Wakeboard vs wakesurf

[Jameson Clark]

I'm a long time wakeboarder and definitely a "to each his own" type guy, but I can say its a pretty cool experience to throw the rope in the boat and surf along without any strings attached. So far I've only been able to do it for a minute or so but I'm hooked.

Have you added any ballast or anything else to your boat to surf?

 

[JetMania]

I'm a long time wakeboarder and definitely a "to each his own" type guy, but I can say its a pretty cool experience to throw the rope in the boat and surf along without any strings attached. So far I've only been able to do it for a minute or so but I'm hooked.

I agree, to each their own. I get it’s cool to go rope less. It’s also cool to surf in a pool with no ropes. For me, seems rather slow and much less exciting. Maybe when I get older.

 

[JetMania]

Try a wakeskate. All the fun and entertainment of a wakeboard without the concussion producing front edge crashes!

I love my wakeskate, such a simple/easy/low impact way to have fun on the water at the end of a rope

I definitely want to try wake skates. That’s at the top of my list for next season. Do the bindings/boots “pop off”? They say it’s much easier in knees and other body parts. It would seem being independent on each foot it’d be rougher on knees than a board, much like snow skiing is compared to snow boarding.

They look super maneuverable and easy to use if you’ve already skied or boarded. Do you tow at the same speed ranges as boarding?

 

[MidnightRider]

Have you added any ballast or anything else to your boat to surf?

No, hence only 30-60 sec ropeless times. I only got these short ropeless sessions by putting 3 adults as far over and back as they could fit on the back swim platform corner (with stock center ballast 100% and stock surf side ballast 100%).
Going to look into at least the custom swim deck bag and maybe also the wake wedge for next year. I am hoping someone in the warmer climates puts some real life footage of first hand experience with the new wake booster with stock ballast beginning of 2019 - be optimal not to have a swim deck bag if someone can prove this booster really works outside a promo video. I have my doubts though and guessing I'll be making the purchase sometime winter/spring.

 

[MidnightRider]

I definitely want to try wake skates. That’s at the top of my list for next season. Do the bindings/boots “pop off”? They say it’s much easier in knees and other body parts. It would seem being independent on each foot it’d be rougher on knees than a board, much like snow skiing is compared to snow boarding.

They look super maneuverable and easy to use if you’ve already skied or boarded. Do you tow at the same speed ranges as boarding?

Yeah I've been wanting to try wakeskating too. Although from your comment I think you are confusing it with something else. A wakeskate is like a wakeboard without bindings. Basically a sorta wide skateboard on water.

Love this video of Brian Grubb wakeskating

 

[2kwik4u]

I definitely want to try wake skates. That’s at the top of my list for next season. Do the bindings/boots “pop off”? They say it’s much easier in knees and other body parts. It would seem being independent on each foot it’d be rougher on knees than a board, much like snow skiing is compared to snow boarding.

They look super maneuverable and easy to use if you’ve already skied or boarded. Do you tow at the same speed ranges as boarding?

No boots or bindings. I ride barefoot on the board. I have the cheapest Hyperlite board available, and there is some nice neoprene foam on the top to keep your feet in place. If you get a more advanced boat with skateboard style grip-tape on the top, you'll want to ride in old tennis shoes. You can kinda see the top of the board here:


I would say it's easier on my knees than boarding because I can move my feet around on the board and not be locked into a single position. Also when you fall, you're just swimming around in a life vest, so your legs are free to kick however is comfy/effective for you.

 

[Jameson Clark]

No, hence only 30-60 sec ropeless times. I only got these short ropeless sessions by putting 3 adults as far over and back as they could fit on the back swim platform corner (with stock center ballast 100% and stock surf side ballast 100%).
Going to look into at least the custom swim deck bag and maybe also the wake wedge for next year. I am hoping someone in the warmer climates puts some real life footage of first hand experience with the new wake booster with stock ballast beginning of 2019 - be optimal not to have a swim deck bag if someone can prove this booster really works outside a promo video. I have my doubts though and guessing I'll be making the purchase sometime winter/spring.

