Water lovers with ocean envy are getting hooked on wake surfiing and creating their own mini-waves with their MasterCraft boats. Here's the low-down on the basics:

SPEED: Relatively slow - about 10 mph - to churn up big wakes without outrunning the surfer.

LINE LENGTH: A short rope to get you about 10 feet behind the boat onto a beefy section of the wake, yet as far as possible from the boat's exhaust. Be sure to use a proper wake surf rope. DO NOT use the thin, nonstretch ropes used for wakeboarding.

DRIVING TIPS: Adjust ballast and passengers to favor the stern, though not so much as to risk taking on water. Keep straight and steady with no sudden slowdowns.

What a wake surfer does first: Figure out wich wake, the left or right, offers the most natural riding for you and the best definition.

What to do next: Create your own fusion of skate, wakeboard and surf moves...Hang Ten dude!

Remember to always wear your PFD!

Content courtesy of WSIA (Water Sports Industry Association).  Visit them online at:  www.wsia.net