What Is Wakesurfing—and Why It’s a Smart Surf Training Tool

Wakesurfing is a surface-water sport where the rider glides on the wave created by a motorboat—without holding onto a rope. Unlike wakeboarding, where the rider stays connected by a towline, in wakesurfing you drop the rope after starting and let the boat’s wake carry you, just like in “real” surfing.

The wakesurf board is lighter and shorter than a standard surfboard, and the wave you ride is consistent and predictable. This makes wakesurfing an excellent way to get the feel of surfing—even many states away from the ocean.