Thanks. I kinda assumed but wanted to double check. I only ski and wakeboard right now but I really want to at least try surfing. I don't care anything about ropeless or extra ballasts at this point since I have never even tried it. Watersports is only a 1/4 of what we do each day on the lake so swim platform ballasts are an absolute no for me. But, if the wakebooster works as advertised and I enjoy surfing/can get up, I will look into one of those. BUT, step 1 is finding a surf board on clearance over the winter to try out! I am 5'10" 205lbs, what size board would be good for a beginner my size? THANKS!

 

[JetMania]

Yeah I've been wanting to try wakeskating too. Although from your comment I think you are confusing it with something else. A wakeskate is like a wakeboard without bindings. Basically a sorta wide skateboard on water.

Love this video of Brian Grubb wakeskating

That’s correct. I was watching a video on “wake skates” and they looked like trick skis. Like small wakeboard on each foot. They are curved both ways like snow trick skis so you can switch or even ride backwards.

Thanks for getting me straight!

 

[JetMania]

No boots or bindings. I ride barefoot on the board. I have the cheapest Hyperlite board available, and there is some nice neoprene foam on the top to keep your feet in place. If you get a more advanced boat with skateboard style grip-tape on the top, you'll want to ride in old tennis shoes. You can kinda see the top of the board here:
View attachment 84011

I would say it's easier on my knees than boarding because I can move my feet around on the board and not be locked into a single position. Also when you fall, you're just swimming around in a life vest, so your legs are free to kick however is comfy/effective for you.

I will have to check those out. I had seen a video on “wake skates” and they looked like trick skis. Wide and short and curved up on both ends.

How do you get up without being “fixed” to the board?

 

[Peelz]

I'll just leave this right here

I'm not that good, but I sure try to be.

Want to try surfing...but more interested in wake SKATING.... many reasons. I grew up in cali. boogie boardin... surfing. and skateboarding. I tried wakeboarding WAY back in the day-was cool.. saw someone mention Darin Shapiro. I remember that guy...Parks Bonifay?(SP?) I Worked a night shift job, would watch all the x sports on espn2 when it first came out. wakeboarding freestyle was fun to watch.

But... mainly, skating, because I'm still in the I/O boat. surfing...well I like my toes. lol need to be further back

havent really pushed it... just no time. I'm really on the boat to drink a few beers, watch my kids smile a few times before theyre gone.

I think I might give it a shot soon though. is there a right size board to try?

 

[2kwik4u]

I will have to check those out. I had seen a video on “wake skates” and they looked like trick skis. Wide and short and curved up on both ends.

How do you get up without being “fixed” to the board?

The technique from the driver is a shade different for getting a good deep water start. Once the boat is moving it feels EXACTLY like a wakeboard, except it's a little smaller and a bit more "squirrely" under your feet. Little less stable is a better way to say it.

Basically the driver gets the rope to the skater, then leaves the boat in forward at idle speed. In an I/O or a jet this is just clicked into forward with the engines idling. This will pull the skater through the water with enough speed to create a pressure on the bottom of the board. The skater lays back and floats with the vest and lets the board get pressed up against his/her feet. Once they are settled and ready, yell "GO" and the driver proceeds just like a wakeboard. That initial "pull" at idle speed is a little unnerving at first, but once you do it a time or two, it becomes easy and will feel right.

ALSO, once you're up on the board, because they are less stable, you will want to get used to riding with one hand on the rope and the other free.....kinda "cowboy" style if you will. On a wakeboard the fins, size of the board, and lack of much rocker (curvature in the board horizontally) will naturally pull you into a straight line with the boat. On a skate, there is enough rocker, small board size, and small fins that you can actually ride it sideways if you want. So, to get the board to naturally straighten out, drop one hand and let your shoulders turn to be inline with the rope. Your hips will follow, and so will your feet, letting the board settle in as well. Keep your weight on the back foot, and steer the board with your toes. Toes up goes backwards, toes down goes forwards.

