Wakesurf vs wake skim board: which should I get?
Short answer: a surf-style board (what we call a wakesurf board) is the easier place to start and is built for carving and pumping on the wave. A skim-style board is thinner and looser, built for spins, shuvs and tricks. Most new riders start on surf style.
Surf-style (wakesurf) boards
- More volume and a surf-style shape, so they feel stable and hold speed on the wave.
- Ride like a small surfboard: carves, turns, airs off the lip.
- Kanuk wakesurf boards come with traction pads and fins.
- Good for: first boards, families sharing a board, riders who like to carve.
Skim-style (wake skim) boards
- Thinner and lower volume, so they sit lower in the wave and feel loose.
- Built for surface tricks: 180s, 360s, shuvs and big spins.
- Take more balance at first, especially at slower speeds.
- Good for: riders who already surf the wake and want to learn tricks.
Quick comparison
| Wakesurf (surf style) | Wake skim (skim style) | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Stable, drives down the wave | Loose, quick to spin |
| Best for | Carving, pumping, airs | Spins and surface tricks |
| Learning curve | Easier | Harder |
| Size range | 4'2" to 4'11" | 46" to 56" |
Can I have both?
Lots of boat crews do: a surf-style board for everyone to learn and cruise on, and a skim board for the riders working on tricks.
Which size?
Both types are sized by rider weight. See What size wakesurf board do I need? or use the size finder.