Act of Stupidity

[HellRaZoR004]

Wow...I'm almost speechless. Darwin at its finest.

http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelinde...9-8336b42590cc

[ITD]

So stupid on so many levels.....

[tis]

That's not real. Can't be.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Real or not, he's a dolt. I call BS on this video after watching his right windshield and the landscape barely moving even though the engines are making wake. That being said, nothing would surprise me. Darwin was so correct with natural selection being the reason why some species survive while others perish!

[Bear Islander]

The real purpose of the video is to have it go viral, which apparently it has. The idea is to show someone doing a thing so dangerous and idiotic that millions will watch it.

In all likelihood there is someone on the bow or just out of site below the console or in both positions. There is evidence that the operator is not a complete moron, he puts on a life vest.

It's a scam.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

The real purpose of the video is to have it go viral, which apparently it has. The idea is to show someone doing a thing so dangerous and idiotic that millions will watch it.

In all likelihood there is someone on the bow or just out of site below the console or in both positions. There is evidence that the operator is not a complete moron, he puts on a life vest.

It's a scam.

Yes, I thought of that too BI, but there are probably millions of impressionable youngsters and some not so bright adults who probably think it looks cool and might try to emulate it without taking some type of precaution against a runaway boat, it's pretty stupid if you just consider that.....

[Happy Gourmand]

At least he was wearing a PFD!!

[chipj29]

I think that has to be one of the top 5 dumbest things I have ever seen.

[Happy Gourmand]

I would like to think that there was somebody else on that boat and this was done to see how viral it would go.
If not, then, ya, that is one dumb dude worthy of some kind of special award.

[AC2717]

true and agree, but unfortuantley the Darwins only get given out when something happens

[RailroadJoe]

If you apply Newtons Laws of Motion, you would realize that once he lets go of the rope he would slow down and sink.

[Par Four]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

If you apply Newtons Laws of Motion, you would realize that once he lets go of the rope he would slow down and sink.

Depending upon the size & shape of the wake (mantle?) behind the boat couldn't he be surfing downhill towards the back of the boat and be able to match speed?

Juries still out with me as to whether or not its been photo-shopped.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

If you apply Newtons Laws of Motion, you would realize that once he lets go of the rope he would slow down and sink.

He is wake surfing, not wake boarding as the video title mentions. That part of the video was normal, being driverless not so much. I am sure someone was either sitting below the dash or off to the side just in case. That boat is only traveling 8-10mph to achieve that wake and ride. Wake surfing is low speed, low impact. Wakeboarding is twice that speed.

[NoBozo]

I liked the Video Following the wakeboarding video..The one with the kid on the bicycle slamming into the back of the car he was being "Towed" behind. Classic. You just can't make this stuff up. People.....As a society ...WE are OVER. NB

[This'nThat]

Of course this is a complete fake. The Laws of Physics won't allow this to happen.

First, Newton's Laws: For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. The action, in this case, is the boat going forward. The reaction is -- the water that is pushed backwards. The boat's propeller is pushing a lot of water backwards. Which will prevent the "surfer" from moving forward without the assistance of the rope tow. He's trying to make us believe the small wake behind the boat is sufficient to overcome this propeller wash. It isn't -- big time.

Second, gravity isn't assisting the "surfer" in this video. During ocean wave surfing, the surfer actually uses gravity to propel forward. Gravity is made available by the constantly increasing size of the wave. As an ocean wave approaches shore, it becomes higher as a result of the wave's energy traveling over more and more shallow conditions. The wave's energy causes the wave size to increase and turn nearly vertical. The surfer rides this front edge of the wave, and essentially continues to "fall" as the wave pushes him to shore. Without this effect, a wave is essentially non-surfable (if that's a word). A boat wake isn't a surfable wave.

Basically, this video is trying to make us believe that the boat's forward momentum is causing a wave condition that is also moving forward at the boat's speed, and has sufficient energy to carry the surfer with it. Folks -- this is physically impossible.

[Par Four]

I have no traiing Physics, but I'm not sure I see what you're saying.

If the video is fake, it's pretty well done.

How is this different than the surfers on the cruise ships?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Par Four

I have no training in Physics, but I'm not sure I see what you're saying.

If the video is fake, it's pretty well done.

How is this different than the surfers on the cruise ships?

Add a full crew and a skipper at the helm, I watched this identical activity two days ago in Winter Harbor.

It's "wake-surfing", and there's no scientific reason it can't be done solo, as the camera has clearly captured.

More on Winnipesaukee "wake-surfing" from 3 years ago:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...4&postcount=10

[RailroadJoe]

On a cruise ship, the surfer isn't moving, the water is. With the surfer standing still, the force of the water being driven at him will create the wave's force strong enough for him to stand.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by This'nThat

Of course this is a complete fake. The Laws of Physics won't allow this to happen.

First, Newton's Laws: For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. The action, in this case, is the boat going forward. The reaction is -- the water that is pushed backwards. The boat's propeller is pushing a lot of water backwards. Which will prevent the "surfer" from moving forward without the assistance of the rope tow. He's trying to make us believe the small wake behind the boat is sufficient to overcome this propeller wash. It isn't -- big time.

