Wakesurfing – get in shape to master carving, ollies, shuvs, 720 spins and riding backside
- Riders use a rope to stand, but unlike wakeboarding, they let go of it and ride the wake. The sport puts less strain on the body than wakeboarding
- Models’ social media posts have ignited a craze for wakesurfing in Hong Kong
If you’re one of the many people who gave wakesurfing a try on a junk trip this summer and felt the thrill of riding a wave, now is the time to start getting serious.
In recent times, the sport has been gaining popularity as a less strenuous alternative to wakeboarding. But it’s now reached fever pitch, after celebrities and models started posting photos on social media of themselves riding waves off the back of speedboats, according to seasoned Hong Kong coaches.
Similar to wakeboarding, in which the rider is pulled up onto the surface of the water using a tow rope, wakesurfing allows the rider, once stable, to toss the rope back into the boat and coast along the wave. The boat is generally weighted to one side so that the “surf” area is more substantial.
“The whole culture of wakesurfing changed this year,” says Kin Chu, a wakeboard and wakesurf instructor with Wakeboard.com.hk in Tai Tam. “It used to be a bunch of people who came to hang out in the sun, but now with the examples on social media, riders come with goals, like ‘How many sessions do I need to do to be able to carve, or do a 360 spin?’ Some even come with a photo they’ve seen, and ask me to teach them, so they can get the same shot.”
But how hard is it? Instructors say watersport novices are able to pick up the sport fairly quickly, while expert wakeboarders will be able to find new ways to challenge themselves.