Wakeboarding emerged from Waterskiing and Surfing in California and changed the World of classic Waterskiing as fast as Snowboarding did with snow skiing back in the 90's. The idea was pretty simple: being pulled by a boat while riding a surfboard.
But the regular surfboards were too long so they developed the so called "Skurfer" that established a mix of a waterski and a surfboard. The "Skurfer" was OK for a dynamic ride but it was very hard to ride these heavy boards.
1990 was the real birth of Wakeboarding.
Herb O'Brien the owner of a waterski company built the prototype wakeboard - the Hyperlite. Compared to the "Skurfer" it was a flat board with small volume that was more easy to control. The natural form of the "Hyperlites" was developed to a symmetric Twin Tip Board with fins at both board ends. The new generation of boards was more similar to Freestyle Snowboards than surfboards. In 1990, too Jimmy Redmon the guru of wakeboarding founded the World Wake Association (WWA) in Winter Park, Florida. Two years later wakeboarding became an official sport as a sport promoter from Florida founded the "Pro Wakeboard Series". This professional series grew from year to year.
Beginning 1994 wakeboarding splashed all over the Europe. Several events were held behind the boat, mostly sponsored by boat, board and equipment companies. British guys were the first organizers to test bringing wakeboarding to the cable. They were first to produce a rule book.
The dynamic growth of wakeboarding was also watched by the International Waterski Federation. More and more young skiers looked with an interest and curiosity to this new sport with a board… In 1997 the European Wakeboard Association (EWA) was founded as a council within the International Water Ski Federation. Without doubt EWA was the voice for wakeboarding including boat and cable around Europe.
Beginning 1994 wakeboarding splashed all over the Europe. Several events were held behind the boat, mostly sponsored by boat, board and equipment companies. British guys were the first organizers to test bringing wakeboarding to the cable. They were first to produce a rule book.
The dynamic growth of wakeboarding was also watched by the International Waterski Federation. More and more young skiers looked with an interest and curiosity to this new sport with a board… In 1997 the European Wakeboard Association (EWA) was founded as a council within the International Water Ski Federation. Without doubt EWA was the voice for wakeboarding including boat and cable around Europe.
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