I had just finished ordering a cord of firewood to help relieve the pressure on my home’s heater during an out-of-character January cold spell in San Diego when the folks at Nautique called and invited me out for some 80-degree weather and 72-degree water in sunny Orlando. The occasion was the introduction of the new Nautique Surf System, which enables Nautique boats to produce a sizeable wakesurfing wake without requiring the participants to move weight from one side of the boat to the other.

Despite the fact that previous commitments meant I’d be making a 24-hour cross-country jaunt, how could I pass up a chance to watch Team Nautique wakesurfer Tommy Czeschin, as well as Scott Byerly, Shawn Watson and Jeff McKee, demonstrate what can be done on the new NSS-enhanced wakesurf wakes behind the 2013 Super Air Nautique 230 and Super Air Nautique G23 boats?

It was a great opportunity to really check out the Nautique Surf System because I was able to see how it works both out of the water and in the water. The G25 sat in the front yard of Nautique CEO Bill Yeargin as the finer details of how it works were explained. The basic concept is to redirect water coming off the back of one side of the boat’s hull in order to create a larger wakesurf wake on the opposite side. This is a concept similar to the idea behind Malibu’s Surf Gate, but executed in a different way.

Nautique utilizes electronic pistons to slide a plate outward and downward from the rear of the hull. Just how far the plate moves out is adjustable depending on the shape and size you want for your wakesurf wake. NSS is integrated into the Nautique LINC computer system and works in concert with the Nautique Configurable Running Surface (NCRS) to provide a wide variety of wakesurf wake shapes and sizes. In fact, NSS can be retrofitted for 2012 Nautique models that already have the LINC system for around $2,600 plus labor.

NSS only works when the speed control is engaged and set at 13 MPH or below. Once the boat is up to speed, the NSS kicks in (or out in this case) and you see the wakesurf wake appear before your eyes. You can even switch sides while underway, which opens a brand new arena of “transfer” tricks that can be done from one side of the wake to the other. A transfer requires a bit of coordination between driver and rider, but the guys were already working on some transfer moves despite having spent just a few hours at most behind the new NSS. If not for a broken finger and a tight schedule, I would have gotten out there and taken advantage of the fun as well!

NSS gives each boat model a distinct wake shape because of the different hull shapes. We looked at the NSS on a 230 hull, which gave the wave a more rounded, rampy shape, and on a G23 hull, which gave the wave a sharper, lippier shape.

It’s really incredible how much boat manufacturers are pushing wakesurfing these last few years. The Nautique Surf System joins a market that has seen the release Malibu’s Surf Gate and Tige’s Convex VX in just the last six months alone! Wakesurfers have never seen this much R&D put into the sport and they’re bound to benefit greatly from it. Well, it’s boat show season, so get out there and check ‘em out for yourself! Find out more about the Nautique Surf System at Nautique.com.