Top 8 Best Wakesurf Boards for Kids
No ocean, no problem. Thanks to the popularity of wakeboarding—a combination of water skiing and surfboarding—people began wakeboarding without using a rope, which created a sport we now call wakesurfing. There is no credible evidence on who discovered it first, but landlocked states and countries are grateful for its evolution. Wakesurfing allows free movement on the wake created behind the boat. Taking on this sport is an exhilarating experience, but it’s even better when you can share that experience with your kids. Teaching the little ones to wakesurf on a board designed for kids is important to make it fun for them. If you’re planning of buying one for them, then this guide’s for you. Top 8 Best Wakesurf Boards for Kids The hardest part of kids learning to wakesurf is controlling the board when they are on top. The high buoyancy of the wakesurf board relative to their size makes it harder for them if they aren’t using the correct form and size. Having kids ride on kid-specific boards will allow them to better control the board, making the learning process easier. There are several options available on the market. Choosing one that’s best for your kid can be confusing. Our research brings you eight of the best wakesurf boards for you to consider. Hyperlite Shim Jr. (Our Top Pick) Connelly Dash (Best Budget) Hyperlite Wingman Jr. (Best High End) Ronix Kid’s Flyweight Skimmer Ronix Super Sonic Space Odyssey Powertail Phase 5 Shrimp Driftsun Gromp Jet Pilot Glass Slipper 1. Hyperlite Shim Jr. — Our Top Pick Specifications: Fin setup: Tri Fin Length: 46 in Center Width: 19.5 in Rider Weight Capacity: ≤140 lbs Since 1991, Hyperlite has been one of the most innovative and trusted brands for wakesurfers. Their confidence in their material selections and construction delivers both quality and performance to their line of wakesurf boards, wake skimboards, vests, and rope sets. Hyperlite Shim Jr. is a hybrid-style wakesurf board that’s perfect for intermediate and advanced wakesurfers. As a hybrid board, kids can use the wakesurf board for either wake skimming or wake surfing. The board’s tri-fin system lets kids use it with one, two, or three fins at a time. The flexibility of the wakesurf board gives aspiring riders the chance to take their skills to the next level. Kids can learn rotational maneuvers for air tricks much easier due to their compact shape. This form factor features Hyperlite’s new DuraShell Technology, which combines the durability of a compression molded shape with the buoyancy and feel of a high-end EPS board. The Shim Jr. comes with a fast rocker design to carry speed with great precision on the curl. The diamond tail offers a combination of a pin tail and squash tail, which allows tight turns with the slightest movement of the feet. At only 5 lbs, younger kids can easily carry the Shim. 2. Connelly Dash — Best Budget Specifications: Fin setup: Tri Fin Length: 44 in Center Width: 19.7 in Rider Weight Capacity: ≤125 lbs Connelly has been there since the beginning of water sports. For over 50 years, they continuously researched and developed high-quality water sports products. Experience makes a difference, and that is true in their line of wakesurf boards. The most affordable wakesurf board on this list, the Connelly Dash, is the perfect teaching tool for young wakesurf beginners. The skim style shape offers a wide belly of the board, which adds stability and tolerance. Lighter riders can better engage and stay on the wave with the help of the sharper rails. With a minimalist flat design of the bottom, kids can generate max speed in the shortest time possible. The top design comprises a full EVA Foam traction surface that adds more stability, boosting their confidence to ride the wave. As a compression molded board, it’s heavier than other boards to add more durability. Dash is fitted with a Tri fin or Thruster setup. The larger, center fin provides superior tracking. The other two flat foil side fins generate speed and hold in the wave’s face. Its pin tail design is the narrowest width of all tail shapes, resulting in better directional surf, maximizes water flow, and minimizes lift. 3. Hyperlite Wingman Jr. — Best High End Specifications: Fin type: Quad Fin Length: 46 in Center Width: 19.5 in Rider Weight Capacity: ≤120 lbs The perfect way to describe the Hyperlite Wingman—Lift and Speed in a compact package. That’s what Scott “Butch” Bouchard, a prestigious wakeboard designer, envisioned when he designed the Wingman. The junior version of the Hyperlite Wingman Wakesurf Board comes with all the top-end construction and features as its big brother but is condensed to fit a grom—a young precocious surfer. As such, it’s one of the most advanced grom boards suited for intermediate and advanced surfers. Wingman Jr. is a surf-style wakesurf board that’s meant for kids that prefer having different options. The surf-style board offers power generation through its bottom turn but is still able to leave the waterline swiftly. This style opens up to bigger air carves and tricks without sacrificing control for a clean cutback. Handcrafted using an epoxy construction method makes this wakesurf board is lighter and more buoyant than other boards in its category. Kids can ride it with a quad-fin setup for max acceleration or a dual-fin setup for better control. The wider tail shape complements the swallow tail design, increasing the turning arcs and adding push stability. Butch claims that this is a “Go Big or Go Home” type of board. If your kid wants a bit of a challenge, you better get one for the grom. 4. Ronix Kid’s Flyweight Skimmer Specifications: Fin type: Single Fin Length: 46 in Center Width: 20.5 in Rider Weight Capacity: ≤100 lbs In the grand scheme of things, Ronix is a newer brand. However, they managed to set their foot as one of the leading brands in water sports. With an amazing pro team, most notably Julia Rick—the first Wakeboarding rider … Read more