Wake, Surf, Repeat
Part 3
Catch a wave with adventurous ZF client Marcos Moran, founder of Gator Bait Wakeboard School, Miami's top wakeboarding and wake surfing school. Learn about his unique business and life on the water, from driving for international wakeboarding competitions to teaching students ages 4 to 70+. Also a MasterCraft consultant, Marcos's expertise ensures each of his athletes has an exceptional and safe experience.
Wakeboarding instructor, former tournament driver, and ZF gear enthusiast Marcos Moran has made Gator Bait Wakeboard School the go-to spot for water sports in the Miami area. Students flock to Gator Bait’s scenic Key Biscayne location from all over for expert instruction in wakeboarding, wake surfing, and water skiing, eager for the challenges and thrills of it all.
Operating seven days a week, year-round,the crew gives lessons. A standard lesson includes up to six students at a time—and a “student” covers a wide range.
The youngest adventurers that Gator Bait teaches are four-year-olds. “They start on wakeboards because they’re easier to control than skis,” says Marcos. But the adventurous come in all forms: “We’ve even had people in their late 70s do it,” he added. “We usually have them wake surf, not wakeboard.” He explains, “As long as they lean forward, they can get up. Tons of people who are older do it.”
Yet he does admit to having a class favorite:
Efficiency on the Water
Anyone who has ever done a water sport knows the monumental energy and strength it takes to ride for more than even a few minutes. The inherent exhaustion that comes with it is something that Marcos and his team have developed strategies for to help students minimize fatigue and maximize fun.
“I’ve developed techniques that help people not waste so much energy,” he says. “We’ll show them how to lean and how to position their arms, and that way they can go a lot longer. After we see they’ve had a couple of passes, we’ll stop the boat whether they’ve fallen or not, and we’ll give them some tips to improve their skills and a minute to catch their breath.”
The vessel has a critical role in this strategy. “The speed plays into that because if you drive the boat too slow, it’s really tiring for them. But if you drive the boat too fast, the falls can be uncomfortable.”
Student successes are shared by Marcos; they drive his fulfillment and commitment as an instructor. He says that most bad student experiences are due to inexperienced drivers, which is why he takes his boat and gear as seriously as the lesson itself.
Gator Bait’s four identical 24’ MasterCraft wake boats are outfitted with Ilmor 6.2L GDI engines and paired with ZF’s 68 IV transmission—known to deliver exceptionally smooth responses to driver input.
When the boats reach between 400-500 hours of use, Marcos replaces them with new ones, outfitted with the same high-performance, highly reliable propulsion.
Every Safeguard, Every Ride
Although falling can be discouraging, the most common fear Marcos hears from newcomers is that of sharks. To quell those fears, Marcos explains the geographic area and that, despite being the ocean, it doesn’t mean sharks are everywhere. Moreover, his crew is exceptionally well-versed in the waters and would never put students in danger. Lessons are given in ten feet of water in a bay—much different than the ocean at large.
Because the location is considered a navigable waterway, Marcos is also a certified U.S. Coast Guard Captain. All of his employees are required to obtain the same license, for which Marcos volunteers to cover the cost. It’s a two-week course which also includes lifeguarding, CPR and first aid training, so riders can be assured from every angle that they’re in safe hands.
Shifting Forward
In recent years, wakesurfing has overtaken wakeboarding as the most popular water sport at Gator Bait. It now makes up 80 percent of the business and has become Marcos’s personal favorite. Wakesurfing is known to be lighter on the body and doesn’t necessitate calm waters like wakeboarding does. Therefore, it’s a more accessible sport to all.
Maintaining access to the water is what Marcos is all about. While the current demanding pace of business keeps him very occupied, he does consider expanding to Miami Beach and beyond when the time is right. For now, he’s content to let the sunrises and sunsets frame his days, while he drives for the love of water sports and anyone who wants to learn to ride.
Read the Full Series
Read all three articles in our series about Gator Bait Wakeboard School and their MasterCraft boats outfitted with ZF transmissions.
Part 1: A Lifestyle of Making Waves
Part 2: Torque, Tricks & Tournaments
Part 3: Wake, Surf, Repeat
