Wakesurfing is a water sport in which a surfer trails behind an inboard ski boat, surfing the boat's wake without being directly attached to the boat. The wake from the boat mimics the look and feel of an actual ocean wave. Wakesurfers ride these wakes just like an ocean surfer.

Wakesurfing works best with a ballasted wakeboat, and the boat speed should be kept fairly slow (around 9 to 14mph). When wake surfing, the rider uses a tow rope to pull themselves out of the water. A wake surf board is designed for use in this sport, but some people also use traditional surfboards.

Low-impact sport

Unlike wakeboarding, the sport of wakesurfing is low impact, which means it causes less damage to your body. While you won't be using your wake surfboard to jump ten feet in the air, you can use it to practice. You also won't be subject to heavy landings that can really jar your knees and the muscles in your legs. Wakesurfing is a great sport in itslef, and is also good for building up strength and stamina for wakeboarding.

The History of Wakesurfing

Wakesurfing was one of the first "behind speed boat" sports that was invented. Wakesurfing actually started before wakeboarding. Originally, a wake surf board was only a 9" long board behind an aluminum "john-boat." The wake surfers couldn't let go of the rope for longer than a couple of seconds to surf the wake. Nowadays, riders can let go of the rope for longer, and use it to help them do all sorts of tricks.

You don't need perfectly still water for wakesurfing, and can use your wake surfboard on a choppy lake. All you need is some fat ballast and a few wakeboarding budding to enjoy the fun!