Ready to jump into wakesurfing for the first time? Getting the right (or wrong) board can make or break your first run behind the boat. Here are our top picks for the best beginner wakesurf boards!
(Not sure which type of board to get?)
Before we dive into our top board picks, it's important to know the three types of wakesurf boards: Surf, skim, and hybrid. One's best for beginners, and the others are better for more experienced riders.
Start with a surf-style board
The surf-style boards are the easiest to ride. They have the most surface area, and their shape is similar to traditional surfboards -- a key advantage if you're used to surfing, and you're transitioning into wakesurfing.
Surf-style boards make it easier to get started in the water, which is usually where most beginners struggle. They also have larger fins and more pronounced rockers, both of which contribute to stability.
Advance to a hybrid, then a skim board
Skim boards are much smaller and have fewer fins with shallower rockers. They produce a "floaty" feel in the surf, and they're intended for experienced riders who want to perform spin tricks and grab air.
Hybrid boards combine the characteristics of a surf-style board and a skim board. These "middle-of-the-road" boards are great options for riders who've gotten comfortable with riding and who want to learn to perform tricks.
Want to learn more? Read: Wakesurf Board Types Compared
The Best Beginner Wakesurf Boards
Now that we've covered the best type of beginner wakesurfer, let's cover our top board picks!
Connelly Ride (Best overall pick)
The Connelly Ride is tailor made for beginner wakesurfers. Featuring three large (1.75") removable fins, the Stratus provides high stability. As you progress, you can remove the center fin to improve responsiveness and practice carving tighter in the wake.
The Ride is compression-formed with an EPS foam core, which yields high buoyancy with a thin and sharp rail that promotes better tracking and predictability.
Balancing out the sharp rail is a wing-shaped tail, which releases water at the dip as opposed to the tail. This creates a looser, more "cruise-y" feel that reduces the risk digging the board into the water and suffering a hard, knock-off bite while you learn to carve -- all key attributes a new rider will appreciate.
The Ride even includes a tow rope to help you get started with an assist from the boat! As your confidence builds, ditch the rope and practice self-starts -- all made easier by the board's wide, long profile.
Connelly Stratus (Most affordable pick)
The Stratus is the perfect board for any new rider looking to up his or her trick game and carving ability at speed. It's a durable and affordable board -- in fact, one of the most affordable wakesurf boards on the market today -- while affording a bit more responsiveness and agility than the Ride, in part thanks to its two fins and more stout shape (the Stratus is roughly 8" shorter than the Ride).
The Stratus enjoys reinforcement of its EPS foam core with a full-length wood stringer, while its squared tail provides plenty of surface area and stability, making the Stratus a relatively forgiving board.
Coupled with a generous foam bed to form a soft top, the Stratus is the perfect beginner board for riders willing to spend all day on the water pushing the limits and learning new tricks.
Hyperlite Landlock (Premium Beginner's Choice)
Hyperlite's wakeboards are the mid-engined sportscars of wakesurfing. We couldn't, in good conscience, not recommend one of their best beginner boards as a top choice. Sure, the Landlock is a bit more pricey than other beginner boards, but it shows in its performance.
Expertly shaped by wakesurfing legend Aaron Stumpf, the Landlock is one of the most controlled, nimble, and easy boards to learn with. Thanks to its forgiving shape and premium features, like a Biolite 3-core, monocoque/fiberglass construction, it's a board that'll grow with your skills, affording plenty of performance when you're ready to trick out and ride fast and hard.
Ronix Marsh Mellow Thraser (Most Durable Beginner Board)
If you're the type of rider who likes to go fast and break things while you learn a new skill, the deceptively named Marsh Mellow Thrasher from Ronix is probably the beginner wakesurf board for you.
Borrowing components from their top-tier boards, the Marsh Mellow features a hard, stable rail and deep fins for maximum edge hold, allowing you to push yourself to the limits, carving tighter n' tighter with each run behind the boat.
Of course, this board earns the name "Mellow" thanks to its increased buoyancy and extra top water speed, affording a traditional, floaty surfer feel that keeps things relaxed and loose when you want to dial it down.
O'Brien Wake Hog (Best Comfort)
Learning any new skill is a lot easier when you're simply comfortable practicing it. Enter the Wake Hog from O'Brien -- arguably the most comfortable wakesurf board on the market.
It features an edge-to-edge, tip-to-tail, ultra soft foam top that not only provides the most comfortable surface, it allows for maximum grip and control as your heel and toes dig in and take hold.
Coupled with its decidedly surfer-inspired shape, generous volume, squared tail, and triple fins, the Wake Hog provides some of the best hold in the water, with a plush feel that perfectly complements its surf-style characteristics.
Connelly Spark (Most Controllable Beginner Board)
The Spark was designed specifically for beginners by pro wakesurfers and instructors. Its cruiser shape, three large "Skater" fins, compression-molded core topped with EVA foam, and its subtle, low rocker all work together to provide what is arguably the most tracked, dialed in, forgiving wakesurf board available today.
The Spark perfectly balances carving responsiveness with overall stability, while its wide, square tail maximizes surface area and buoyancy for easier starts and transitions from edge to edge.
Ready to Ride? Keep Reading!
When it comes to wakesurfing for the first time, picking the right beginner board is only half the battle. There are plenty of pro tips and tricks you should know about -- it'll make your first days on the water easier, and more enjoyable!