Updated April 1, 2023
Wakesurfing came onto the scene in a big way in the late 90s and is proving to be a popular and exciting hybrid of surfing and wakeboarding. Only using a tow rope to get started surfing the wake, there is no foot attachment and no continuous towing as in wakeboarding. What’s more, in comparison to surfing, wakesurfing doesn’t require you to wait all day, week, or year for good surf conditions to arise. Just head out on the boat and start the action.
As in all board sports, there is a great variety of boards on the market and different styles and features to consider. Below are ten of the best encompassing the range available. Descriptions, key features, photos, and videos are offered, followed by a comparison table, a simple buying guide, and some top wakesurfing tips.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know in the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of board sports gear, please check out these popular posts:
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Best Wakesurf Board Reviews
- Driftsun Throwdown Wakesurf Board
- Driftsun Fifty-50 Wakesurf Board
- Hyperlite Broadcast Wakesurf Board
- Ronix Marsh Mellow Thrasher Wakesurf Board
- Airhead PFish Wakesurf Board
- O’Brien Space Dust Wakesurf Board
- CWB Connelly Ride Wakesurf Board
- Ronix Koal Classic Longboard Wavesurf Board
- Liquid Force El Guapo 5’6″ Wakesurf Board
- Hyperlite Shim Wakesurf Board
Driftsun Throwdown Wakesurf Board
The Driftsun Throwdown is a versatile surf style model great for beginners that offers plenty for more experienced wake surfers to enjoy as well.
It’s durable with an EPS core, natural wood stringer, hand finish, and a stable platform with a low rail and rolled edges sturdy enough for surfers up to 250 pounds.
Responsive and maneuverable due to a dual concave bottom, adjustable quad fins, diamond tail, and kick back end, it has the features for you to work on a few tricks beyond just basic cruising.
- Length: 4’8” (available in 4’6” model)
- Style: surf
- Level: beginner-intermediate
- EPS core with wood stringer
- Hand-glassed finish
- EVA traction pad
- Adjustable F4 quad fin set-up
- Kick back end
- Dual concave base contour, square nose, a low rail, and rolled edges
- Diamond tail
- Price: $
Driftsun Fifty-50 Wakesurf Board
The Driftsun Fifty-50 is a great first model for newcomers to a skim-style board to develop confidence, that has features and options for advanced riders, as well.
It’s durable and well crafted with an EPS core, natural wood stringer, reinforced carbon-fiber rails, and carbon-fiber wrap with hand-finished polished fiberglass.
The flat bottom with sharp rails is slick and fast and the EVA traction pad, kick back end, kicktail, and adjustable 3-fin set-up give you the capacity for advanced maneuverability.
- Length: 4’9”
- Style: skim
- Level: intermediate-advanced
- EPS core with wood stringer
- Full carbon fiber wrap
- Hand-finished with polished epoxy fiberglass
- Reinforced carbon fiber rails
- EVA traction pad
- FCS style interchangeable 3 fin set-up
- Kick back end
- Kicktail
- Minimal rocker on a flat bottom with sharp rails
- Price: $$
Hyperlite Broadcast Wakesurf Board
The Hyperlite Broadcast Wavesurf Board performs well for all levels of rider.
The dual concave base, swallowtail, traction pad, and 3 fin set-up make it maneuverable and responsive, able to generate speed for tricks or maintain cruising in the curl.
It has durable pressure molded construction with a 250-pound capacity, an integrated top and bottom, and a layered fiberglass deck resistant to delamination on side impacts.
- Length: 5’4” (available in 4’8” model)
- Style: surf
- Level: beginner-advanced
- Layered fiberglass deck
- Monocoque pressure molded construction with integrated top and bottom fiberglass
- Molded EVA traction pad
- Rolled edge profile
- 3 fin set-up
- Swallowtail
- Minimal rocker on a dual concave base
- Price: $
Ronix Marsh Mellow Thrasher Wakesurf Board
The Ronix Marsh Mellow Thrasher with its soft-top, lightweight, buoyant deck is exceptionally durable and resistant to dings and dinging.
It has a hard rail that is most effective in a small wake with minimal rocker, dual concave base, and three fins for effective tracking and maneuverability.
Great for beginner to intermediate level riders, 175 pounds is the maximum recommended weight.
