Wakeskate

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A sport involving riding a board without bindings while being towed behind a boat on water ; the board used in this activity, similar to a wakeboard but designed for riding without attachments ; the act of performing tricks and maneuvers on a board skimming the surface of water while pulled by a watercraft
2. Engaging in a watersport where a rider stands on a small, flat board without being strapped in, gliding behind a motorboat ; the equipment resembling a wakeboard but tailored to allow free foot movement ; the performance of stunts and balance techniques on water while tethered to a moving boat
3. A recreational activity consisting of standing and sliding on a compact board over water, towed by a boat without foot bindings ; the specific type of board crafted for this binding-free riding ; the execution of jumps, spins, and other moves while maintaining balance on water surface behind a vessel

Etymology: Wakeskating is a compound of "wake," the trail of disturbed water left behind a moving boat, and "skate," which in this sense refers to gliding over a surface on a board or blades. Put together, the name describes riding the wake itself rather than skating on ice or pavement. The sport takes its basic shape from the skateboard and the surfboard, but the rider is pulled by a boat and goes without the foot bindings used in wakeboarding. The noun also names the board built for this kind of riding, and the verb names the act of performing on it. Because the sport moves across water, the rider's jumps and spins are judged against the moving surface the boat creates, which is why the compound fits so neatly: the wake supplies the ride and the skate supplies the motion.

Synonyms: wakeboard