"Yacht Surfing Lake Powell" By: Jason Lybeck
By: Jason Lybeck
I was lucky enough to be invited out to Lake Powell by my good friend, Chris Trimner for a Yacht Surfing experience like no other. Chris and I have been friends since meeting at the 10,000 lakes wakesurf contest back in 2011. Also joining us was long time friend, and Faction team rider, Jade Whirley. It is always a great time to get together with these guys and surf, even if it is December.
Arriving at Lake Powell after an all-nighter drive, we were welcomed in by Curtis and his crew who do a lot of advertising production for the Maverik gas station chain. With the slogan “Adventures First Stop”, I could see why we were here in 40 degree weather surfing behind a 68’ yacht when the lake was more or less void of any boating activity. It was going to be an adventure to say the least!
Curtis had set the boat up to surf before but only the goofy side of the boat, It was time for us to go out and set up the boat for the group of regular riders that had come down from Park City, UT. Now I’m not sure exactly how much water we
pumped into those 6 fat sacs on the rear portside of the boat, but it definitely made that Yacht lean! We filled sacs for a good 30-45 minutes and at last, water above the rub rail on the port side looked good to me!
We fired up the twin diesel engines and the yacht took off up to 17 MPH with a slight port side turn, the result was a massive shoulder high wave! I was the guinea pig to try out the wave on my Phase 5 Drew Diamond and they towed me into the wave with a PWC. At first it was a bit tricky, but it didn’t take long to figure out that I had to ride in tight with the skim board at 17mph. The water was chilly but it didn’t really matter at that point, coming from MN we are used to that right?! I took a few runs and a few licks with that big transition and it was a truly exhilarating experience. I don’t know if I can fully describe the feeling of ripping behind a yacht with a big wave but I can tell you it’s a once in a lifetime experience!
After I was out of the water and sitting in the Centurion FX-44 I got to watch my buddies take a rip at this beast. Trimner ripped the wave on his Wake Wood board while Jade Whirley took it to another level on his Slingshot Wakeboard…..yes I said wakeboard! He was riding the wave with no rope pulling never been done tricks(to the best of my knowledge). I was witnessing history at this point and truly feel blessed to have been there with my friends to have this experience.
The next day Grant and Aaron Witherell showed up along with Nick Scott. This was a killer crew to surf with! The Witherells had a couple Lib Tech surfboards that were destined to surf that wake and I personally had a blast on the 5’2” board that Aaron had. Grant took his board and we set up a “V-surf” between the FX-44 and the Yacht. It was a sight to behold as the wakes converged to make an overhead wake for Grant to ride and he could surf between both of the wakes!
Once all of the riding was done we quickly changed into dry clothes to escape the 40 degree air temps of Lake Powell in December. I must thank Burl for having the endurance to drive in circles for a couple days, Curtis for inviting us out on this adventure, and all of my friends for making it a killer trip and good times as always. If ever you have the chance to get behind a yacht take full advantage of it. IT will be a surf wave you’ll never forget!
