Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing techniques.

Wake surfing - using surfboards as mono water skis - began picking up traction around 1964, where it was seen as an "exciting new sport that's soon going to sweep the waterways.

[citation needed] Eventually, wake boards with bindings or straps were sold in Australia under the name "McSkis".

Later, another company called "Skurfer" was founded by Tony Finn in 1985,[8] named as such due to the board being a cross of a surfboard and a water ski.

These include life vests or other buoyancy aids which prevent water-related injuries and deaths, as they keep the wearer buoyant until they are picked up.

The presence or absence of fins on the bottom of a board can also make a drastic difference in how it rides.

Most of these stem from the wakeboarder adjusting their posture, edge, and distribution of weight so as to fly into the air upon hitting the wake.

[22] The heel side backflip, otherwise known as a tantrum, is often regarded as the first and easiest invert to learn as an intermediate level rider.

Popular brands like Byerly, Hyperlight, O'Brien and Ronix provide ever evolving technology and equipment as well as quality advice for new and seasoned riders alike.

[24] Many movements and tricks in wakeboarding bear close resemblance to moves also found in kitesurfing.

Wakeboarding in wake and waterski parks is thus often considered a more approachable wind condition independent alternative to kitesurfing and has seen a surge in popularity in parallel to kitesurfing, especially in densely populated areas in Europe, such as Germany.