008-10-14T11:02:00.001-05:00

Last weekend in a wakesurf competition on Lake Castaic, RJ (proud new owner of a custom Smed Wombat - blue & black in the middle) with 4 way adjustable fins, took third place. He was beat out by Johnny Steig and James Walker, two of the top wakesurfers in the sport. RJ is only 13 so look out!!!

Life Rolls On

2008-10-09T14:47:00.005-05:00

Earlier this summer I built a board for a Charity Auction with WakeOutlaws.com
Each builder was able to select a Charity to auction their board for to raise money.

My choice was the Life Rolls On Foundation www.liferollson.org is focused on ensuring that people that have spinal cord injuries are able enjoy life to the fullest by participating in the sports they love -- including surfing, wakeboarding, MotoX, skateboarding, dance, and others.

I'm super stoked to be included in this years LRO "Night By the Ocean Fundraiser" in Hollywood. I donated completely hand-shaped "Reactive" model for the night's auction.

Super Custom Graphic

2008-10-06T17:39:00.000-05:00

Customer wanted to do a custom wakesurf with a very specific graphic.
We had it printed on a high end color plotter and glassed it under the fiberglass. Sick sick sick!!!

RJ getting some air

2008-09-22T12:51:00.003-05:00

RJ won one of my Wombat boards at a wakesurfing comp this year.
He is 13 and ripping it up!

!

Blue Camo Wombat

2008-09-16T21:13:00.001-05:00

I found a guy who does big logopaper prints on a plotter and had customer that wanted to do a sexy camo type image. This is on the whole bottom of the board. Top is airbrushed.

Red Wombat

2008-09-03T12:46:00.003-05:00

Just sold this red Wombat Wakesurfer. Wakesurfing traction is hard to find cheap. I put the traction together with a few odds and ends I had laying around..

New Video -catching a little air on the wombat

2008-08-18T13:08:00.001-05:00

Wakesurfing on my Wombat

Don't Powerturn

2008-08-07T08:44:00.002-05:00

This video shows how to properly pick up a fallen rider when wakeboarding. Same principles can apply to wakesurfing.

AWSA Contest

2008-08-05T09:50:00.003-05:00

Smed Wakesurfing is sponsoring some of the American Wakesurf Association events this summer.

Here's some pics from the Northern CA contest this past weekend.

another creation

2008-07-28T21:28:00.002-05:00

Here's another one fresh out of the SMED wakesurf lab.
Traction gone wild!

Some airs

2008-07-18T14:33:00.004-05:00

With my 200lbs and with our small Malibu Vride it is not always easy to bust out of the wake and catch air when wakesurfing.

It can be done however....

Fresh Air Exhaust Install

2008-07-17T10:39:00.005-05:00

After testing Larry's "wing" and the wing plate we were ready for the FAE install. This should make our boat much more wakesurf friendly. Woot woot!

One of the challenges with the Malibu Wedge is that it makes it difficult for an FAE install. It is possible, but then the wedge needs to remain in the DOWN position. However, to remedy this for when we want to ski or just cruise down the lake to Hula Hut, Larry made a plate that allows the wedge or (wing) to be removed with a quick release. (the quick release isn't installed in these pics, but we hope to have it installed in the next week)

The original Malibu Wedge removed, and the WING and Wing Plate installed.

Removing the exhaust flaps

Exhaust flaps removed and prepped for install

Installing the system

FAE on the boat

Installing support bar under the swim platform

Support Bar installed, Swim Platform back on and ready to ride!!

Fresh Air Exhaust

2008-07-12T20:52:00.003-05:00

I've met Larry Mann of TrickBoardz / Fresh Air Exhaust at a wakesurf competition last year. We talked about the challenge of putting a FAE on the Malibu's with a wedge. He promised he was working on a design.

Last night he came over (since we both live in Austin) and he put a modified wedge on my boat for testing. The wedge is removable as we will have to keep the brackets down with the FAE installed.