- Length: 4’8” (also available in 5‘2” model)
- Style: surf
- Level: beginner-intermediate
- Machined soft-top, light, and buoyant EVA deck
- Two 3” and one 2.9” black polycarbonate fins
- Hard rail
- Kicktail
- Minimal rocker on a dual concave base
- Price: $$$
The Airhead Pfish is a short 4’1” skim-style wakesurf board great for beginners breaking into riding a skimboard with its wide, stable platform.
The more advanced will appreciate the foothold on the grooved EVA traction deck, and the two removable fins, big kicker, and fishtail when they work on moves like shove-its and air reverses.
This low-priced board is best kept to riders with a maximum weight of 175 pounds and is a favorite of women.
- Length: 4’1”
- Style: skim
- Level: beginner-advanced
- Fiberglass construction
- Grooved EVA deck for traction
- 2 removable fins
- Kicker
- Fishtail
- Price: $
O’Brien Space Dust Wakesurf Board
The O’Brien Space Dust Wakesurf Board is another great model for riders getting their first taste of riding a skim-style board.
With one short removable fin, fast rocker, sharp rail, and good traction EVA deck pads, there is a loose feel as you glide and spin and find inspiration for something more.
It’s a great fit for riders up to 200 pounds.
- Length: 4’4”
- Style: skim
- Level: beginner-intermediate
- Compression-molded construction
- Machined EVA deck pads
- 1 removable 1.1” fin
- Sharp rail
- Fast rocker
- Tapered nose and rounded pintail
- Price: $
CWB Connelly Ride Wakesurf Board
The CWB Connelly Ride model has the shape and features to suit beginners and experts.
It has durable compression molded construction and offers the option of how many of the three removable fins to use to ride in traditional surf style or skim.
Combined, the fins, rocker, double-edge rails, kicktail, and dual traction pads provide the tools for excellent maneuverability whether you want to cruise in the groove or skim across the top.
Most rider weights are suitable.
- Length: 5’2”
- Style: hybrid
- Level: beginner-advanced
- Compression-molded construction
- Polyurethane resin core
- 2-piece EVA deck traction pads
- Three 1.75” removable fins
- 9” rocker
- Double-edge rails
- Molded kicktail
- Blunt nose
- Price: $
Ronix Koal Classic Longboard Wavesurf Board
The Ronix Koal Classic Longboard pays homage to old-style surfboards.
With its length, lightweight, and full rails with soft bevels, it’s buoyant and stable for riders of all sizes and capabilities from novice to very experienced.
Durable with a machined core and fiberglass shell, it has a full-length EVA pad across the top for traction and a long fiberglass single fin for maneuverability and control.
Pricing is on the high side.
- Length: 5’4” (also available in 4’10” model)
- Style: surf
- Level: beginner-advanced
- Lightweight machined core
- Fiberglass shell
- Machined EVA top pad
- Full rail with soft bevels
- 1 fiberglass 4.5” fin
- Air vents in the EVA tail wedge
- Round tail
- Price: $$$
Liquid Force El Guapo 5’6″ Wakesurf Board
The Liquid Force El Guapo is another model with throwback longboard styling.
It has an EPS core with stringer and hand-laminated fiberglass shell for durability and a double concave hull and beveled rails for stability.
The longboard fin is adjustable with a looser feel when positioned forward and more control when in the back.
The full-length traction pad will help you hang 5 on this handsome model that fits all sizes and levels of rider.
- Length: 5’6” (also available in 5’2” model)
- Style: surf
- Level: beginner-advanced
- EPS foam core with stringer
- Full-length EVA deck pad
- Hand-laminated fiberglass
- Concave hull with spoon nose
- Beveled rails
- Adjustable single longboard fin
- Round tail
- Price: $$
The Hyperlite Shim is a durable and agile hybrid model combining the best of surf and skim styling.
Durable construction with a single concave contour, mellow channels, a hard rail, and 3 adjustable fins allow intermediate riders and above to set it up for stable speedy cruising or the rotations and air of a skimboard.
This model will best suit riders from 90 to 180 pounds.
The two other models in the line will handle smaller and larger riders.
