Wakeskates

Choosing a Wakeskate Deck

A wakeskate is the on-water cousin of a skateboard. There are no boots or bindings — the board has a textured deck you stand on, held only by grip and balance — which makes it one of the most technical and rewarding ways to ride behind a boat or at a cable park. Decks come with one of two top surfaces. Foam tops are soft underfoot and can be ridden barefoot, which suits learners and warm-water sessions. Grip-tape decks use a sandpaper-like surface for maximum hold and a true skate feel, but they're abrasive, so most riders wear shoes or boots on them. Check which surface a deck has before buying, because it changes how — and in what footwear — you ride it. Length is chosen by rider weight and skill. A shorter deck is quicker to spin and flip and turns more easily; a longer deck is more stable on the water and easier to ride at speed, which helps when you're starting out. Construction ranges from tough entry-level decks up to lighter, stiffer boards built for pressing obstacles and landing tricks. Wakeskates ride behind a range of tow craft — a jet ski or smaller boat is plenty — and many riders take them to the cable park to hit kickers and rails. A wakeboard rope at a shorter length suits wakeskating well. Brands here include Liquid Force, Ronix and KD, covering first decks through to advanced setups. Browse the range online or visit the Brisbane store.