Wakeboarding uses a rope attached to the boat at all times — the rider is towed and performs tricks above and off the wake. Wake surfing uses the boat's wake to create a self-sustaining wave that the rider surfs without a rope (after the initial pull). Wake surfing requires a specialized inboard boat that displaces water to form a large, surfable wave. Wakeboarding can be done behind most boats; wake surfing requires a dedicated surf-capable vessel.
What is the difference between wakeboarding and wake surfing?
