What is wake surfing?
Wake surfing is a sport where a rider surfs the wake very closely behind an inboard boat. A good wakesurfer is able to stay in the sweet spot of the wave without being attached to the boat. Too many boats on the water? Windy? Wake surfing is a fun way to spend the day when you do not have glassy water to go wakeboarding. There is also plenty of potential for the passengers on the boat to have close up views of some great wipeouts.
Choose the Right Wakesurfer
Consider the length, rocker and rails when picking out a wakesurfer. Learn about boats for wake surfing and check out wake surfing accessories such as ropes and ballast bags.
Length
Wakesurfers are measured in feet and inches like surfboards. There are no strict length recommendations. Below are guidelines for choosing a bigger or smaller wakersurfer.
Bigger Wakesurfer - Bigger wakesurfers have more surface area and more float, which means they work well for heavier riders. If you are riding behind a boat that throws a smaller wake, choose a bigger board. Larger wakesurfers move more slowly through the water and are easier for beginners to learn on.
Smaller Wakesurfer - Smaller wakesurfers are more maneuverable, spry and faster on the wave. Good for more advanced riders and lighter weight riders. Big wakes will support use of a smaller wakesurfer.
Rocker
Less rocker makes your board faster on the wake and give you a smoother feel.
More rocker causes your wakesurfer to be slower and tend to plow through the water but react more dramatically with the wave.
Rails
Just like a surfboard in the ocean a thinner rail on a wakesurfer bites into the boat wave and is faster, quicker and less forgiving. Thicker rails are slower and more forgiving.
Shop Wakesurfers
Rope and Handles for Wake Surfing
Wake surfing rope/handle combinations are shorter and thicker than standard wakeboard ropes. You will use the rope to get up and into the wake. The width allows you to use the rope to pull yourself forward into the wave. Once you are in the wave you can throw the rope back to the boat. Wakeboard ropes are too skinny to hang on to directly and they have the potential to tangle around your arms or legs causing injury.
The Boat for Wake Surfing
Only wake surf behind boats with an inboard engine. Outboard engines expose the surfer to the prop, which, as you might have guessed, is extremely dangerous. Say there was a fight between you and the prop… We’re putting our money on the prop. Sorry.
Boat Speed for Wake Surfing
A good wake surfing speed is around 10 MPH, depending on your boat.
Ballast for Wake Surfing
For best experience wake surfing requires that you add additional ballast to one side of your boat to increase the wave size. Most common is weighting down the port (left) side of the boat. The prop wash is spinning off in a direction that makes this side of the boat most desirable for surfing. Some boats have internal ballast systems which fill tanks with water to weigh down the boat. You can also add weight with external water ballast in ballast bags. Other forms of additional weight include your fat brother Bob, heavy bricks, bowling balls and anything else you can think of. The nice feature of the water ballast is that you can get rid of the weight easily and it doesn’t roll around like the bowling ball. Ok, seriously, maybe don’t use the bowling ball.
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Learn more with our other wake guides below:
How to Choose a Wakeboard & Wakeboard Size Chart
How to Choose a Wakeboard Boot & Bindings Size Guide
How to Choose a Wakeskate & Wakeskate Size Chart
How to Choose a Wake Vest (Life Jacket) & Size Guide
How to Choose Ropes, Handles & Size Guide
Compatibility info for wakeboards and boots
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We carry top brands: Hyperlite, Ronix, Liquid Force, CWB, Byerly Wakeboards, Straight Line, Proline, O’Neill, XCEL, Jetpilot as well as others. If you have additional questions give us a call at 1-866-386-1590.
