Having fun on the water doesn’t always mean you’re on a boat. There are many fun activities to tackle on (or in) the water.
One of those activities is wake surfing. Have you ever wondered how to get started? We connected with Pro Wakesurfer Keenan Flegel for tips about getting into the sport. We’ll also talk about how to stay safe when riding wakes!
Whether you want to start wake surfing – or your kids want to give it a try – check out what Keenan has to say below.
I Was Born a Water Child
I have always been a water child.
The home I grew up in overlooked the intercostal waterway that connects to the ocean in South Florida. As soon as I was old enough to get permission from my parents, I pursued water sports.
I went out to the dock and flagged down some teenagers on a small inflatable boat to teach me how to wakeboard. Little did I know that day would shape the next 20 years of my life.
From Wakeboarding to Wake Surfing
Shortly after learning how to wakeboard, I was lucky enough to find Dean Lavelle of LTS Wakeboard School.
It was located only 10 minutes from where I lived! I trained with Dean from the age of 6 to 10 and competed in grassroots wakeboarding events.
One day, my feet were sore, and I didn’t want to wakeboard, so Dean suggested I try this new thing called wake surfing. Wake surfing is usually done at 10-11 MPH, 5-25 feet behind the boat. This is half the speed of wakeboarding and less than half the distance from the boat.
I was a little skeptical at first, but I gave it a try.
“Fat Sacks”
At this time the boats did not have the technology they do today. Dean had filled “fat sacks,” which are huge bags of water used to weigh the boat. They created enough weight to put out a surfable wave.
I got pulled up on a big old board and started to slide up and down the wave. I began to feel the tension in the rope ease as the wave started to propel me.
Shortly after, the rope went completely slack, and I heard Dean shout, “Throw the rope!” When I let go of that rope and was surfing freely across the lake, I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear. It was at that moment that I decided my wakeboard career was over.
Professional Wake Surfing
My parents and Dean had invested so much time and money to train me to become a professional wakeboarder. Nobody knew how to handle it when I changed my mind and wanted to be a wake surfer.
At that time, there were professional wakeboarders, and it was something you could make a career at. Back in 2005, there was no such thing as a wake surfing competition or a professional wakeboarder.
Being ten years old and not worried about making money helped me make this choice. I entered wake surfing right as a competition scene began to emerge. I was in the right place at the right time.
The First Competition
The first competition I went to was the World Championship in Merced, California. I won the Junior division of that competition and, since then, have won six world titles in the pro class.
Traveling the world to coach and compete has led to incredible experiences. I have gotten to see places like Russia, Dubai, and Australia. I have had the only undefeated competitive season in the sport’s history and won two world titles on my 18th birthday in Las Vegas.
After all those incredible experiences, there’s one that stands out. That first time I got up and threw the rope is the most joyous memory of my career. For that reason, I love teaching as many people as possible about wake surfing and how to get started.
I love seeing that same ear-to-ear grin on others’ faces as they feel the sensation of the wave pushing them for the first time.
Keenan’s Kit Recommendations
If you have a wakeboard boat or know anyone with one, you can try wake surfing!
Most of the newer wakeboard boats on the market will have a surf-specific function. There is usually some sort of tab that sticks off the back of the boat to clean up the wave on either side.
However, if you find yourself in an older boat that does not have a surf setting, I recommend buying a wake shaper such as the Delta Wake Shaper by Mission Boat Gear. It sticks onto your boat using suction cups.
I also recommend buying Wakeballast weight bags or fat sacks to make the wake a bit bigger and easier to surf. Once you’ve got the boat dialed in, you will need a wake surfboard and a life jacket: safety first.
I recommend a well-fitting, Coast Guard-approved life jacket for anyone learning to wake surf. A good life jacket will keep you afloat while you learn and prevent you from exhausting yourself just trying to keep your head above water.
The Board
There are two types of wake surf boards: skim-style and surf-style.
Just like it sounds, the surf-style board will look more like an ocean surfboard with more thickness, curvature, and bigger fins. However, the skim-style board will look like an ocean skim board, thin, flat, and maybe with one or two small fins.
The style of the board doesn’t really matter when getting started, but the bigger the better for beginners. A larger board will be more stable to ride, making it easier to keep up with the wave.
If you are a goofy foot (ride with your right foot forward), you want to ride the wave on the starboard side of the boat. If you are a regular foot (ride with left foot forward), you want to start on the port side wave. This will set you up facing towards the wave.
Before jumping in, make sure your rope is tied at a length that leaves the handle about 10-15 feet behind the swim platform. You’ll want more distance if you have a nice boat like a Centurion. This will put you right into the sweet spot when you get pulled up.
Getting on the Board
Now that you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to jump in!
Once you get behind the boat, you want to lay the board on top of the water between yourself and the boat. The front end of the board should be pointed towards whichever side of the boat you have decided to surf on. The board should be parallel to the swim deck and perpendicular to the rope.
Once your board is positioned in the right direction, you want to place your heels on the edge of the board closest to you. Your back foot should be close to the rear end of the board, and your front foot should be somewhere near the middle lengthwise.
Your feet should rest on the board while your lifejacket keeps you afloat.
Footwork
With your feet on the board’s inside edge, you want to hold the rope with two hands. You should lift the handle up as it is positioned right between your knees.
To get the board to flip up to your feet, press those heels down into the water as you lift the handle up with your hands. Pressing your hands and feet away from each other is the best way to get the board to flip onto your feet.
Once you feel the board flush on your feet, you want to stay in the chair position and pretend your friend is trying to help you up from sitting on the ground. I give you this example because it is important not to fight against the boat and push against the water. That’s the best way to strain your back.
You want to slowly stand up and let the boat do all the work.
Once you have made it to your feet (Congrats!), you want to let go of the rope with your backhand and try to shuffle your feet to the center line of the board.
Ready to Surf
Alright, now you’re up and riding!
To feel the push of the wave, you will need to keep constant pressure on the inside edge of your board. If you are facing the wave, you want to keep constant pressure on your toes.
Now that you’ve got your hands on the wheel, it’s time for gas and breaks. Leaning forward and reaching your front arm towards the boat will make you surf faster and bring you closer to the boat. Putting more weight on the back foot will slow you down quite quickly.
You want to make very small adjustments leaning forward and back. A little shift will go a long way.
The Sweet Spot
Once you start riding forward and back in the wave, you will eventually find the “sweet spot.” This is the part of the wave you should usually be in or near and has the most power.
Once you have found the sweet spot, you should notice the rope go slack. This means you’re ready to toss the rope and be forever addicted!
I hope you have enjoyed my beginners’ guide to wake surfing. I would love to see a picture of your first-time smile! Tag me on Instagram (@keenanflegel), and feel free to ask me any questions!
Stay Safe on the Water This Season
No matter how you enjoy the water – on a boat or wake surfing behind it – make sure you know how to stay safe on the water.
Keenan mentioned a crucial tip for being safe: wearing a lifejacket. However, that’s only one aspect of water safety!
Let BOATsmart! help you spend more time on the water with a lower risk of injury or drowning. Take our boating education course to build your knowledge about safety essentials when boating or enjoying watersports.
You never know when it could be your turn to drive the wake surfing boat, so make sure you’re prepared to do so safely.
Canadians, take our Canada-approved course. For boaters and watersports enthusiasts in the U.S., choose the course for your state.
Originally published May 27, 2019. Content most recently reviewed and updated July 30, 2024.
