Wakesurfing is a popular sport behind the boat and for good reason! You don’t always need smooth, glassy water conditions and the boat speed is much slower compared to wakeboarding and slalom skiing. Wakesurfing is fun, forgiving and often the best choice when introducing someone new to water sports. Wakesurfers span a range of shapes to accommodate specific riding styles and ability levels. Choosing a new wakesurf board can be daunting so in this article we’ll walk you through the 3 styles of boards, various constructions, and what size to choose.
STYLES:
- SURF: Surf shape wakesurf boards are the most popular option and are reminiscent of surfboards you’d you use in the ocean but are shrunken down to suit a boat wake. Traditional surf shapes have a thick profile and mellow rail/bevel allowing a rider to smoothly pivot a turn from their back foot and are best ridden with a few deep fins. A Surf style board is the most user-friendly as they are stable and catch waves easily. The can do tricks and spins, just with a fluid-like feel!
- SKIMMER: Skimmer’s are smaller in size, feature a thin profile and sharp rails designed to be responsive and playful. Most skimmers include a single fin resulting in a slippery, chaotic feel on the water but also allowing for easier for spins and shuvits! Their flat rocker and sharp rails result in a board that is extremely quick across the water meaning we often size-down.
- HYBRID: A mix of the two above styles, hybrid’s take the profile and rocker of a surfboard with the sharp rail of a skimmer offering the best of both worlds! Most hybrid boards feature 3 removable fins allowing the rider to choose how they want their board to respond. Hybrids are a great option for wake surfers not sure what they need but want a little bit of everything.
CONSTRUCTIONS:
Wakesurfers are available in 4 key constructions: Compression moulded fibreglass, plastic, epoxy, or carbon fibre. The construction of a wakesurf board determines its price, durability and performance often complimenting a specific style of board.
- COMPRESSION MOULDED FIBREGLASS: Durable and inexpensive but heavy and lacks response and board feel.
- PLASTIC SHELL: [DURASHELL OR SURFACE]: Durable and lightweight but lacks response and board feel. (Best beginner boards)
- EPOXY: Lightweight with the best board feel but suffers from poor durability. (Best for surf style boards and skimmers)
- CARBON FIBRE: Lightweight with the best response but expensive with average durability. (Best for skimmers)
SIZE GUIDE:
Wakesurfers are measured in feet and inches but unlike other water sports, there are no strict length recommendations. Instead, wakesurf boards rely on a combination of rider weight, wake size and board style. Longer boards have more surface area, volume and therefor buoyancy which makes them ideal for heavy riders or smaller boat wakes. Shorter boards are more manoeuvrable and are best suited to advanced riders, lighter weight riders or larger boat wakes.
SURF STYLE:
- 4’ (Kids up to 50 kg)
- 4’4 - 4’8 (50 - 80 kg)
- 4’8 - 5’2 (65 - 90 kg)
- 5’2 - 5’8 (90+ kg)
SKIMMER STYLE:
- 4’ (Kids up to 50 kg)
- 4’0 - 4’4 (50 - 80 kg)
- 4’4 - 4’10 (65 - 90 kg)
- 4’10 - 5’2 (90+ kg)
HYBRID STYLE:
- 4’ (Kids up to 50 kg)
- 4’4 - 4’8 (50 - 80 kg)
- 4’8 - 5’2 (65 - 90 kg)
- 5’2 - 5’8 (90+ kg)
Ronix 2025 High Voltage Core Beaux Skimmer
Description
His name is Beaux Wildman. A waterman in the truest sense. Beaux knows surfing on the North Shore. Beaux knows 900’s on a wakeboard. Beaux knows prone foiling. Beaux really knows high-energy skimmers and constructions. He wanted a more reactive and lightweight laminate than a traditional woven carbon fiber, so we worked with local aerospace suppliers on developing the perfect spread tow fabric. This material is thinner, lighter and has a much higher tensile strength. The result is a stiffer layup with energy unlike any surfer we have ever made. After we decided on our High Voltage Core, we then reinvented the skimmer rockerline. This brainchild has a smooth, stable rockerline running through the middle of the board for both riding switch and regular, but also can jump on the gas unlike any other board due to its faster rail rockerline. Feeling locked in with good tempo? Then, stay over the board. Needing a little extra push? Rely more on the outside rail. Predictability was also emphasized in the shape. A wider diamond tail allows for a more parallel outline, meaning shuvs and airs land with more speed and stability. A single concave bottom contour also helps maintain down-the-line momentum.
Specifications
• Floating Fin Technology
• 1 – 1” Blueprint Center Fin
• 1 – 1.8” Nub Center Fin
• Blended Grooved EVA Front / Rear Pad
• Lava Resin
• Handmade by Robots
• Core Vents
RIDING LEVEL: Advanced
CONSTRUCTION: High Voltage Carbon
THICKNESS: Thin
RAIL: Hard
