Surf’s Up on Lake Tulloch

The recent years have brought many new and exciting water sports to the lake arena along with ingenious twists on classic sports.

With the advent of waterskiing in 1922, water became the new medium for sports enthusiasts.
By 1925 the first ski jump was completed and by 1947 barefoot waterskiing made its debut. In 1967 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the IWSF (International Water Skiing Federation) as an official partner.

In the early ‘80’s a new sport was unveiled with the invention of the Skurfer, a modified surf board with the rider towed at speeds of up to 25 mph. Soon thereafter straps and boots were added to allow more versatility with stunts, control and movement. In 1990 ESPN aired the first Skurfer Championships and the World Wakeboard Association (WWA) was formed. Wake boarding became a passion for many water sport enthusiasts. Currently those enthusiasts are petitioning for the WWA to become an IOC recognized partner.
Though evolution is a natural part of the sporting process, a large step backwards was the idea behind the water skate. Going back to the roots of the boarding movement a surfboard like board without bindings, but with grip tape much like a skateboard, was created, known as the water skate.

Enter wake surfing. Wake surfing is defined as “using a surfboard or similar type board to surf the waves behind a boat.” Boat speeds range from 9 to 14 miles per hour creating a wake large enough to ‘catch a wave.’  The surfer uses a tow rope to pull themselves out of the water. Once the rider has their balance they release the rope and surf the wake created by the boat.

So when you see a nice speed boat not cutting through the water at a high rate of speed and a surf board gliding on the wake, you now know, you are watching wake surfing.

Pictured: first time surfer Marshall Maness.