The sun is shining, the water is glassy, and the boat is gassed up. If you're gearing up for an epic weekend on the lake, your first stop is Blauer Board Shop for your gear. But when you walk through our doors to grab a rental, you might face a tough decision: Wakeboard or Wakeskate?
Both offer an incredible time behind the boat, but they deliver completely different experiences. If you’re torn on which board to snag for your next session, we’ve put together this quick guide to help you choose the perfect ride.
Wakeboarding: The Classic Thrill
Wakeboarding is the undeniable king of modern tow sports. A wakeboard is relatively large and features bindings (boots) that keep your feet firmly attached to the board.
The Vibe: Think of wakeboarding like snowboarding on water. Because you are strapped in, the board goes wherever you go. This lets riders carve aggressively, launch massive airs off the wake, and perform high-flying spins and inverts.
Why You Should Rent a Wakeboard:
- Easier for Beginners: If you have never been towed behind a boat, a wakeboard is the best place to start. Being strapped in makes the deep-water start more intuitive.
- Total Control: The bindings give you incredible leverage to edge into the wake and pop off the top of it.
- Big Air: If your goal is to jump as high and far as possible, the wakeboard is your weapon of choice.
Who it’s best for: First-timers, adrenaline junkies looking for big air, and anyone who loves snowboarding.
Wakeskating: The Unbound Evolution
Wakeskating takes the concept of wakeboarding and strips away the bindings. A wakeskate is smaller, more maneuverable, and topped with either grip tape (like a skateboard) or a soft EVA foam pad. You ride it wearing skate shoes or barefoot.
The Vibe: Wakeskating brings the skatepark to the lake. Without bindings, you have total foot freedom. Instead of huge, soaring jumps, wakeskating is all about technical, skate-style tricks—think kickflips, shove-its, and board slides.
Why You Should Rent a Wakeskate:
- Ultimate Freedom: There's a unique, surfy feeling riding the water without being locked in. Plus, when you fall, you simply step off the board instead of taking a heavy edge-catch.
- A New Challenge: If you’re a seasoned wakeboarder who can jump the wake in your sleep, wakeskating will reset your progression. It makes small wakes and slower boat speeds fun again.
- Skateboarders will love it: If you spend your winters at the skatepark, the mechanics of wakeskating will feel instantly familiar.
Who it’s best for: Skateboarders, experienced wakeboarders looking to spice things up, and riders who prefer technical, flip-based tricks over massive jumps.
The Verdict: Which Should You Rent?
Still on the fence? Here is the Blauer Board Shop cheat sheet
- Rent a Wakeboard if: It’s your first time behind a boat, you want an easier learning curve, or your main goal is to catch big air.
- Rent a Wakeskate if: You have a background in skateboarding, you want to learn flip tricks, or you’re an experienced wakeboarder looking for a brand new challenge.
Why Not Both? At the end of the day, the best way to know is to try them out! At Blauer Board Shop, our rental fleet is fully stocked with the latest and greatest wakeboards and wakeskates from top-tier brands.
Stop by the shop today, chat with our crew, and let’s get you set up with the perfect board for your weekend on the water. See you out there!
Ready to book your rental? Drop by Blauer Board Shop or give us a call to reserve your gear before it’s gone for the weekend!