Wakeboarding vs. Wakesurfing: What Are the Differences?
Both wakeboarding and wakesurfing are popular lake sports that involve riding the wake of a boat on a board, but they are actually very different. Are you trying to decide which one is right for you? Ski Shack explains the differences between wakeboarding and wakesurfing.
The Board
Wakesurfing boards are longer than wakeboards and have one major difference. They don’t have foot binders. Wakeboards have a foot-binding system that attaches the feet to the board, keeping the wakeboard from flying off as the rider does tricks in the air and on the water.
On a wake surfboard, there are no bindings. The rider stands directly on the board like in traditional surfing and can easily fall off if they do not have enough balance and control. This means the techniques used to master wakeboarding and wakesurfing are different.
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The Rope
A wakeboarding rope is much longer than a wakesurfing rope, mainly because the riders stay at different distances behind the boat. In wakeboarding, the rider holds on to the rope for the entire ride. The longer rope allows them to keep a distance between themselves and the boat so they have the space to do jumps and tricks.
A wakesurfing rope is much shorter, so the rider stays closer to the boat. The wakesurfing rope is also dropped, or thrown to the boat, as soon as the rider catches a wave. A typical wakesurfing rope is 10 to 15 feet long, while a wakeboarding rope can be up to 85 feet long.
The Technique
Where the two sports differ is really in the technique. For wakeboarding, the rider holds a rope that pulls them behind a boat, and they ride the wake the boat creates. The long rope and secure bindings allow the rider to do complicated tricks and flips in the air as they are pulled along without losing the board. Boats go at much higher speeds for wakeboarders, depending on their skill level. This helps them get enough air for tricks.
In wakesurfing, the rider is not bound to the board. They are pulled behind the boat to gain speed and then drop the rope to surf the wake. They can move around the board more freely and have more control over where they go since they are not relying on the rope to continue.
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Wakeboarding and Wakesurfing Equipment in Springfield, MO
Ski Shack sells wakeboarding and wakesurfing boats, as well as all the gear you need to get started. Contact us today for more information.