Heading out on the water this holiday season?
Wake surfing while on vacation is a great way to enjoy time with family and friends. Boat. Board. Wake. It just doesn’t get much better than that.
But here’s the thing…
There are inherent dangers associated with wakesurfing if you’re unprepared. Beginner riders are at a greater risk for injuries as they tend to dive right in without proper equipment or a game plan. Luckily you can easily fix that with a quick safety checklist.
Here’s your complete pre-ride checklist to complete before your first wakesurfing holiday experience.
Let’s jump in!
What’s Inside This Guide:
- Why Holiday Wakesurfing Safety Matters
- The Pre-Ride Gear Checklist
- On-The-Water Rules To Follow
- Common Beginner Mistakes To Avoid
Why Holiday Wakesurfing Safety Matters
Holidays are the busiest time on the water.
Boats. Riders. Opportunities for tragedy to occur. The US Coast Guard’s most recent statistics showed there were 556 fatal boating casualties in 2024. Operator inattention and operator inexperience are leading contributors.
That’s a big deal for first-time wakesurfers.
Why? Because most beginners are being towed behind a friends or family member operating the boat … NOT a professional. This means there is a greater chance of something happening to you as a beginner.
Holiday wakesurfing safety really comes down to 3x things:
- Having the right gear
- Following the right rules
- Knowing what mistakes to avoid
Do those correctly and you’ll have a terrific session. Ignore them and you’re playing Russian roulette. To assist you with step number one, it may benefit you to purchase one of the best wakesurf boards designed for beginners – they’re wider, more stable and much more forgiving when you fall.
Now let’s break down the full checklist.
The Pre-Ride Gear Checklist
Gear is settled before you get into the boat.
Here’s what every first-time rider needs:
- A US Coast Guard approved life jacket (Type III or higher)
- A beginner-friendly wakesurf board
- A wakesurf rope (NOT a wakeboard rope)
- A boat with an inboard motor (not an outboard)
- A dedicated spotter who isn’t driving the boat
Let’s break each one down.
Life Jacket
This is non-negotiable.
According to the Coast Guard, 87% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket in 20 24. That is a lot of risk. A lot of avoidable risk.
Don’t be a statistic.
Wear a properly fitting Type III PFD when you ride. Your life jacket should feel comfortable and snug. Try it out in shallow water first to ensure it keeps you afloat comfortably.
The Right Board
Entry level boards are wider, longer, and have more volume than performance boards. They will float you higher and make it much easier to get up on your first attempt.
Avoid the beginner’s error of using a friends board. You will hate it and waste your session.
Wakesurf Rope
Wake surf ropes are much shorter and beefier than wakeboard ropes. They’re designed to easily release once you’re in the pocket.
Using the wrong rope is dangerous. Period.
The Right Boat
Holiday wakesurfing ONLY occurs behind an inboard motor boat. This means the propeller is safely tucked inside of the boat.
Why does this matter so much?
Keep this in mind because surfers paddle right up near the back of the boat. When using an outboard motor, your prop sits fully exposed at the back of your boat — right where you’ll be if you fall. Prop strike injuries can be some of the most severe water sport injuries to heal from.
Stick with inboard wake boats. Always.
On-The-Water Rules To Follow
Once you’re geared up, it’s time to hit the water.
However, before you jump into holiday wakesurfing, it’s important to understand the basic on-water rules of holiday wakesurfing safety. Follow these rules and everyone around you will remain safe.
Follow these every single time you ride:
- Keep boat speed between 10-12 mph
- Never ride at night
- Always use hand signals to communicate
- Stay at least 200 feet from other boats and the shore
- Make sure your spotter is watching at all times
Signals: Communication by hand is crucial to newcomers. Boat engines are loud. Water activity is loud. Shouting doesn’t do much good.
Learn these 5x hand signals before you ride:
- Thumbs up = Speed up
- Thumbs down = Slow down
- Patting head = Go back to dock
- OK sign = Everything is fine
- Slashing throat = STOP immediately
Run through these with your driver before pushing off. 60 seconds of your time and may save your life.
Don’t Drink And Ride
Sounds obvious, right?
However, alcohol still remains the largest holiday wakesurfing issue we face. In 20 24 alcohol was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents causing 92 deaths, which was 20% of total deaths.
Holiday equals parties. Parties equal drinks. But drinks and wakesurfing should never mix — for the driver OR the rider.
Save the drinks for AFTER the session.
Common Beginner Mistakes To Avoid
Now let’s talk about the mistakes that trip up most first-time riders.
Steering clear of these will keep you from experiencing a lot of agony and headaches on your vacation trip.
Pulling Too Hard On The Rope
When you jump out of the water, your reaction is to pull down on the rope as hard as possible.
Don’t.
Don’t fight the boat. Simply grip the rope and allow the boat to gently pull you upwards. Keep your arms relaxed and bent.
Standing Up Too Early
Many novices attempt to stand as soon as they feel the boat pulling them up. Doing this will toss you off balance every time.
Keep your body in a squat position. Let the board roll up on top of the water. THEN stand up slowly.
Ignoring The Weather
Holiday weather can change fast.
If it starts to blow or get choppy, bag it. Don’t force mediocre conditions just because you drove all this way. Poor weather always wrecks your session (or worse) in a hurry.
Not Having A Spotter
Your spotter is the person on the boat who has NOTHING else to do except keep an eye on you.
They aren’t texting. They aren’t eating chips. They are watching the rider every minute they are in the water. Actually many states laws require a spotter — so check first.
Bringing It All Home
Holiday wakesurfing is awesome. Real talk.
HOWEVER…it’s only cool if you’re prepared properly. The good news is this list will handle 99% of the safety aspects if you do this:
- Get the right gear — board, rope, life jacket
- Use the right boat — inboard motor only
- Follow the on-water rules — signals, speed, sober
- Don’t make the common mistakes beginners make — yanking, standing up early, or not using a spotter
That’s it.
Pack your equipment, round up your buddies, and head out for some fun in the sun. Just be sure to check everything on this list before you depart from shore. You’ll thank yourself (the uninjured version) later.