I took out the prototype wedge today and it worked great.

Tomorrow he is coming by to do the install of the FAE -- can't wait!!!

4th of July surfing with the kids

2008-07-11T15:13:00.005-05:00

We got all of my brother's kids up on a board wakesurfing with me and shay. even our 2yr old! he was a little hesitant at first, but after his first run he said "again dad! again"

LOGO

2008-07-10T17:25:00.002-05:00

Wakeoutlaws Prize Boards

2008-06-23T17:08:00.004-05:00

Here are a couple of wakesurf boards I built for the Wakeoutlaws Texas Wakesurf Championships Event.

I was really happy with how they came out with the airbrush!

One was won by Jeff Page of Inland Surfer for his second place finish in the Men's Masters and he actually donated it to the American Wakesurf Association for their events this year. Thanks Jeff!

Another was won by Traci (thesweetlife)! Traci's first real wakesurf board! :) Congrats on your 2nd place in the Women's Masters!

Texas Wakesurf Championships

2008-06-07T11:02:00.004-05:00

On June 20-21, the Wakeoutlaws will be hosting the largest Wakesurfing event ever in the state of Texas and one of the largest in the World. Over $10K in cash and prizes will be up for grabs, bringing in some of the top riders from around the country. Yours truly, Smed Wakesurfing is one of the sponsors of the event. See you there!!!

The Wombat!

2008-05-22T17:31:00.000-05:00

Same board "Wombat"
different color scheme

Blue Boards - Wombat Shape

2008-05-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

Here's a few more boards. I've been working with a glassing house in CA to glass up some of my boards.
I asked them to surprise me with some retro-ish stripes and spray fades.

Frankenstrat Board

2008-05-05T11:25:00.003-05:00

Another customer wanted something that would bring him back to the 80s. He's a huge fan of Eddie Van Halen.

This is in progress....

UT Longhorn

2008-05-05T11:21:00.003-05:00

Had a customer ask for board that would let everyone know he is a big Longhorn fan.

I think it came out OK... :)

Project Rhino

2008-03-25T10:13:00.006-05:00

I finished up an 8ft longboard recently. Got a chance to check out out behind the boat last weekend.

The hope was to get some serious noserides, but I've still got some work to do... :)

Here's a few pics of the shape coming together from the blank.

Then - getting out on the water with a short little walk to the nose sequence.

See more at www.smedwakesurfing.com

Website up

2008-02-21T09:23:00.003-06:00

My new site is live. www.smedwakesurfing.com
It is a work in progress, but got to start somewhere.

a couple of new boards

2008-01-24T22:56:00.000-06:00

Made these just in time for the boat show!

fresh pics 2

2007-10-26T09:44:00.001-05:00

fresh pics

2007-10-26T09:40:00.000-05:00

a few more pics --

really windy out

a few more pics

2007-10-23T11:55:00.000-05:00

Here's a few more pics on the new board. I'm so happy with it!
So amazing to build something and have it perform as intended!

Reactive Model

2007-10-22T12:15:00.000-05:00

Here's a few shots of the new board. Finished laying down the glass on Friday and got it on the water on Saturday. I absolutely loved it!
It is fast, light and loose. Pulled a 3 right a way and felt like I was getting the fins in the air higher than before. It is a full 2lbs lighter than what I usually ride! Dims are 4'7"length, 19 1/2 w. Inset concave bottom. ey-yahhh!

Futures Fins

2007-10-18T10:41:00.000-05:00

Here's a couple of pics of setting the fin boxes.

Stringerless EPS

2007-10-18T10:34:00.000-05:00

I've been working on a stringerless EPS model - 4'7" x 19".
Put in an "Inset Concave" on the bottom - single to double.

Prototype Board - getting closer

2007-10-03T17:10:00.001-05:00

Here is the traced nose rocker outline and the shaped deck and bottom.

Prototype Board

2007-10-03T17:07:00.001-05:00

Here's a few photos of my latest project shaped from 2in XPS billet foam.

