RSSEquipment
In order to get the most from your wakesurfing experience you’ll need to add a few new pieces of equipment to your water sports gear. While some of the below items are optional, all of them are recommended because of the increase in convenience and safety that they offer.
Wake Surfboards
Wakesurfing boards are designed specifically for riding on your boats wake without a rope. Compared to a standard wakeboard they are typically larger in surface area which provides more lift at the slower speeds that are associated with wakesurfing.
For riders that are just learning to explore the sport, we recommend the more traditional surf style board. The resemblance to traditional surf boards is immediately apparent, and has a few distinct advantages. First the large size of the board makes it incredibly easy to get up, and also reduces the learning curve. Second, the outline, larger fins and edge profile make these boards ideal for carving and linking turns along the face of the wake. These boards are ideal for first time riders, those that are looking for a more relaxing ride that requires less energy expenditure, the rider that wants to carve the wake as aggressively as possible, and anyone that will be riding behind a boat with a relatively small to medium size wake.
By comparison, freestyle boards have more in common with wakeboards than surfboards. These boards are smaller and typically have a more symmetrical shape which makes them more conducive to learning tricks. Due to the smaller surface area, and the smaller fins that are typically associated with freestyle shapes, this style of is not recommended for beginners or anyone that will be riding behind a boat with a small to intermediate wake.
Ballast
In almost every case, the factory ballast system (if your boat is equipped with one) will not provide the wake size you need. A larger, clean wake will not only increase the fun you have while wakesurfing, it will also make the learning period much shorter because the wake will be more forgiving if you make mistakes.
CAUTION: Under no circumstances should you attempt to wakesurf behind a boat with an exposed propeller/outdrive assembly. Inboard/Outboard and Outboard engines pose a severe and very real risk that can leave you permanently injured, or may even cause death. This is not an insignificant issue, and should be considered a grave warning!
Rope & Handle
While not necessary, a handle and rope combination that are made specifically for wakesurfing are much more convenient and will minimize the risk of becoming entangled in the handle should you fall. Additionally, having a rope that is setup specifically for surfing will save a lot of time if you switch back and forth between skiing and wakeboarding frequently.