How to Choose a Wakesurf Board That's Best for You

Precision Boats in Idaho Falls has one of the largest selection of wakesurf boards in the area. Beginners often wonder how to choose the best wakesurf board because of the different styles and brands. The best thing to do would be to come in and talk to our knowledgable staff so we can guide you in real time on how to choose the best wakesurf board, but in the meantime, this article will give you a basic idea of what you should be looking for. 

What is Wakesurfing?

Wakesurfing is a sport where a rider surfs the boat wake very closely behind an inboard boat. A good rider is able to stay in the sweet spot of the wave without holding onto a rope. The right board is going to make all the difference in your success as a rider. 

How to Choose a Wakesurf Board

There are 4 aspects of a board that you want to keep in mind when buying a new one:

1. Size
2. Shapes
3. Rocker
4. Rails

Size

There are a lot of sizes to pick from. What you want to remember is that the bigger the board, the slower you'll go. And the smaller the board, the faster you'll go. The bigger boards are perfect for beginners to get their feet wet (pun intended). These bigger boards are going to be easier stay balanced and moving. There's no shame in working your way up to a smaller board. If you start with a board that moves faster than what you're comfortable with, wakesurfing won't be as fun as it should be. Always have fun!

The smaller boards move faster because there is less friction. Makes sense. But what you want to also remember about these smaller boards is that you need a nice big wake to make these work the way they should. Making sure you have the proper wake size is the name of the game. The new Moomba and Supra boats are awesome because they have their 4 patented AutoWake System that will contour the boat and fill ballasts perfectly so all you have to do is tell the computer exactly the size and shape you want; the boat will do the rest of the work. 

Check out our Supra Boats we have in stock! 🤘

Shapes

There are 3 shapes you'll see with wakesurf boards. The "Thruster" style surf shape, the "Skim Board" style, and the "hybrid" which is a mix of both. 

The Thruster Style wakesurf boards are usually the largest in size and total volume. Surf style boards often have a lot of fin options, helping riders tighten up the on-water feel and to generate power and speed to pump the wave. The added volume of surf style boards helps them stay fast and on the surface. Many of these have a directional shape and fish or square tail, but not always. 

The Skim Boards are smaller in size and have less buoyancy. Skim style wakesurf boards are made to be more playful in the water. They also have smaller fins and fewer bottom (hull) features. This makes a board that is slippery and borderline rowdy on the water! Unlike thruster style boards that track up and down the face of the wave, a skim board wants to spin, slide, and do anything but stay on the straight and narrow! So when you're ready to start trying tricks and jumps, the skim style board is what you want. 

The Hybrid style is a mix of both of these options. In this category, there are a huge variety of options. The goal of this style of wakesurf board is to give you the freedom to start trying those tricks you've seen your friends do or the tricks you've been watching on YouTube. 

Precision Boats carries all 3 of these types of boards with plenty of hybrid styles to try out. You would be hard pressed to find a single person in our area that is more knowledgable about these boards than Tim and Tollen in our Parts department. If you have questions about what shape is best for you, ask these guys. You will learn everything you need. 

Rocker

Rocker lines are another important feature when choosing a wakesurf board. When you set a wakesurf board on a surface you will notice that it’s not flat, this is the rocker. 

Less Rocker ("Relaxed Rocker"): This makes your board faster on the wake and give you a smoother feel.

More Rocker ("Heavy Rocker"): This causes your wakesurf board to be slower and tend to plow through the water but react more dramatically with the wave.

Rails

The Rails, or edges of your surfboard, affect the amount of water that flows past the board. What that means is when you lean your board, pushing the edge into the water, the edges will react differently. A thinner rail will be more responsive and provide a quicker turn and more speed, while a thicker rail will be more stable requiring more pressure to initiate turns and providing a more consistent feel. A board with a thicker rail will require more edge pressure but will generally have more volume and be more buoyant. 

Full Rail / Soft Rail – Full rail is considered a soft rail and gives the wakesurf board a more consistent and stable feel, making it great for beginners. Expect smooth and drawn out turns when riding with a full rail.

Hard Rail – Hard rails respond to smaller changes in balance, making them suited for riders looking for maximum performance. The hard edge bites through the water resulting in increased speed and responsiveness.

Blended Rail – Blended rails are the cross between the first two types of rail design. This rail will give you a stable feel, fast speed and quicker turns. This is best suited for advanced riders.

What Else to Consider

Wakesurfing is one of the fastest growing sports because it's insanely fun and something anyone on your boat can do. What makes wakesurfing so fun? Well, I guess you're going to have to try it yourself to answer that question. 

Make sure you have the correct rope when you start surfing this year. The ropes for wakesurfing are different than the ropes for wakeboarding or water skiing. A surfer will get started with a rope then throw it into the boat because the wake will keep you moving; you don't need the rope. You'll also notice the grips and knots along the way of the rope. This gives the surfer the ability to position themselves before throwing it in. 

When choosing a wakesurfing board, consider these aspects that make them each unique and different. Finding that perfect board is one of the many fun things about the sport. Try the big ones, try the small ones, try different fin placement, but overall have fun. That's what it's all about.