Wake boarding and water skiing are entirely two different sports although there appears to be some similarity between the two.

The nature of both the rides is a key point of difference between the two. Water skiing is an original sport in itself whereas wake boarding is a blend of surfing, snow boarding, skate boarding and of course water skiing. A water skier wears skis and holds onto a rope tied at the rear of a speed boat and is pulled across the waters by it. Though wakeboarding follows the same principle, it is more of a combination of surfing and snow boarding along with water skiing and a little bit of skate boarding as well.

Water skiing traditionally is just a ride behind a speed boat. This is pursued for the simple pleasure of skiing over waters. It is more of a smooth sailing ride unlike wake boarding which is a rough riding sport . Wake boarders, like surfers, ride on waves or rather wakes left by the speed boat behind which it is towed and as such a major factor in wake boarding is the size of the wakes.

The equipment and gear used in both these sports are again entirely different. Wake boarders use a board much like a surf board but include foot straps and fins for better balance over waters while a water skier uses the traditional water skis for riding on water. Depending on the type of skiing, water skiers may use either one or two skis while wakeboarding is done with both feet strapped onto a single board.

The boats used to pull these sports riders are also of different makes. Water skiers use any simple motor boat for water skiing. The difference in wake boarding boats is in the structure designed to increase weight at the rear which aids in creating larger wakes behind the speeding boat. Almost all wakeboard boats have the engine placed backwards at the rear of the boat as a load increasing measure. Other techniques are also used to lower the stern which will give rise to higher waves. Newer technologies are being used as manufacturers compete with each other to create boats with higher waves.

Ropes - a key equipment used for these rides also have contrary features. Ropes used for wake boarding should not be of an elastic nature as this will tend to tip the balance of the wake boarder whereas stretchable ropes are needed in water skiing as the stretch factor helps in maneuvering curves behind a speeding boat.

OK, so much for the differences between water ski and wakeboards.

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