Second, gravity isn't assisting the "surfer" in this video. During ocean wave surfing, the surfer actually uses gravity to propel forward. Gravity is made available by the constantly increasing size of the wave. As an ocean wave approaches shore, it becomes higher as a result of the wave's energy traveling over more and more shallow conditions. The wave's energy causes the wave size to increase and turn nearly vertical. The surfer rides this front edge of the wave, and essentially continues to "fall" as the wave pushes him to shore. Without this effect, a wave is essentially non-surfable (if that's a word). A boat wake isn't a surfable wave.

Basically, this video is trying to make us believe that the boat's forward momentum is causing a wave condition that is also moving forward at the boat's speed, and has sufficient energy to carry the surfer with it. Folks -- this is physically impossible.

First off, you apparently have never surfed a rapid in a canoe or kayak before. The growing size of the wave is not what moves the surfer. It is a balance between gravity, friction and the velocity of the water. The only reason the surfer moves on an ocean wave is because the wave is changing its position in relation to the shore. If the wave stays in the same position relative to the boat, then there is no reason this is not possible.

Second, you are focusing on the wrong action. it is not that the boat is moving forward, it is that the water is being propelled backwards. That force is what creates the wave.

Based on your theory, this would be impossible!
http://youtu.be/WCDuIJMrLbo

[NH_boater]

Originally Posted by This'nThat

Of course this is a complete fake. The Laws of Physics won't allow this to happen.

First, Newton's Laws: For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. The action, in this case, is the boat going forward. The reaction is -- the water that is pushed backwards. The boat's propeller is pushing a lot of water backwards. Which will prevent the "surfer" from moving forward without the assistance of the rope tow. He's trying to make us believe the small wake behind the boat is sufficient to overcome this propeller wash. It isn't -- big time.

Second, gravity isn't assisting the "surfer" in this video. During ocean wave surfing, the surfer actually uses gravity to propel forward. Gravity is made available by the constantly increasing size of the wave. As an ocean wave approaches shore, it becomes higher as a result of the wave's energy traveling over more and more shallow conditions. The wave's energy causes the wave size to increase and turn nearly vertical. The surfer rides this front edge of the wave, and essentially continues to "fall" as the wave pushes him to shore. Without this effect, a wave is essentially non-surfable (if that's a word). A boat wake isn't a surfable wave.

Basically, this video is trying to make us believe that the boat's forward momentum is causing a wave condition that is also moving forward at the boat's speed, and has sufficient energy to carry the surfer with it. Folks -- this is physically impossible.

I think the physics make this very possible. I think this is real. I think the camera work implies he is the only person on board, which I expect is the only fake part. The wave is just like a surfing wave, moving forward and producing a surf-able shape, propelling the surfer.

[codeman671]

We see wake surfers every day right in front of the house. These arguments about it being physically impossible as viewed are nonsense.

We have owned numerous wakeboard boats as well. In wake surfing depth is important, you actually have to be in 30-40 feet of water I am told as the plowing of the boat and shape of the wake are not as good in shallow depths. The wave action actually extends quite a bit under the surface.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

If you apply Newtons Laws of Motion, you would realize that once he lets go of the rope he would slow down and sink.

Ski boats today are designed to create bigger wakes for extreme airial tricks. Most ski boat have holding tanks so they can fill up with water from the lake to make the boat heavier and cause a bigger wake. They also have a wedge in the back that can be adjusted to create a bigger wake directly behind the boat. If you get behind the boat and catch the sweet spot of the large wake feet from the boat, you can surf forever as long as you can keep control.

[Misty Blue]

I will make an asumption. That the story is real and that this guy did what it shows him doing and that the camera was mounted in an UNMANNED vessel under way, under power. Even if it is a fake, some young one may try it himself.

While on the board he had no control of the boat. If he fell the boat would have gone along without a pilot and possibly killed some one. That my friends, I think, is the really stupid part.

It does look like fun!

PS. ITD, were you behind Scotts' boat? If so, did he know that you were there?

Misty Blue.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Misty Blue

I will make an asumption. That the story is real and that this guy did what it shows him doing and that the camera was mounted in an UNMANNED vessel under way, under power. Even if it is a fake, some young one may try it himself.

While on the board he had no control of the boat. If he fell the boat would have gone along without a pilot and possibly killed some one. That my friends, I think, is the really stupid part.

It does look like fun!

PS. ITD, were you behind Scotts' boat? If so, did he know that you were there?

Misty Blue.

You lost me there at the end Misty, what are talking about?

[Misty Blue]

ITD:

I have a pal, Scott who has a large cruiser, I think a bertram, that he uses for wake surfing. He lives by Black Cat I and I thought that you may know him. As for the "did he know that you were there?". The plan is if the MP pull you over while doing this the Captain can say "Where did he come from?".

Misty Blue

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Misty Blue

ITD:

I have a pal, Scott who has a large cruiser, I think a bertram, that he uses for wake surfing. He lives by Black Cat I and I thought that you may know him. As for the "did he know that you were there?". The plan is if the MP pull you over while doing this the Captain can say "Where did he come from?".

Misty Blue

Ha, ha, ha, no Misty, it was in Maine, tubing behind a friends Bertram 52. The wake looked like a mountain, it was quite an experience.

[Retired Ole Guy]

Never a Hungry Great White around when you need one