Summer Water Sports to Try Out

Summers on the water are a time for relaxing on your boat and endless water sports. From jet skiing to paddleboarding, there is no better feeling then hopping in the water during the summer heat. Whether you’re heading out on vacation or enjoying time on a beachfront or waterfront property, here are some of the best and most popular water sports to try this summer.

Wakeboarding

If you like snowboarding, then wakeboarding is right up your alley and has the same basic concepts. Like snowboarding, getting started can be a bit tricky as you have to balance your weight while being pulled behind a boat. The biggest challenge is not allowing the front of the board to dive back into the water before you can angle to one side. Once you’ve got that mastered, wakeboarding is a good way to enjoy long summer days.

Tubing

A staple of summer water sports is tubing. It’s great for adults and kids of all ages but does require a little bit of practice to get the hang of it. The main objective is for the driver of the boat to knock you off the tube. Lean into the tube when outside of the wake to extend your time onboard before crashing into the water. Make sure tubers are wearing a lifejacket and you know the limits of riders, especially smaller children.

Jet Skiing

For top summer thrills, jet skiing is a popular sport for saltwater and freshwater hot spots. As in all high-performance water sports, it’s important to take proper precautions like wearing a lifejacket, taking jet ski lessons, and abide by local laws for operation age limits. Check out our article on top safety tips for summer jet skiing.

Paddleboarding

For those looking for a more relaxing water sport, paddleboarding is becoming increasingly popular. It doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment and is perfect for calm bodies of water. It’s a whole family water sport that is easy for kids as young as 5 or 6 to get the hang of pretty quickly. Again, wearing a lifejacket is a must and make sure that everyone involved has strong swimming skills.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is one of the oldest water sports, dating back to the first century. Reserved mostly for saltwater areas, snorkeling is a great experience for beginners and veterans because there is so much undersea exploring that you’ll never discover the same thing twice. It's important to make sure you have correctly fitting snorkeling gear and never go out in the water alone.

Safety and Equipment Tips

• Whether your own or just renting a paddle board, jet ski, or tube for the day, it’s important that you have the proper safety equipment.
• Always wear a lifejacket. It’s the number 1 way to prevent drowning, even if you’re in shallow water. Make sure that everyone’s life jacket fits properly and are up to coast guard standards.
• Use a spotter for any water activity.
• Properly maintain water equipment. Rinse off wakeboards, paddleboards, and always inspect equipment for damage before you start. Use a PWC lift for your jet ski to avoid extra wear and tear during the summer months.