Mission Delta Wakesurf Shaper

Mission accomplished with the Mission Delta Wakesurf Shaper.  In a new and exploding inland surf sport era you can spend over $100K for a state of the art surf boat and the latest wakesurfing technology.  Or with the new Delta Wakesurf Shaper, you can spend a little less than $500, for a $100K wave.  "Wakesurfing made simple?"  Yep!!  Ever since Malibu Boats introduced the concept of water displacement with a side to side wedge system the doors have been opened for shaping devices like the Delta that do just that.  No need for velcro or anything, you can just suction cup this to the opposite side of the boat that you want to surf on and enjoy the ride.  

• STEP 1:  Place the Mission Delta on the opposite side of the one you will be surfing on
• STEP 2:  Place the device as far in the water as it will go and towards the back of the boat
• STEP 3:  SURF!  *Make sure you use the safety cord in case the device comes off.

What We Dig:

• The concept of wake displacement simplified with a single, easy to use device
• The wake was longer and cleaner on both sides
• No harm to your boat, it literally suctions on the side and then you can release the suction valves for an easy disconnect.  
• Comes with a zip up bag for storage and a safety leash that you can harness to your cleat or swim platform in case the device comes off while surfing
• Compared to other devices we have tested, the Delta device only came off and un-suctioned from the boat a couple of times.  As a non-permanent device with tons of water being forced upon at all times we thought that its suction power was pretty incredible.  Sure, from time to time the device might come off, but maybe it was not placed on properly the first time.  

Our test boat was a Sanger 237 Surf Series with oversized surf trim tabs.  What we noticed on these boats is that you will want to keep the tabs in the middle.  Think about the concept of evenly weighting down your boat so that there is equal displacement on both the regular and goofy sides.  The only downside to the system and all of the new surf systems is your MPG.  You will notice that your RPM's will be about 5% higher.

Boat technology 101:  Boat propellors only go 1 way.  Which way does your propellor go?  Does it rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise?  In general, most towboats have a counter-clockwise rotation which produces a better wave on the port side of the boat for regular footed surfers and not as good of a wave on the opposite side.  This was an issue facing towboats for years, how can we make the wave better for goofy footers?  The greatest advantage to using the Mission Delta is that the wave is just as good now on the opposite side, in fact, based on our experiments, it is even better than the regular wave.

Test student, Tara, surfing on the opposite prop rotation side with Mission Delta engaged

Check out their website for tons of different pictures and videos and different boats.  There is a clear difference using the same amount of ballast and then placing this device in the water.  Check out missionboatgear.com.

GoofBoard

The GoofBoard models, both Classic and Freestyle, are great boards for every skill level from beginner to pro. It is easy for anyone to use because it has a simple design that allows riders of all ages to use it.  Both boards give riders a chance to practice surf, balance and even skateboard skills but they are very different style boards. The Freestyle version is fun because you can do tricks that are more difficult than on the Classic version. You have many options of riding the Freestyle version – nose to tail and rail to rail. The Classic comes with a long board feel that simulates carving small waves while the Freestyle gives a fast short board feel with different maneuvers and tricks to do.

I tried a variety of tricks on each board. I tried walking around the board to get the feel for it and then tried to recover from any wobble or sliding around. From there I did body varials and rode the board backside and then went back to regular.

One really cool aspect of the Classic board is that it has suggested foot placement patterns on the bottom of the board with a website to learn more about using it along with a how-to video for beginners. It’s a very different stance than the smaller Freestyle board and much more like riding an actual surfboard.

Both boards are fun to use and offer a challenge to any skill level. Check out their website at www.goofboard.com. 

By: Parker Payne