Wakesurfing Safety 101

In 1982 I was born into a “River Rat” family, and have been around the water sports industry from that day.  Now I know some of you are saying that you graduated college in 1982, or maybe even high school, but this is not my point.  My point is this.  Ever since I can remember there has been one defining lesson taught during my 27 years of being on the water.  SAFTEY, SAFTEY, SAFTEY!  In the next few paragraphs I am going to outline some of the most important safety factors for wakesurfing, and water sports in general. 

To start off, wakesurfing requires the same level of safety that all other water sports require.  This article will cover the type of boat needed for wakesurfing, the type of gear needed, driving/riding safety, and overall basics that a person stepping into a boat should know.  For a seasoned pro, or a newbie to the sport it is always important to refresh safety knowledge.      

Now that it is time to give wakesurfing a try, please make sure to wakesurf behind a boat that has an Inboard motor only.  The reason this is critical is because on boats with Inboard/Outboard motors or boats with Outboard motors there is a huge chance to get caught in the prop of the boat.  With an Inboard motor, there is a lot less chance of getting to the prop when falling because the prop is under the boat.  If the motor, or any part of the motor is in plain sight wakesurfing should be reconsidered.  With the motor in plain sight people will be within a dangerous distance to that motor and the results may not be pretty. 

Having the proper gear is the one of the most important safety aspects to wakesurfing.  The most important gear a person should have is a Life Vest.  While there is always a drive that wants us to wakesurf without a life vest, it is not recommended.  It is recommended to always wear a life vest.  A vest that is USCGA certified will give the best results in the case of an emergency.  However we are seeing a lot more riders which prefer to use a competition vests that are not USCGA certified.  In either case it is imperative that a life vest of some type is to be worn.  Emergencies happen in the blink of an eye, and a life vest is the best way to save lives.  Go Figure!  Without life, there is no wakesurfing!     

There are two other pieces of gear that are needed and that are very important to wakesurfing.  The first piece of gear that is needed is a wakesurf board.  The board itself is not so much used as a piece of safety equipment; however it is critical to make sure that the board is in good working condition.  Many times boards can be damaged, which can lead to the board breaking while riding.  This is a safety issue.    Also check to make sure that the board doesn’t have any small cracks that can lead to fiberglass splinters or worse.  In both situations, the board that is going to be rode must be checked visually before it is going to be used.  If the risk is weighed before getting in the water, there will be a lot less of a chance of getting hurt which will increase the your safety while wakesurfing.

The next piece of gear that is as critical as any other piece of gear you have is the rope and handle of the rope.  Many people try to modify their old waterskiing, wakeboarding rope and handle for wakesurfing which is not recommended.  There are many companies in the industry that have designed specific wakesurfing handles and ropes that provide the proper length of rope and handle size.  The handle should be wide enough to allow a firm grip by one hand and an overlap hand, but not wide enough for a spaced grip with both hands.  Once a rider is up and riding, it is important to only hold onto the rope with one hand.  Sometimes when trying to find the meat of the wave you will get some slack in the rope and this slack should not be looped in anyway possible when holding the rope.  If there are loops in the line this will create a danger that limbs can get caught in when you fall.  This danger could result in the loss of that limb.  The same dangers are apparent when using a handle that is over sized. 

It is also important to talk about safety while wakesurfing.  There are many risks when wakesurfing and accidents can happen at anytime.  One of the most important ideas to grasp when wakesurfing is that when a rider falls the board is usually somewhere over the top of them.  Seeing that most wakesurf boards are very buoyant there is no real way to tell where the board is after falling, and it is important that the rider protects one of the most important parts of his/her body; Their Head.  It is easy to protect the head by covering it with a forearm.  By using this technique the rider can lesson the chance of getting knock in the head by the board.  The boards might seem light and harmless, but they can cause some sever damage.  Always be thinking about where the board might be when resurfacing the water.      

Another important safety aspect of wakesurfing is the driver’s responsibilities.  It is very important that the driver of the boat maintains a constant speed.  If the drive lets the speed of the boat decrease there is a good chance that the rider will run into the back of the boat causing damage to the boat, swim platform, the board, and may cause injury to the wakesurfer and other shredders on the boat.  It is also very important for the driver to be aware their surroundings.  Even though the boat will only be traveling approximately 11 mph it is imperative to know what other boats are around, and where they are at all times. 

After covering some of the topics about safety, I hope we can all realize that there is a lot more to learn, and that we need to practice safety whenever we are on the water.  Wakesurfing is an enjoyable sport with many dangers, and we want to keep our friends, passengers, riders, and drivers all on the same page to ensure that we can wakesurf for a lifetime.  I hope you enjoyed this article and keep your eyes out for more helpful wakesurfing information in the near future.