Surfing Preg

2007-09-25T12:36:00.000-05:00

My wife has been hard pressed to give up wakesurfing while pregnant. We got our boat when she was 7mo along with our first, but didn't get into it then. Now that she's almost two years of wakesurfing under her belt, she felt comfortable being on the board during this pregnancy. She talked to her OB about it and he said it was fine as long as she felt comfortable with it. So, she is still going at it at 8months. Here's a couple of recent photos.

Land Locked Surf Fest

2007-08-16T11:24:00.000-05:00

Wakechick over at Wakeoutlaws did a nice little write up on the contest last weekend with some pics

Link: http://www.wakeoutlaws.com/llsf07.php

Landlocked Surf Fest

2007-08-13T08:47:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a Wakesurfing competition up in Fort Worth. I took 2nd place in the Men's Advanced group. Met some good riders and won a surfboard. It was great to see some other good riders throwin' down.

My friend Mario rode Men's beginner and my wife rode in the Women's Intermediate. They both did well, but did not place. It was a long, hot day, but lots of fun for everyone!

360

2007-08-09T09:46:00.000-05:00

I landed a 360 this morning on the Yellow Loogey! Wooo hoo!! I usually ride between 10.0 -10.4, but going about 9.8 was better for the spin. Any faster and I'm falling out the back of the wake.

I've nailed about 4 of them on this board. I wish it was just a few inches longer and I think I'd be nailing them much more regularly. The Yellow 06 is 4'6".

AM Wakeboarding Session

2007-08-04T14:16:00.000-05:00

These were from yesterday morning -- only saw one other boat while we were riding.

Shred Stixx Rasta Man

2007-08-02T10:25:00.000-05:00

So - this is my lame attempt at sponsorship by Shred Stixx. I thought I could be the new mascot!

Contest in Dallas

2007-07-31T16:05:00.000-05:00

There is a Wakesurfing contest August 11th at the Master Craft Private Lake in Fort Worth.

I'm planning on either riding or judging. Should be a good time!

Wakesurf Board Options

2007-07-30T09:51:00.000-05:00

There are several companies that make wakesurf boards - specific to wakesurfing.

Yes, a regular ocean surfboard can be used behind a boat (my first few times wakesurfing were on a Rip Curl Ocean Board 6'8". ) but typically ocean boards have more rocker* than is appropriate for the smaller wave behind the boat. Wakesurf specific boards will generally have very little rocker to make them faster and more manueverable on the wake.

The companies that currently I'm aware of are: (as of July 2007)

Area 53
ASC Boards
Calibrated Wakesurfing
Cybershapes
Placebo
Phase 5
Inland Surfer
Shoreline Lakeboards
Shredd Stixx
Stripes
Trick Boardz
Walzer
The Walker Project
Xtreme Board Company (XBC)

There may be a few others out there. If you know of any others, please send my way and I'll list them up here. On many of the forums there are just a few boards that are mentioned. I wanted to try to compile a list of the many options out there. I didn't list up the major wakeboard manufacturers boards -- Hyperlight, CWB, Liquid Force -- but those are additional options. In my opinion, they are for the most part, wakeboard technology transferred to a wakesurf board, so don't have the surfing expertise/experience that makes a good quality board.

* Rocker: the amount of curvature shaped into the bottom of the board. In a general sense, the more rocker a board has, the more it will resemble a spoon. The less rocker, the flatter the bottom of the board will be. (Think of trying to push a large spoon through the water vs. pushing a slalom ski).

What is Wakesurfing?

2007-07-27T15:39:00.001-05:00

A hot and growing sport - not to be confused with surfing, or wakeboarding, wakesurfing is riding a surfboard behind a boat, while being propelled by the wake of the boat and nothing else. No rope. The feeling is amazing -- for many it is the closest thing to surfing in the ocean they will ever experience. In many ways wakesurfing is like surfing in the ocean, but on much smaller waves (unless of course you are from FL or the Gulf Coast) Ha ha!

