speed really depends on how much you weigh. for a typical adultmale you need to be going about 40 mph. as for getting up - there are several different ways you can try to learn. Off of a boom would be the easiest, but I don't know if you've got one available to you or if your boat is even capable of rockin one.
Assuming you don't have a boom I would recommend going off of a 75 or 100 foot rope. you don't want to use the 45 or 50 footer that you wakeboard with cause the water is pretty chopped that close to the boat. you can either start off of a kneeboard (easiest) or stepping off of a slalom ski. (You'll get owned a lot harder off of a ski.) Get up on the kneeboard and then get off of your knees so you are sitting on your ass with your feet obviously in front of you. Once you're in this position have the boat pick up speed. Once the water starts getting hard you'll want to GENTLY place your heels in the water. I can't emphasize that enough - if you jam your feet you're gonna get fucked. Keep your knees bent and your back straight. you should be in a chair position. Slowly transfer your weight to your feet. The water should be hard enough that it almost does it for you once you start to put weight on your feet.
One other point to make - keep your toes up. you catch a toe and you'll end up like these dudes in the middle:
when this happens you can kiss all of your oxygen goodbye.
good luck dude...let me know once you get thru the first part if you want any more pointers.
first run this year
