Wakeboarding is a towed water sport which involves riding a wakeboard behind a boat, cable system, winch, or personal water craft. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing techniques.

The rider is usually towed behind a motorboat, typically at speeds of 30–40 km/h (18-25 mph), depending on the board size, rider’s weight, type of tricks, and rider’s comfort. 

Competitive wakeboarding typically consists of a judged two-pass run. Riders are judged on the difficulty, proficiency, and variety of tricks performed, and the creativity and fluidity of the run.

A wakeboarder can also be towed and compete by other means, including closed-course cable systems, straight-line winches, and personal water craft.