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How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

By Boating Staff

Updated: May 16, 2014

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

A mix of surfing, water skiing and skateboarding, and a whole lot like its wintry cousin snowboarding, wakeboarding can be as challenging — or as simple — as you desire.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Wake pro Josh Palma pulls off a monster air behind the MasterCraft X46.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

An experienced driver is key to everyone having fun while wakeboarding, wakesurfing or wakeskating.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Josh Palma offers tips to make wakeboarding easy, fun and safe.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Get underway like on a wakeboard and find your spot in the wake’s pocket, and you can toss the tow rope back to the boat and wakesurf. No ocean required.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Though the idea of a start without bindings may sound difficult, in reality a wakesurf start is very similar to a wakeboard start.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Begin with the board lying perpendicular to your body in the water and your heels resting on the board’s heelside edge. Signal the driver to put the boat into gear, and the board will be pushed flush against the soles of your feet. From there, a slow, steady acceleration up to about 10 to 12 mph is all that’s necessary.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Once you’re up, the secret is to find that sweet spot between the wake’s lip and the bottom of the trough made by the hull.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Whether strapped onto a board or standing atop it, the basic wake start is surprisingly similar across all three disciplines. Start in the water with the board sideways in front of you. Knees should be bent toward the chest and arms extended holding the tow-rope handle.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

As the boat begins to idle forward, the board will flip up against your feet for wakesurfing and wakeskating, mimicking the attached-to-the-board feel of wakeboarding.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

In all three, relax and let the boat do the work, allowing it to pull you atop the water and avoiding trying to muscle yourself into position.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Pointing your toes toward the boat may decrease drag and let the board pop up more easily on top of the water.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Personal watercraft are far more than a vehicle for wakeskating. They’re also one of the very best tools to introduce kids, or beginners of all ages, to any water sport, including traditional water skiing.

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

How to Wakeboard, Wakesurf and Wakeskate

Models like Sea-Doo’s Wake Pro 215 feature speed controls that prevent that jerky hand on the throttle — and eliminate any complaints from the kiddies in tow.