Wakesurfing Safety

Wakesurfing, like any other watersport, requires a level of safety when performing the activity.  As with all sports there are risks of injury both when learning to wakesurf but even when you feel like you are a seasoned veteran in the sport.  There are several aspects of safety when it comes to wakesurfing, this article highlights those areas:

Vessel & Gear:

When wakesurfing it's absolutely critical to use the correct boat. You should never ever attempt to wakesurf behind and I/O or Outboard motor equipped boat. The only safe boat to wakesurf behind and that has been recognized by the coast guard as safe practice is an Inboard equipped boat.

With all watersports, wakesurfing requires utilizing the proper gear.  Regardless of your skill level in riding; do not think that just because you are a good swimmer you should wake surf without a life vest.  Your wakesurfer is NOT a flotation device and some of the more buoyant models can actually fly away from you or directly at you (I’ll explain later my experience here).  So that being said, ALWAYS wear a life vest, you can utilize a comp vest if you prefer; but a USCGA certified vest is recommended. 

Your board, whether you like traction or go with good ol’ surf wax, be sure that your wakesurfer has a surface that provides the rider with traction to the board.  In wakesurfing, there is a lot of movement with your feet on the board.  Nothing is worse than trying to hang five and catching a slippery spot on the board.

The rope and handle are as critical has any other gear you use with the sport.  A handle that is intended for use while waterskiing, wakeboarding or wakeskating; may not be intended for use when wakesurfing.  Many manufacturers today have made specific wakesurfing handles and lines that provide proper length of line for distance or rider from the boat.  The handle should allow for a firm grip by one hand or an overlap hand grip but not wide enough for a spaced grip with both hands.  When wakesurfing, you should be utilizing one hand once you are up and riding (prior to throwing in the rope).  It is easy for a limb to get caught in wider handles and is not encouraged to be used in wakesurfing.

CO (Carbon Monoxide):

Unlike wakeboarding, wakeskating, and waterskiing; wakesurfing does have a risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning due to the close proximity of the rider to the back of the boat.  A great mitigation technique is to ensure that the boat has good air flow when driving.  Many boats come with a “wind block” or flip up window in the bow of the boat.  Ensure that these are open during wakesurfing to allow air to pass through the boat and dissipate the CO fumes for the rider.  Another recommendation is to reduce the amount of time with a rider at the back of the boat when the engine is running but not in gear.  If you are instructing a new rider, turn the engine off and provide your instruction.  Do not spend time going through technique with a rider sitting at the back of the boat. Remember, idling around a fallen rider to pick them up is creating an invisible CO danger zone as the fumes from the engine are gathering around the back of the boat and the rider.

CO poisoning can be fatal and is something that is not easily detected.  Early signs can be headache, fatigue and nausea and more drastic indicators can be loss of consciousness and seizure.  This is especially important as the initial signs of carbon monoxide poisoning mirror the effects of intoxification by ingesting alcohol; this must be noted if you and your crew consume alcoholic beverages while wakesurfing. It is never recommended to practice wakesurfing while drinking. If a rider begins to complain of these after a long session, have them come in and sit out a run.  Let them breathe in the fresher air.  Some boat manufacturers such as, Centurion Boats, have equipped their boats with a modified exhaust system that displaces the fumes of the boats away from riders.  These modifications have been born with the wakesurfer in mind. There are also 3rd party products that can be retrofitted to existing boats exhaust system like the FAE (Fresh Air Exhaust) system by Trick Boardz.

Safety when riding:

Accidents can happen anywhere and anytime, so it is important for you to be aware of the risks of riding with a wakesurfer.  You do not need to go to the extreme of donning yourself a helmet but should be aware of properly protecting yourself when falling from your wakesurfer.  I learned this the hard way.

Boards can do many things when you are learning to ride and expanding your trick arsenal.  When a rider shifts their weight, depending upon the nose and rocker, a board can pearl and go under water.  Sometimes this is recoverable and sometimes, not so much.  One such incident for me was nosing-in a particularly buoyant board. As I fell the board continued its descent into the water.  As I resurfaced, I thought my board had already landed above the water but it had just began rising; I caught sight of the fin just in time to protect my eyes but unfortunately I took the fin to the cheekbone.  Although humbling, it was a good lesson for our crew that although you protect your head as you fall, you still need to protect your head as you rise up out of the water. 

For new riders, always demonstrate a good method to protect themselves when falling.  Some folks may need to plug their nose and well; their focus shifts to plugging vs. protecting and can cause them harm.  A good practice to get into is covering your head with your forearms when you fall and ensure you are aware of where your board is when you resurface from the water. 

A very important note for the driver of the wakesurf boat is to maintain speed. If anytime the driver were to let the boat drop in speed the rider can run into the back of the boat! Drivers also need to remember that even though many wakesurf boats are equipped with Perfect Pass or other automatic cruise and speed settings systems, these too can fail. Even though you're only going 10mph in a straight line the driver must remain alert and engaged in the event any automatic systems were to fail. A rider hitting the back of the boat will cause damage to the board, the transom, the swimdeck and even injury or death to the wakesurfer.

Boating Operation and Drinking:

Wakesurfing is a social sport, people are able to interact more than ever due to the close positioning of the rider to the boat.  It is important to have fun but also important to remember that you are still operating a large vessel and practice safety when driving and socializing. 

We have all seen the pictures when surfing of folks holding a beer.  It is like a right of passage that somehow has developed in wakesurfing where if you can hold a beer when riding you are less focused and more at ease with riding.  I get the concept but not the end result.  Be sure to monitor your consumption and be aware of boating laws where you ride.  There is a safety article in the press area that highlights the dangers of boating and boozing.  The combination can be fatal.

Another element when operating the vessel is the use of ballast.  Many wakesurfers utilize additional ballast in their boats to optimize the size and length of their wave.  These sacks can sometimes fit in closed lockers but are also placed openly within the boat.  When you have a crew with you, it is important for them to remain seated when the boat is in motion.  Ensure that your sacks have securely been fitted into their position and if you have a member of the crew sitting on the sack; ensure they are secure too. It's important to never exceed the NMMA certification of capacity and weight for your vessel as this is an obvious safety risk and warranty violation. See the press area for more information on safe ballast.

The above are recommended safety precautions to take when wakesurfing.  Again, with any sport there is risk of injury, be sure you take measures to reduce your risk when you are on the water!


Article Provided By Wakechick

Note Traction and USCGA Life Vest


Preparing boat for wake surfing, proper ventilation and ballast placement, safety check.


Falling wake surfer, protecting face from board and underwater objects.


Importance of guarding your face when falling.