 

[Cambo]

Next season I want to try wake surfing it looks like the water does not have to be calm. Wake boarding on super flat water vs a little chop feels completely different and its usually hard to get everyone out of the house in the morning for the optimal conditions . I would like a hybrid wake surf board that has bindings not sure if it would work but popping the board out of the water is fun on the wake board it looks difficult on the wake surf because your not connected.

 

[2kwik4u]

........I think I might give it a shot soon though. is there a right size board to try?

Parks Bonifay was awesome. I remember watching him on the X-Games as well.

I bought the largest, least expensive board Hyperlite has and it's worked well for me. I'm by no means an expert though, I just hang out on the end of the rope and goof around. I'm also 230lbs and 6'2" tall and the board seems plenty large enough for me. I've taught people as short at 5'-1" tall and 75-80lbs on the same board. I think board selection in a skate is far less critical until your skills progress beyond basic jumps/spins.

 

[Darrell]

What I’d like to know is why nobody slalom skis anymore!? First wake-boarding took over, and now that’s been eclipsed by wakesurfing.

My guess is people want to keep going slower and slower behind the boat, maybe this is all driven by high fuel costs...

I’m joking of course, do whatever you want, but I would like to hear someone legitimately answer this question as well.

ETA: just read @haknslash post, that makes sense.

I’m teaching my kids to water ski first. Then will move on to wake boarding/ surfing. Same thing from snow skiing perspective start with the harder one first.

But to one of the comments above. I’m going with the slower is better mantra. I slalom once maybe twice a year. Mostly to impress the kids. But damn near kill myself doing it. I want to get back to a water sport that doesn’t hurt!

 

[Peelz]

Parks Bonifay was awesome. I remember watching him on the X-Games as well.

I bought the largest, least expensive board Hyperlite has and it's worked well for me. I'm by no means an expert though, I just hang out on the end of the rope and goof around. I'm also 230lbs and 6'2" tall and the board seems plenty large enough for me. I've taught people as short at 5'-1" tall and 75-80lbs on the same board. I think board selection in a skate is far less critical until your skills progress beyond basic jumps/spins.

excellent. that helps a lot. thanks. not looking to excel at it, just goof around as you say. I was thinking bigger=less effort/speed to keep up.

 

[Cambo]

For these boats wakeboarding at 18.5-19 is the sweet spot holding it there is difficult and makes a huge difference Perfect pass or a speed control unit is necessary to avoid getting pounded into the water

 

[2kwik4u]

Oh yea, forgot to mention....I try to skate around 18mph as well. The jet is SUPER hard to maintain a consistent speed. Makes learning more difficult without Perfect Pass, RideSteady, or some other form of cruise/speed control. I can ride anywhere from about 16-23mph and be OK, but 18 is the sweet spot. The wife does pretty good pulling me around, but cruise control is on the short list of mods......whenever we find that money tree of course

 

[JetMania]

Next season I want to try wake surfing it looks like the water does not have to be calm. Wake boarding on super flat water vs a little chop feels completely different and its usually hard to get everyone out of the house in the morning for the optimal conditions . I would like a hybrid wake surf board that has bindings not sure if it would work but popping the board out of the water is fun on the wake board it looks difficult on the wake surf because your not connected.

View attachment 84012 View attachment 84013 View attachment 84014 View attachment 84015 View attachment 84016

Awesome pics!! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[JetMania]

Oh yea, forgot to mention....I try to skate around 18mph as well. The jet is SUPER hard to maintain a consistent speed. Makes learning more difficult without Perfect Pass, RideSteady, or some other form of cruise/speed control. I can ride anywhere from about 16-23mph and be OK, but 18 is the sweet spot. The wife does pretty good pulling me around, but cruise control is on the short list of mods......whenever we find that money tree of course

Yeah, I have gotten pretty good at getting the sweet spot on the throttle, but I am definitely interested in some sort of speed/cruise control device. Is there a thread on here that discusses those?

 

[JetMania]

Yeah, I have gotten pretty good at getting the sweet spot on the throttle, but I am definitely interested in some sort of speed/cruise control device. Is there a thread on here that discusses those?

Never mind, I finally figured out how to search the site by key word. Thanks everyone!!