Try These Activities Behind Your Boat Instead

It’s no surprise that here in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, many of our favorite summer activities take place on Minnesota’s abundant bodies of water. Waterskiing is a classic choice, but if you or your family are looking to branch out and try something new behind your boat, here are three activities to consider.

Wakeboarding

You’re probably already familiar with wakeboarding; it’s been around for about 30 years. It also has the “cool factor” that waterskiing doesn’t. While you probably can’t waterski behind a pontoon boat, it is possible to wakeboard, so that might make it appealing to families with older children/teens. Many people also consider it easier to learn than waterskiing and less taxing for your body since it’s typically done at a slower speed than waterskiing.

Wakesurfing

A new form of wakeboarding is wakesurfing, which has been gaining popularity on Minnesota lakes. However, you’re not being pulled by a rope behind the boat, though you do use it to get up initially. Once you’re up, you drop the rope and then ride the wake that is created by the boat. Wakesurfing is appealing because it’s done at a much slower speed than wakeboarding, so falling off doesn’t hurt. Anyone can do it, so it’s popular with everyone from kids to baby boomers.

Wake Foil 

Another iteration of wakeboarding is a wake foil board. Wake foil boards have been all the rage for the last couple of years; it’s essentially a surfboard with an attached hydrofoil (or a fin with wings) that extends below the water. The design of the wake foil board causes it to lift out of the water so that a rider stands a few feet in the air as it moves through the water. 

Part of the rising popularity of riding a wake foil is that you don’t need perfectly calm water. No matter how rough the water is, you can float smoothly and silently over it on a wake foil. Plus, you can ride behind virtually any boat with a motor. Some people liken it to the smooth ride of a snowboard on the best powder day of the season.

When trying a wake sport, remember to wake responsibly. That includes staying at least 200 feet away from docks and the shore to minimize adverse effects to the shoreline and avoiding multiple passes. Courteous behavior ensures the lake experience is safe and enjoyable for all! Take the wake responsibly pledge at https://www.wakeresponsibly.com