I am a BIG fan of wake surfing. I grew up on the water and always loved water sports. I never had an interest in wake surfing until…

When I was sixteen, my competitive instincts kicked in—I was tired of being the little sister that could barely get up on the board. Full of determination, I spent every weekend at the lake to achieve my goal of learning to wake surf. Now, four years later, I can carve the wave and do a 360 spin, but most importantly, I’m a whole lot better than my big brother.  

1. It is a Mood Booster

Personally, I am happiest when I’m surfing the wake. There is something about it that seems so impossible, yet being able to do it is magical. The serotonin that comes with wake surfing is unmatched. You can also learn to do many different tricks including the 360 spin, Ollie, and shuv. Learning how to surf and accomplish new tricks builds confidence in riders, as well.

2. It Increases Balance and Flexibility

One of the most difficult parts of surfing is staying in the wake. The board can be shifted by the body weight of the surfer, so having good balance is key. To stay in the wake, the surfer has to be constantly shifting their weight forwards, backward, and side to side to stay in the “sweet spot.”  The “sweet spot” is the middle part of the wave that you can ride with little to no adjusting. With balance comes flexibility, because bending your knees and staying loose on the board is key.

3. It’s a great workout

Surfing takes a large amount of strength in many of your small and large muscle groups, especially the legs and core. Whenever I’m done riding, I am usually out of breath from carving the wave, and my thighs and calves are always burning. Surfing is a great cardio workout, and there is actually an Apple Watch setting for surfing, so you can track your heart rate and more.

Overall, wake surfing is great for you mentally, physically, and emotionally. I highly suggest that everyone try it at least once in their lifetime. It makes you feel like you're on top of the world and it keeps you fit.

Surfs up!

Be Well, Auburn.