List of surface water sports

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Windsurfing is a typical surface water sport


Towed water sports[edit]

Environmental impact includes noise, pollutants, shoreline degradation, and disturbance and dislocation of wildlife,[1] and the governing body, the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) has been acting to reduce this impact. The IWWF also governs the related sports of barefoot skiing, cable skiing, cable wakeboard, disabled ski, racing, show ski, water skiing, and wakesurfing.[2]


A skurfer

A surface water sport in which the participant is towed on a surfboard, behind a boat, with a ski rope. It is not a professional sport and has no competitions; it is a freestyle sport with highly individualistic style and form.


Two tubers

Tubing, also known as biscuiting, is where a large circular rubber tube is towed behind a boat at fast speeds. The general aim is to hold on as long as possible without falling off due to the boat's sharp turns; more experienced biscuiters also try to jump the boat's wake and become airborne.

Wake sports[edit]

It is a sport that involves riding a wake while being towed by a motorboat, personal watercraft, close-course cable systems, ski lifts, winches or a crane[3] at speeds of between 30 and 40 mph.


The participant is towed on a small board riding a wake produced by the towing boat, and attempts to do tricks. Events are organized by the World Wakeboarding Association.[4] A special wakeboarding boat has a wakeboard tower, which places pull point higher above water's surface which makes it easier to jump. Wakeboarding boats have a ballast system that pumps water into tanks to increase displacement, and enlarge the wake.


The main difference between boarding and skating is that in wakeskating the rider is not bound to the board so it's a lot easier to perform stunts. It's like skateboarding on water.


It differs from other wake sports in that the boat does not tow a rider (continuously). The rider uses a tow rope to help him get up in the wake. After doing so, he drops the rope and then rides the wake as he would when surfing.

Water skiing[edit]

Water skiing



Board sports[edit]


A bodyboarder


A kitesurfer

Kite sports[edit]

Kite surfing[edit]


A surfer in Oahu, Hawaii


Uses a wake-style board with bindings. It's a crossover from wakeboarding.


Uses a wake-style board without bindings. It's a crossover from wakeskating.


Aside from snow it is practiced on frozen water (lakes).












Hydrofoil sailing[edit]



Bodysurfing in La Jolla, California


See also[edit]


  1. ^ "International Water Ski & Wakeboard Federation Environmental Handbook for Towed Water Sports" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  2. ^ IWWF. "What is the IWWF". International waterski and wakeboard Federation. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  3. ^ Red Bull Wake Crane Pula
  4. ^ "Welcome". World Wake Association. Retrieved 2018-12-29.