Complete Guide to Wakesurfing
While tubing, waterskiing, and wakeboarding will always have their place, wakesurfing has become the fastest-growing watersport over the past decade. Walk any boat ramp on a summer weekend and you'll see why.
Unlike most watersports, wakesurfing doesn't beat you up. There's no jarring falls at high speeds, or shoulder-wrenching starts. That means everyone from teenagers to their grandparents can ride together—and actually progress. It's also one of the easiest watersports to learn, with most beginners standing up and surfing within their first few attempts. Plus, it brings the best part of ocean surfing to any lake or river, no coastline required.
What is Wakesurfing?
Wakesurfing is real surfing—just with a boat-generated wave instead of ocean swells. You're riding an actual surfboard, carving real turns, and using the same techniques ocean surfers rely on. The difference? The wave never ends, and you don't need to paddle.
Here's how it works: You start like wakeboarding, holding a short rope while the boat pulls you up from the water. Once you're riding and find the wave's "sweet spot"—usually 10-15 feet behind the boat—you toss the rope back to the boat. From there, you're surfing freely on the wake, carving turns and riding for as long as your legs hold out.
Unlike wakeboarding where you're strapped in and towed the entire time, wakesurfing lets you move naturally on the board, just like surfing at the beach. No rope. No bindings. Just you, the board, and an endless wave.
Getting Started with Wakesurfing
Wakesurfing and wakeboarding share similarities, but the equipment is different—and in the case of the boat, safety depends on choosing the right setup.
The Boat: Why Inboards are Essential
Start with the boat. Not all boats can safely wakesurf. In fact, most can't.
The issue is propeller location. Outboard and sterndrive boats have exposed propellers at the stern—exactly where wakesurfers ride, just 15-20 feet behind the transom. The only safe option for wakesurfing is an inboard boat, where the propeller sits tucked up under the hull, well away from riders.
Beyond safety, modern wakesurf boats are purpose-built to create large, clean, surfable wakes. They use integrated ballast systems—built-in tanks that fill with water to add thousands of pounds, settling the boat deeper and generating bigger, more defined waves. Advanced wake-shaping technology like Tigé's TAPS 3T takes it further, letting you dial in wave size, shape, and curl with a simple tap on the GO System touchscreen.
The result? A powerful, rideable wave with the push and shape that mimics ocean surfing—right on your local lake.
Choosing the Right Wakesurf Board
Wakesurf boards have evolved well beyond traditional surfboards. Today's boards are specifically designed for surf boat wakes, and choosing the right style makes a big difference in your riding experience.
Surf-Style Boards:
These look and ride most like ocean surfboards. Longer surf-style boards (4'6" to 5'6") are perfect for beginners—they're stable, forgiving, and easy to balance on while you're learning. Shorter surf boards (4' to 4'8") give experienced riders more maneuverability for aggressive carving, slashing, and airs.
Skim-Style Boards:
Thinner and more compact (typically under 4'6"), skim boards are built for technical tricks and spins. They're faster and looser than surf-style boards but require more skill to ride.
Sizing Guide:
Longer, wider boards offer more stability (ideal for learning), while shorter boards are more responsive and agile. Most riders start on a longer surf-style board, then size down or try different styles as their skills progress.
The Rope: Short and Simple
You'll need a wakesurf-specific rope for this sport—standard ski and wakeboard ropes are designed for a completely different riding position.
Wakesurfing happens close to the boat, typically just 20-25 feet behind the transom where the wake is at its peak. Regular ski and wakeboard ropes stretch 65-75 feet, which would put you way beyond the surf wave. Wakesurf ropes are purpose-built for the sport: 15-20 feet long with small, comfortable handles that are easy to hold during your start and simple to toss back to the boat once you're up and riding.
The shorter length gets you in position quickly, and the streamlined handle design makes the whole process smooth and straightforward—exactly what you want when you're learning.
How to Get Up Wakesurfing: Step-by-Step
Getting up on a wakesurf board is straightforward once you understand the basics. Here's the process:
1. Find Your Stance
Before you get in the water, figure out which foot goes forward. If you ride skateboards, snowboards, or wakeboards, use that same stance. Never tried board sports? Have someone give you a gentle push from behind—the foot you instinctively put forward to catch yourself is your lead foot.
2. Starting Position in the Water
Lay back in the water with the board floating perpendicular to the boat. Place both heels on top of the board, shoulder-width apart, with the board's nose pointing toward your lead foot side. Keep your knees tucked toward your chest and arms straight, holding the rope handle between your knees.
Pro Tip: Make sure you're wearing a properly fitted life jacket—this is crucial. An ill-fitting vest will fight against you during the start and make everything harder. It should be snug but comfortable.
3. The Pull-Up:
Signal the driver you're ready. As the boat accelerates smoothly, press down gently through your heels—don't pull with your arms. Keep your arms straight and let the boat do the work. The water pressure will push the board against your feet, and you'll pop up onto the surface.
4. Stand and Find Your Balance
Once the board is planing, stand up with knees slightly bent. Rotate your hips slightly toward the boat so the board turns parallel to the wake. You'll ride through some whitewater at first—that's normal. Once you're past it and into the clean wave face, let go with your back hand.
Pro Tip: Side tow points (standard on all Tige towers) make this step much easier for beginners. By pulling the surfers up from the side rather than the center, first-timers start outside the white-wash.
5. Find the Sweet Spot:
Now comes the fun part. Think of your front foot as the gas pedal and your back foot as the brake. Shifting weight forward speeds you up and brings you closer to the boat; weight on your back foot slows you down and moves you back in the wave. Combine these weight shifts with gentle heel and toe pressure to move side to side.
