View source for Wakeboarding

{{short description|Surface water sport}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Waterboarding]], a form of torture, or [[Water skiing]]}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=July 2019}}
{{Original research|date=July 2019}}
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[[File:CH.ZG.Zug Boardstock 2008-07-27 Wakeboarder 27 16x9-R 4K.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A person wakeboarding in Zug, Switzerland]]
'''Wakeboarding''' is a water sport in which the rider, standing on a wakeboard (a board with foot bindings), is towed behind a motorboat across its wake and especially up off the crest in order to perform aerial maneuvers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wakeboard|title=Definition of WAKEBOARD|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> A hallmark of wakeboarding is the attempted performance of midair tricks. Wakeboarding was developed from a combination of [[water skiing]], [[snowboarding]] and [[surfing]] techniques.

The rider is usually towed by a rope behind a boat, but can also be towed by cable systems and winches, and be pulled by other motorized vehicles like personal watercraft, cars, trucks, and all-terrain vehicles. The gear and [[wakeboard boat]] used are often personalized to each rider's liking.

Though natural watercourses such as rivers, lakes and areas of open water are generally used in wakeboarding, it is possible to wakeboard in unconventional locations, such as flooded roads and car parks, using a car as the towing vehicle.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Wakeboarding on a flooded road|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-25665314|access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Watkins|first=James|date=2018-08-10|title=Canoeing and wakeboarding in Guildford Bedford Road car park|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/caneoing-wakeboarding-through-surrey-floods-6472186|access-date=2020-11-15|website=SurreyLive|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Locals wakeboard and kayak down flooded Napier streets|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/locals-wakeboard-and-kayak-down-flooded-napier-streets|access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref>

Wakeboarding is done for pleasure and competition, ranging from freestyle wakeboarding and wakeboard parks to wakeboard competitions at the [[X Games]], WWA Wakeboard World Championships, or similar events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fise.fr/fr/wakeboard-pro-top-5-fise-montpellier-2019|title=Wakeboard Pro Top 5 {{!}} FISE Montpellier 2019 {{!}} FISE|website=www.fise.fr|access-date=2019-11-09}}</ref> Though it had an obscure start, it is now the world's fastest-growing water sport.<ref>{{cite web |title=USA Wakeboard |url=https://www.usawaterski.org/pages/divisions/wakeboard/WakeboardHistory.htm |publisher=USA Water Ski and Wake Sports |access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref> 
The sport’s growth has averaged over 10% annually since 2010, outpacing nearly all other water sports.”<ref name="USAWW">USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, “About Us,” https://www.usawaterski.org/about-us (accessed 4 August 2025).</ref>

==History==

=== Mono Water Ski ===
[[File:Mono Waterski Slalom-course, Cypress Gardens, ca. 1950.webp|alt=a woman riding a mono waterski slalom-course, Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida, USA ca. 1950|thumb|a woman riding a mono-water-ski on a slalom-course in Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida, USA, ca. 1950]]
The sport that would later become wake boarding began as [[Water skiing|water-skiing]] with mono water skis (single water skis) in the USA around 1950. The main difference between mono water skis and contemporary wake boards is the shape of the board, the stance and - to a degree - the length of the rope. Waterskiing tends to emphasize keeping clear of the towboats wake and [[whitewater]] and using the calmer water-surface while wakeboarding attempts to use wake and whitewater as artificial wave and surf by using a shorter line. 

