Wakesurfing fanatic Chris Bank snapped this high-action photo of Wayzata resident Chad McShane on Lake Minnetonka last summer. McShane and Bank have been mastering this unique surfing sport for the last few years and they decided that “nothing happens, unless it’s on camera,” which is why their cameras (video and film) are almost always on board when they’re on the water. And because they both love to make waves, when one is surfing, the other is capturing everything for posterity.
Wakesurfing differs slightly from its sister sport, wakeboarding. As the photo illustrates, a rope isn’t used and the rider isn’t strapped into the board. As scary as that sounds, McShane reports that this combination creates a slower, lower-impact ride that makes wakesurfing much easier on a rider’s body. In fact, despite the struggle that’s often associated with most water sports, wakesurfing is quite straightforward and simple if you have the right equipment.
If you’re interested in watching this water sport, soak it in August 17–18 when the 10,000 Lakes Open comes to Long Lake’s Nelson Lakeside Park. This is a qualifying event for the World Series of Wakesurfing Championship (held Sept. 27-29 in Arizona), so riders of every level will be showing off their skills. Although you can watch McShane and Bank at the event, they are frequently spotted in North Arm Bay on Lake Minnetonka, and they say if you see them, stop by, say hi and give wakesurfing a try.