The goal is finding the "sweet spot" where the rope goes slack and the wave itself pushes you forward. Once you're there and feel comfortable, toss the rope back to the boat—or drop it on the back side of the wave, which can help first-timers keep their balance better.
Driving for Wakesurfing: Tips for the Boat Driver
Remember, the driver plays a role in the wakesurfer’s success.
Smooth, Steady Acceleration
Wakesurf boards plane easily, so there's no need to hammer the throttle. Accelerate smoothly and steadily to 10-12 mph—that's the ideal speed range for most riders. GPS-based speed control systems (standard on all Tige models) handle this perfectly, locking in your speed and letting you focus on driving.
Eyes Forward, Not Back
It's tempting to watch your rider, but your job is keeping everyone safe by maintaining a clear, obstruction-free path. Tige's rear-facing camera displays your surfer directly on the touchscreen, so you can monitor them while keeping your eyes on the water ahead. Your spotter should still communicate hand signals from the rider and alert you if they fall.
Be a Good Neighbor
Wakesurfing creates larger wakes than traditional watersports. Stay at least 200 feet away from shorelines, docks, and other boats. Avoid running repetitive passes in the same area—spread out your path to minimize impact. If you're having trouble holding a straight line, pick a landmark on shore as a reference point. It'll keep your course steady and your wake consistent.
Picking Up Riders
When returning to pick up anyone in the water, always approach at idle speed on the driver's side so you maintain constant visual contact with the person.
Pro Tip: Let your waves pass the rider before circling back to pick them up. This gives them calmer water and makes the pickup much easier.
Dialing In the Perfect Wakesurf Wave
There's a lot to manage when driving for wakesurfing: maintaining consistent speed, monitoring your rider, keeping a straight line, adjusting ballast, and fine-tuning wake shape. It can feel overwhelming—especially when you're trying to help a first-timer get up.
That's where a purpose-built surf boat makes all the difference.
Integrated Technology Simplifies Everything:
Modern surf systems like Tige's GO System take the guesswork out of wave creation. Instead of manually adjusting ballast pumps, transom plates, and throttle settings separately, everything is controlled from one touchscreen. Choose a preset for your rider's skill level and preference, tap the screen, and the boat automatically fills ballast tanks, sets the ideal speed via GPS cruise control, and adjusts TAPS 3T to shape the wave—all in seconds.
The rear-facing camera keeps your surfer visible on the display so you can watch them without turning around. GPS cruise control maintains perfect speed without constant throttle adjustments. And side tow points get beginners up and surfing faster.
The Three Elements of a Great Wave
Behind the technology, three factors shape your wave:
Weight: Integrated ballast systems add thousands of pounds of water weight, settling the boat deeper to create a larger, more powerful wave. Position most of the weight on the surf side, with some in the bow to balance the hull.
Speed: Most surfers find their sweet spot between 10-12 mph, though preference varies by rider and board style. Lock it in with GPS cruise control and forget about it.
Wave Shaping: The hull design itself plays a major role in how the wave forms, but transom-mounted plates like TAPS 3T let you fine-tune it further—adjusting height, curl, and push to match your rider's preference.
The result? More time surfing, less time messing with settings.
Wakesurfing vs. Wakeboarding: What's the Difference?
At first glance, wakesurfing and wakeboarding look similar—you're standing on a board behind a boat. But they're actually very different sports, and understanding the differences can help you decide which one (or both!) appeals to you.
Bindings vs. Bare Feet
The most obvious difference: wakeboarders' feet are locked into bindings, while wakesurfers ride with bare feet. Bindings provide leverage and control for big aerial tricks, but they limit your movement. Wakesurfing gives you complete freedom to adjust your stance, walk the board, and move naturally—more like ocean surfing or skateboarding.
Speed and Distance
Wakeboarding happens at 18-24 mph, with riders positioned 65+ feet behind the boat where the wakes spread wide and form ideal launch ramps. Wakesurfing is much slower (10-12 mph) and happens just 20-25 feet behind the boat, right in the wave's power pocket where it's tallest and most shaped.
Riding Style
Wakeboarding is high-energy and explosive—launching off the wake, performing spins and flips, and landing back in the flat water. Wakesurfing is more about flow and style—carving continuous turns on an endless wave, similar to ocean surfing.
The Best Part? Skills transfer between both sports. Many riders love switching between the high-flying action of wakeboarding and the smooth, endless carves of wakesurfing.
Wakesurfing Safety
Safety always comes first on the water. Follow these essential guidelines every time you head out.
Life Jackets Are Non-Negotiable
Always wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket when wakesurfing. In most areas, it's the law—but more importantly, it's common sense. Even though wakesurfing happens at slower speeds (10-12 mph) and serious falls are rare, a life jacket keeps you safe in the unlikely event of an injury or if you're in the water longer than expected. Plus, that buoyancy makes the starting process much easier when you're floating and waiting for the boat to accelerate.
Always Use a Spotter
Designate one passenger as the spotter before you start. Position them in the passenger seat facing backward with a clear view of the rider. The spotter's job is to watch the rider at all times, communicate hand signals to the driver, and immediately alert the driver if the rider falls. The driver should never turn around to check on the rider—that's the spotter's responsibility.
Know Your Local Laws
Requirements vary by state and waterway. Some areas require spotters to display a flag when a rider is down in the water to alert nearby boats. Others have specific distance requirements from shore or docks. Check your local and state regulations before heading out.
Inboard Boats Only
This bears repeating: only use inboard boats for wakesurfing. Outboard and sterndrive engines have exposed propellers that pose serious danger to riders surfing close to the stern. It's not worth the risk.