==== Surfboards as Mono ski ====
Wake surfing - using surfboards as mono water skis - began picking up traction around 1964, where it was seen as an "exciting new sport that's soon going to sweep the waterways."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Borden|first=Dick|date=April 1964|title=Make the most of your wake... ride it|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P6A9j6aZAo8C&pg=PA100-IA106|magazine=Popular Boating|publisher=Ziff-Davis Publishing Company|access-date=October 1, 2019}}</ref> Although surfboards were originally used, boards without straps or bindings were first seen in New Zealand with boards called "skurfboards".{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} Eventually, wake boards with bindings or straps were sold in Australia under the name "McSkis". Later, another company called "Skurfer" was founded by Tony Finn in 1985,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unleashedwakemag.com/tony-finn-inventor-wakeboarding/|title=TONY FINN {{!}} Inventor of wakeboarding {{!}}|date=2016-12-11|website=Unleashed Wake Mag|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-31}}</ref> named as such due to the board being a cross of a surfboard and a [[Water skiing|water ski]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The History of Water Sports: Wakeboarding|url=https://www.montereyboats.com/news/view/the-history-of-water-sports-wakeboarding/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.montereyboats.com}}</ref> The first board made in the early 1990's was the Hyper lite board by the O’Brien company,<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Wakeboarding: How it all got started |url=https://www.groovewatersports.com/blog/history-of-wakeboarding |publisher=Groove vest |access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref> a water ski manufacturer who marketed the board as a “compression-molded neutral-buoyancy wake board.”<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usawaterski.org/pages/divisions/wakeboard/WakeboardHistory.htm|title=Wakeboard|website=www.usawaterski.org|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> This was followed by a variety of boards that are curvier and more compact, creating a smoother ride.<ref name=":0" />

The wake board rope has advanced over the years with improvements in the material makeup. When wakeboarding first started, wakeboarders used ski rope, which was made with stretchy cloth or plastic ropes. The latter soon grew in popularity, and a braided rope made out of [[polypropylene]] was eventually introduced. A few years later{{when|date=October 2019}}, a rope that was less stretchy was invented that gave the rider a more consistent pull on the rope, though they were heavier and larger in diameter. Modern ropes are coated with Spectra and Dyneema, which decrease the stretch and drag of the rope.
==Equipment==
[[File:Wakeboarding-arakawariver-tokyo-2018-03.webm|thumb|Wakeboarding in [[Tokyo]], 2018]]
When wakeboarding, a wide variety of safety equipment is used. These include life vests or other buoyancy aids which prevent water-related injuries and deaths, as they keep the wearer buoyant until they are picked up. These vests especially help in situations where the rider is knocked unconscious or cannot tread water.<ref name="beginner-gear">{{Cite web|url=https://mpora.com/wakeboarding/wakeboarding-beginners-gear|title=What Essential Wakeboarding Gear Do I Need?|website=Mpora|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-20}}</ref> Furthermore, wakeboarders use water-resistant helmets that are able to ventilate water so that the helmets do not fill up with water.<ref name="beginner-gear"/> Even the length of a wakeboarder's rope is important in providing safety; if the rope is too long, a wakeboarder will land on the flat part of the wake instead of the downside, and their knees will buckle.

Wakeboards themselves are also important to consider when preparing to ride. Four of the most common wakeboard styles include the continuous rocker, the three-stage rocker, the five-stage rocker, and the hybrid rocker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wakeboarding |url=https://www.flypgs.com/en/extreme-sports/wakeboarding |publisher=Pegasus |access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref> Rocker refers to the curve of the board from head to tail and each type of board has a different placement and amount of curve that works best for different types of rides. The presence or absence of fins on the bottom of a board can also make a drastic difference in how it rides. Beginning riders are usually better off with deeper fins. Wakeboards can also vary in the amount of fins they have which can be up to 5. Fins will make it easier to turn and stay level for beginners but should be removed for tricks and spins since they can make it easier to catch an edge on a jump or during a spin.[https://www.wakemakers.com/blogs/resources/wakesurf-fins-explained#:~:text=The%20three%20fin%20setup%20known,to%20make%20big%20bottom%20turns.&text=A%20quad%20fin%20setup%20give%20your%20board%20acceleration%20and%20speed.] Another part of the wakeboard itself to consider is the size of the board and the material, which are usually a wood or foam core with a fiber glass or carbon fiber coating.<ref>{{cite web |title=What are the common types of wakeboards |url=https://www.wakesports.com/blogs/updates/what-are-the-common-types-of-wakeboards |publisher=Wakesports Unlimited |access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref>[https://www.saertex.com/en/services/references_overview/referenz/handmade-carbon-wakeboards#:~:text=HANDMADE%20CARBON%20WAKEBOARDS,fiber%20and%20a%20wooden%20core.]

