When you look around the lake today, it’s wild how far wakesurfing has come. Boats are throwing cleaner waves, boards are lighter and more responsive, and there’s more rider out there than ever. And yet… every season we still see beginners struggle with the exact same issues.

It’s not because they’re doing anything “wrong.” It’s because wakesurfing feels counterintuitive at first. What works in other board sports, or what your instincts think will help, usually does the opposite behind the boat.

So if you’re learning, or you’re teaching someone else this year or next, here are the top mistakes we still see beginners make in 2025 and what to do instead. Fixing even one or two of these will make a huge difference in your ride.

Standing Up Too Slowly

This is easily the most common issue. A slow, hesitant stand-up creates drag and usually ends with the board shooting away from your feet. The trick is to let the boat do the heavy lifting.

Keep your knees tight, keep your arms straight, and as the board rises, just let your hips roll forward. Think “smooth and natural.” When the boat pulls, you come right up.

Leaning Back Instead of Forward

Everyone does this at first. Leaning back feels safe, but on a wakesurf board, it actually pushes you out of the wave.

You want your weight centered or just slightly forward. Soft ankles, chest over your knees, eyes up. The board will suddenly feel faster and more locked into the pocket.

Looking at Your Feet

This one is almost universal. When you’re learning something new, of course you want to look down. But wakesurfing is all about balance and awareness, and your body follows your eyes.

If you look at your feet, you’ll collapse forward. If you look at the boat or horizon, your stance settles instantly. Your feet know what they’re doing. Trust them.

Over-Correcting Every Little Movement

Beginners often panic when they drift forward or back and throw their weight around like they’re trying to steer a sinking ship. Big movements on a wakesurf board almost always end in a wipeout.

The key is small adjustments. Little weight shifts. A couple millimeters in either direction is all it takes to control your speed and position on the wave.

Small moves = big results.

Holding the Rope Too Long

If you can ride with the rope but fall the second you toss it in, this is you.

The rope is security. It’s comfort. But it also keeps you from learning how the wave actually carries you. Staying on the rope too long builds bad habits, like leaning back or riding too far outside the pocket.

Try this: let slack build in the rope, get comfortable surfing that slack, then gently toss it in. The wave has way more push than you think.

Riding Stiff and Locked Out

Tension ruins everything in wakesurfing. When you stiffen up, you lose your ability to react to the board or the wave. Most new riders are so focused on “not falling” that they lock up like a statue.

Relax your knees. Loosen your hips. Let your upper body move naturally. You don’t need to be loose like a pro, but you do need to avoid the plank-of-wood posture.

The more relaxed you are, the easier everything becomes.

Staying Too Far Back on the Board

This comes from fear of nosediving, but it actually slows you down and pushes you away from the pocket. Riding tail-heavy makes the board feel twitchy and sluggish.

Shift a little more weight to your front foot, or move that foot forward an inch. It’s amazing how much more speed and control you’ll feel.

Not Understanding Where the Pocket Actually Is

The pocket is the engine of the wave, but beginners often hang too far back where the wave is weakest. They never tap into the energy that actually keeps the ride going.

You want to be up where the wave is driving, close enough to feel that constant push under your board. A few pumps forward and the board will lift and accelerate on its own. That’s when wakesurfing starts to feel effortless.

Trying Tricks Before Mastering the Basics

It’s natural to want to spin, carve, or pop your first air. But the fastest progression comes from building a strong foundation first. Speed control, balance, and recovery are way more important early on.

Once you can ride comfortably without the rope, stay in the pocket, and control your speed, tricks come so much faster and look cleaner, too.

Small Fixes Now = Big Progress Later

Beginner mistakes aren’t a bad thing, they’re part of the process. But fixing even a couple of these will help you progress a lot faster and enjoy the sport so much more.

If you’re just getting started, check out our other Beginner Series posts or try our board recommendation quiz to find the right setup for your progression. The right fundamentals, and the right board, make all the difference.