You've watched them for years on television and in magazines, the tanned and toned "surfistas" who work their "sticks" into the swells fronting exotic ocean backdrops.

In fact, it's always been your secret dream to shred the waves with the same fearless intensity as these board-shorted bandoleras. Sadly, you live nowhere near the coast, and the closest you  come to big surf is a periodic visit to the Pacific Sun beachwear store at your local shopping mall. You figure your days as a wave jockey are limited to short-rip sessions while on vacation. Unless, that is, you're gonzo enough to hop on board and boogie on the continuous wave created by a boat.

"People have been wakesurfing forever," says Jeff Page, wakesurfing aficionado and owner of Inland Surfer ( www.inlandsurfer.com ). "It was the first board sport. Then they decided to put foot straps on boards, and everyone went wakeboard crazy. But now, wakesurfing is making a comeback."

All you need is an inboard-powered boat, a tow line and a surfboard. (You should never wakesurf behind an outboard or sterndrive craft for reasons we'll discuss later.) Of course, like any sport, you can also get specialized gear to step up your game: true wake surfboards, custom tow ropes and ballast bags for making fatter waves.

"People are starting to wakesurf again because all their friends can join in," Page says. "It's low-impact and doesn't revolve around complex tricks. Once you  get up, it's exhilarating, like being  on the ocean. Plus, there's the romance of being a part of the whole surf scene."

Here's what you need to know to catch the wave behind a boat  so you can ride forever, or at least until your friends kick you off because it's their turn.

THE GEAR


It's best to buy a board designed especially for wakesurfing. "You can use a traditional surfboard, but they're made for bigger waves and mush out behind a boat," says Page. Wake surfboards are generally smaller, tougher and flatter.

There are two kinds: conventional boards (5 to 6 feet) for free riding  and skimboards (3 to 5 feet) for tricks. Prices range from about  $150 to $350. First-timers should consider Liquid Force's 5-foot-6-inch Venture wake surfboard ( www.liquidforce.com ). For under $40, you can buy a wakesurfing tow rope (available at www.westmarine.com, www.overtons.com and other marine supply stores). These are shorter and thicker than wakeboarding ropes, and have smaller handles, which is important because wakesurfers can sometimes accelerate ahead of the handle, and you don't want to get tangled if you fall.

Serious wakesurfing can require added weight on the side of the boat you intend to surf - usually the port side - thereby creating a bigger wave. Ballast bags that fill up to 600 pounds of water cost about $160. "Or, if you're going out with friends for a full day on the water, you can put all the people and gear on one side of the boat," says Page.

THE BOAT


Never wakesurf behind an outboard or sterndrive vessel. Period. Because wakesurfers follow only 4 to 7 feet behind the craft,  they're in much greater danger of falling into the prop than wakeboarders. Inboard boats have the prop tucked under the hull. "It's also smart to have a good rearview mirror so the driver can focus on what's ahead of him instead of turning to look over his shoulder all the time," Page says. "Having a boat with

PerfectPass or some kind of speed control is great, because once you get the rider up, you can lock in that speed and concentrate on driving." Set your speed around 10 mph.

The wake should be crisp and have volume. Internal ballast systems on many modern inboard towboats let you easily sculpt the wake at the push of a button. Just be sure the driver always turns toward the side with all the weight, or you risk swamping.

GETTING UP


Standing sans bindings is the part that scares most new riders. The key is to start in the water on the side of the boat you plan to surf. Lie on your back and bring your knees up to your chest. Let the board float in front of you, perpendicular to the boat. Rest your heels on the edge closest to you, with your toes pointed up and your feet shoulder-width apart.

When the boat accelerates and the rope tightens, put slight pressure on your heels, which will flip the board up to meet your feet. Keep your arms straight in front of you and your knees pulled up. Ride like this until the board begins to plane and you come out of the water. Apply pressure with your back foot to point the board at the boat. Then, slowly stand up.

At first, you may want to just ride outside the wake while holding the rope to get your balance and find your footing. "Practice edging back and forth, and once you get used to it, you'll feel more comfortable about dropping in on the wake," says Page. "Then the real surfing comes."

FINDING THE SWEET SPOT


This is the section of the wake that generates power to keep you moving forward by yourself, allowing you to drop the rope to free-ride. "If you have a small inboard, the sweet spot will be closer to the transom," Page says. "On a bigger boat, the sweet spot is farther back. It's usually about 1 or 2 feet behind the wake's rooster tail."

Move into the sweet spot by pulling the rope with your forward hand while keeping the handle in your other hand. (You can coil any excess line and hold it in your back hand, but don't let it dangle or wrap it around your hand.) You'll know you've found the sweet spot when the line goes consistently slack. Do your best to keep the rope this way and ride for a while.

"Learn to rock back and forth gently, and maintain that one area on the wave. Don't throw the rope right away," says Page. "What happens with a lot of beginners is they feel the sweet spot, throw the rope, and then they lose it and fall."

If you lose the sweet spot, you can speed up or slow down by applying pressure with your feet: When you put weight on your back foot, you slow down. When you put weight on your front foot, you speed up. Pumping the front foot on the board helps to maintain speed.

Be patient. Unless you're an experienced surfer, you probably won't catch the wave on your first try - or even your second.

Just hang onto the handle and have fun. "It takes most beginners at least a couple of tries to get it right," says Page. "Once you can ride across the lake a few times with the rope slack, it's time to throw it to the other side of the wake and surf. There's an indescribable freedom about gliding effortlessly all by yourself.