Wakeboarding
About:
History Of Wakeboarding
So where did wakeboarding come from? Who were the inventors of this excellent sport? There is no clear cut answer because the sport has evolved from many different sports at different times and is what it is because of creative individuals always pushing the limits. There are, however, a few people that stand out in the young history of the sport.
If you've ever tried to imagine where the sport came from, surfing will most likely pop into your mind quite easily. Wakeboarding has in fact partially evolved from surfing. The earliest form would most likely be from surfers getting pulled in to a massive wave that they are not able to paddle in by themselves. Think Endless Summer II. Tony Finn, a prominent figure in wakeboarding with a surfing background, developed the Skurfer back in the early 80s. With his partner John Hamilton, they started mass-producing skurfers for Skurfer Inc. Much thicker than today's wakeboards, the boards originally looked more like modified small-sized surfboards. The first models did not have straps, which were eventually added to give the rider more freedom to perform more complex tricks.
Recreational wakeboarders cover all age ranges and skill levels. However, the Pros are generally a young crowd ranging in age from early teens to early 20's. The style and attitude are laid back, similar to the skateboarding and in-line crowd but a bit more upscale simply because the sport requires more than a board or blades--it requires a boat (or a cable ski park) to propel them through the air. For the sport to continue to grow, cable parks will have to pop up all over the world, as it is the only affordable way for many people to get on the water without shelling out big bucs.
The bottom line: Wakeboarding, like all extreme sports, is a lifestyle and not just a sport. It will continue to evolve and continue to grow. With wakeskating now clearly on the map (it now has it's own category on the Pro Wakeboard Tour) and sliders and kickers a regular part of the tour, I can only imagine what will be the next breakthrough.