While paddling out into the open ocean and surfing a natural wave is one of the most amazing feelings someone can experience, wakesurfing has many advantages.

Surfing is primarily a "solo" sport - selfish in some ways -- you may just go out with one or two friends - but you are not typically too interactive -- you are all concentrating on positioning for the next wave. In some crowded locations it is easy to get separated from your buddies for an hour when you catch a wave and end up a few 100 yards down the shore..
Wakesurfing on the other hand, is a very "social" sport -- everyone is together in the boat with the rider just 10-15 ft away -- able to interact with friends in the boat. Those in the boat can laugh, talk, and make fun of the rider - all while enjoying their favorite drink and snacks.
No sand EVERYWHERE - need i say more?
No dealing with crowds and struggling to find a parking spot.
No wax in your chest hair -- most wakesurfers have an EVA foam top for grip.
Long rides -- theoretically, in wakesurfing you can ride until the boat runs out of gas -- most of us ride until our legs become tired - 3-4 minute runs are fairly common.

The downsides of wakesurfing include:

The cost of the boat -- most wakeboard boats start around $40K and can cost as much as $90K. Plus maintenance, storage, etc.
The cost of Gas -- with $3/gallon it is getting more expensive
The waves are fairly small compared to the ocean. True surfers would call most wakesuring waves at about knee high or lower. Hawaiians would probably say they are ankle high.
It is addicting - and once you are hooked you'll want to buy and try several different boards - the boards run about $400 and up.

Inland Blue July 21, 2007

2007-07-21T22:41:00.000-05:00

Some wake surfing pics from last week on Lake Austin -- Wakesurfing the Inland Surfer Blue Lake board. One of my favorites. My wife said I was getting some decent air on the board, but she didn't capture in the pics. :*(

2007-07-11T11:42:00.000-05:00

2007-07-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

I made this minor adjustment to the seat on our Vride that covers the transmission.
Moved the support brackets closer to the edge of the seat.

Yellow Loogey 06

2007-06-06T16:05:00.000-05:00

Shredstixx Photo Shoot

2006-11-13T17:59:00.000-06:00

2006-11-13T17:54:00.000-06:00

Shredstixx Photo Shoot

2006-11-13T17:28:00.000-06:00

Here are some fun pics from the Shredstixx photo shoot the other night.

A local guy was asked to take some shots for the wakesurfboard company. Shayla and I got to go be the riders! Fun stuff!

dbot5 pics

2006-10-27T16:34:00.000-05:00

dbot

2006-10-26T22:17:00.000-05:00

DBot5 Rack

2006-07-29T19:18:00.000-05:00

DBot5 Rack with wakeboard, inland surfer yellow, and rip curl ocean board attached.

Another photo

video (Rip Curl)

2006-03-14T15:46:00.000-06:00

wakesurfing video

2006-03-14T15:42:00.000-06:00

surfing in Texas

2006-03-14T14:16:00.000-06:00

Here are a few videos of surfing behind the boat.

Rip Curl 6'8"

Hyperlight Landlock

No, it is not Pipeline... more like Doheny, but it is a lot of fun!

California to TX

2006-03-14T11:49:00.000-06:00

My wife and I moved to Texas a year ago for a new job. Austin is a cool town, kind of a California vibe, the people are kind, and the cost of living is cheap. However, May got really warm, June was unbelievably humid, July was disgusting and August unbearable. I was at the point of quiting my job and moving back to southern CA, where the friends are great, the weather is always nice, the surfing is nearby, and housing is well, rediculously unaffordable.

Then... some friends brought us out on their boat at Lake Austin. Our attitude changed -- we could stand living here in Austin, we just needed a boat to enjoy the water (and get refreshed from the heat).

My wife was very supportive of the idea as she knew I was miserable being so far from friends, surfing, and decent weather.

So we went to the boat show in Austin in January and walked out the owners of a new Malibu V-Ride.