Wake surfing is a sport that involves riding an artificially enhanced wake created by specially designed boats. The ocean-like wake is so large -- up to four feet tall -- that a wake surfer can ride it without holding onto a rope. The over-sized wake produced by these boats allows a surfer to ride the wake for long distances across otherwise flat bodies of water.
Unlike traditional water skiing or wakeboarding, wake surfing requires boats with new mechanical technologies and powerful ballast systems that can take in over five thousand of pounds of water from the lake. Wake boats weighing 12 to 15,000 pounds can generate waves eight to ten times more powerful than traditional water ski boats.
While wake surfing may be suitable for larger and deeper lakes, it raises serious concerns on smaller, shallower lakes like Lake Waramaug. The enhanced artificial wakes are far more powerful than even the strongest natural wind-driven waves on Lake Waramaug. They disrupt the peaceful environment, create safety hazards for other users, erode shorelines, and damage natural habitats beneath the surface.