- Length: 4’7” (available in 3’9” and 5’3” models)
- Style: hybrid
- Level: intermediate-advanced
- Dura-shell construction
- Compression-molded EPS core
- Full-length EVA traction pad
- Layered fiberglass
- Single concave hull contour
- Hard rail
- Mellow tail channels
- 3 removable fins
- Pintail
- Price: $$
Best Wakesurf Boards Comparison Table
| Wakesurf Board | Photo | Level | Length | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driftsun Throwdown Wakesurf Board |   | Beginner-Intermediate | 4 feet 8 inches | Surf | $ |
| Driftsun Fifty-50 Wakesurf Board |   | Intermediate-Advanced | 4 feet 9 inches | Skim | $$ |
| Hyperlite Broadcast Wakesurf Board |   | Beginner-Advanced | 5 feet 4 inches | Surf | $ |
| Ronix Marsh Mellow Thrasher Wakesurf Board |   | Beginner-Intermediate | 4 feet 8 inches | Surf | $$$ |
| Airhead PFish Wakesurf Board |   | Beginner-Advanced | 4 feet 1 inch | Skim | $ |
| O'Brien Space Dust Wakesurf Board |   | Beginner-Intermediate | 4 feet 4 inches | Skim | $ |
| CWB Connelly Ride Wakesurf Board |   | Beginner-Advanced | 5 feet 2 inches | Hybrid | $ |
| Ronix Koal Classic Longboard Wavesurf Board |   | Beginner-Advanced | 5 feet 4 inches | Surf | $$$ |
| Liquid Force El Guapo 5'6" Wakesurf Board |  | Beginner-Advanced | 5 feet 6 inches | Surf | $$ |
| Hyperlite Shim Wakesurf Board |   | Intermediate-Advanced | 4 feet 7 inches | Hybrid | $$ |
| Wakesurf Board | Photo | Level | Length | Style | Price |
Wakesurf Boards Buying Guide
Board Style
- Surf-Style – The board used for this style is most similar to a regular ocean surfboard and is the easiest to learn wakesurfing on. With longer fins and a thicker more buoyant body it catches the wave easily and provides the fastest, most stable ride.
- Skim-Style – This style of board is designed to be more nimble and maneuverable and is suited for more experienced and advanced riders. It is shorter with a thinner body and shorter fins as well and is the type used for fantastic spinning and aerial tricks.
- Hybrid-Style – As suggested this is a mixture of the two styles. It can be speedy and stable like the surf-style but offers maneuverability and trick-execution possibilities of the skim-style. Intermediate to advanced riders will be most comfortable and capable of utilizing the features of a hybrid-style board.
Rail
This concerns the structure of the edge of the board which controls the amount of water flow over the top. Less water will mean there is better grip and stability which comes at the expense of speed.
- Full Rail – This provides the highest level of stability but is harder to make turns with and is generally less maneuverable.
- Hard Rail is more suitable for performing stunts and tricks, and turns easily, but is less stable.
- Blended Rail is in between the two with a mixed capability for maneuvering and stability.
Rocker
This refers to the amount of curve in the bottom of the board. A bottom with less rocker sits high on the water and can offer more speed. With more rocker, the board sits lower in the water and is more stable and maneuverable.
Fins
Wakesurf boards, like surfboards, come with fins in the back, generally from 1 to 4 or 5. The smaller the fins and the lower the number the easier it is for the board to break free and resist tracking. The greater the number or size makes the tail of the board tighter which will be good for increasing speed when the board is pumped.
Tail
The tail affects the balance and how the board rides through the water. There are at least eight identifiable tail shapes available including pin, bat, square, squash, round, half-moon, diamond, and swallow.
Wide tail shapes are common on wakesurf boards and catch the wave most easily. Broad rounded or square shapes are good for acceleration and a great option for smaller waves.
Smaller less broad tail shapes will be more maneuverable for turns and give a looser feel. Skimboards often have more pointed, smaller rounded tails that are the most agile for tricks and spins. Rounder shapes don’t have the same push as broader tails and are better suited for medium to large waves.
The swallowtail design incorporates a little of both broad and narrow tails. They are broad enough for push and acceleration with responsiveness and maneuverability in turns. It’s a good style for smaller waves.
Top Wakesurfing Tips
For more reviews of board sports gear, please check out these popular posts:
Beginner Surfboards Soft Top Surfboards Surfboards Surfboard Car Racks Surf Booties Surfing Wetsuits Surfboard Travel Bags Men’s Rash Guards Women’s Rash Guards Wake Boards Skimboards Stand Up Paddleboards Bodyboards Bodyboard Fins
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