thumb|Wakeskating
Wakeskating is a water sport and an adaptation of wakeboarding that employs a similar design of board manufactured from maple or fibreglass. Unlike wakeboarding, the rider is not bound to the board in any way, similar to the skateboard, from which the name derives.
Design
Fins are constructed of plastic, fiberglass or aluminum. Shorter fins must be deeper to get the same amount of tracking.
Wakeskates are characterised by five parameters: size, material, deck shape, deck surface and rocker type.
Size
The appropriate length for a wakeskate depends on the rider's weight. A 39-inch wakeskate is suitable for a 180-pound rider. A wakeskate 41 or more inches long is best for a riders weighing 250 pounds or more. Shorter, lighter wakeskates are easy to maneuver and can be easily flicked, but they are comparatively unstable as the rider lands on the surface of the water. Larger wakeskates with more surface area are more stable.
Material
Wakeskate may be made of wood, or a composite material. A wood wakeskate consists of a wooden skate coated with marine-grade epoxy that gives it a finished look and prolongs its life. However, wooden wakeskates do not last as long as composite ones as the wood degrades with constant exposure to water, and do not usually have a manufacturer's warranty.
More expensive composite wakeskates, made of synthetic materials that do not degrade quickly with exposure to water, are more popular especially among professional riders because of their lighter weight and longer life.
See also
- Reed Hansen
- Skateboarding