At the same time, the length of a wakeboarding rope will vary based on the rider's preferences. Beginner ropes usually go from about 50’ to 75’ in total length, while more advanced riders will want a rope that goes from 65’ to 85’.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waterski Ropes Vs. Wakeboard Ropes |url=https://www.wakehouse.com/waterski-ropes-vs-wakeboard-ropes |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=WakeHouse |language=en}}</ref> A longer rope may allow for more preparation and momentum before performing tricks,<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|url=https://humanoidwake.com/wakeboard-rope/|title=Adjusting your wakeboard rope is the best kept secret to crush your trick list.|date=2018-08-15|website=Humanoid Wakeboards|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-20}}</ref> whereas a shorter rope may require less speed and height to travel between wakes.<ref name=":32" />
In addition to this, the material of the rope being used can make a significant difference in ride experience. General guidelines recommend 50–65 ft for beginners, 65–75 ft for intermediates, and 75–85 ft for advanced riders to align with the optimal wake ramp.”<ref name="EVOrope">Evo, “Towing Speed, Rope Length & How To Weight Your Boat,” https://www.evo.com/guides/wakeboarding-towing-speed-rope-length-ballast (accessed 4 August 2025).</ref> The less stretch in the rope, the better it is for the rider to learn how to ride and do various tricks. Some of the best rope materials include Dyneema, Poly E, and Spectra. Each of these is known for its abrasion resistance, affordability and absorption, and durability respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Choosing a Tow Rope for Wakeboarding |url=https://monstertower.com/blog/post/choosing-a-tow-rope-for-wakeboarding |publisher=Monster Tower |access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref>

==Tricks==
{{expand section|date=October 2019}}
When wakeboarding, a variety of tricks may be attempted. Most of these stem from the wakeboarder adjusting their posture, edge, and distribution of weight so as to fly into the air upon hitting the wake.<ref name=":52">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakeboarder.com/display.phtml?a=59|title=Learn The Progressive Toeside Edge - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News|website=www.wakeboarder.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref> Various tricks include the toeside edge,<ref name=":52" /> the heelside edge,<ref name=":62">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakeboarder.com/display.phtml?a=50|title=Learn the Progressive Heelside Edge - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News|website=www.wakeboarder.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref> the ride switch,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakeboarder.com/display.phtml?a=35|title=Learning To Ride Switch - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News|website=www.wakeboarder.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref> and the 180° spin.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakeboarder.com/display.phtml?a=33|title=Progressive Steps to Learn 180s - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News|website=www.wakeboarder.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref>

More advanced tricks call for what is known as inversion or “inverts”. An invert is considered any action where the board is above the head of the rider. This does not necessarily mean the rider is fully upside down, as evidenced by the Raley, a trick where the rider extends their body parallel to the water bending at the knees to achieve inversion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thewakeboardsite.com/tricklist.html|title=Wakeboard Trick List|website=thewakeboardsite.com|access-date=2020-02-27}}</ref>
The heel side backflip, otherwise known as a tantrum, is often regarded as the first and easiest invert to learn as an intermediate level rider. This is because the shape of the wake or the “kicker” (a type of floating ramp, used primarily at cable parks, that mimics the shape of a wake) naturally initiates the sequence of motions that are necessary to complete the trick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakeboarder.com/tricks/tantrum.phtml|title=Wakeboarder.com Tricks and Tips - Tantrum|website=www.wakeboarder.com|access-date=2020-02-27}}</ref>

==Community==
There are many different ways that people are engaged in this sport. Popular brands like Byerly, Hyperlight, O'Brien and Ronix provide ever evolving technology and equipment as well as quality advice for new and seasoned riders alike. Some of these brands also have active social media presence to reach more people and get them into the sport.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Wakeboarding |website=www.the-house.com |date=6 April 2013 |url=https://www.the-house.com/portal/history-of-wakeboarding/ |access-date=2022-02-16}}</ref>

=== Relationship to Kitesurfing ===
Many movements and tricks in wakeboarding bear close resemblance to moves also found in [[Kiteboarding|kitesurfing]]. This is reflected in close similarities between wakeboards and twin-tip kitesurf-boards. Wakeboarding in wake and waterski parks is thus often considered a more approachable wind-condition independent alternative to kitesurfing and has seen a surge in popularity in parallel to kitesurfing, especially in densely populated areas in Europe, such as Germany.

==See also==
*[[Cable skiing]]

==References==
<references />

{{water sports}}
{{Sports of the World Games program}}
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[[Category:Wakeboarding| ]]
[[Category:Boardsports]]
[[Category:Towed water sports]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]