Boat setup
Ballast
Added weight (water-filled bags or hard weights) placed in the boat to sink the hull deeper and build a bigger, more defined wake.
Ballast is the weight added to a wake boat to increase its displacement, pushing the hull deeper into the water so it throws a larger, steeper, more surfable wake. Most wakesurf setups call for roughly 800 to 1,800 pounds depending on boat, rider weight, and style. Modern boats use built-in ballast tanks or bags that fill with lake water; older or smaller boats add lead, sandbags, or people.
Where ballast sits matters as much as how much: stern weight builds a taller, steeper, shorter wave, while bow weight flattens the wave slightly but lengthens and smooths it. Riders tune the balance to shape the wave they want.