Aerial
Any movement in which the rider leaves the water, with or without the board.
Recreation
Aerial is a term from limnology — the scientific study of inland waters. The detailed explanation below covers the definition, why the concept matters to lake water-quality interpretation, and how it relates to the A–F grade. Reading Aerial alongside the A–F grade makes the grade easier to follow — each graded parameter maps onto an established limnological concept.
The per-lake pages on LakeQuality always show the specific Aerial value for that lake, so you can move from the general concept to the specific lake without leaving the site.
What It Means for Your Lake
Aerial is the umbrella term for any maneuver that takes the rider off the water surface, whether the board stays attached (an air) or is briefly separated. It encompasses simple airs off the lip up through grabbed and rotated aerials. Aerials are advanced because they require speed, a clean launch, and a controlled re-entry into the wave. The term is used interchangeably with punt and overlaps heavily with the specific named airs in any trick list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aerial?
Any movement in which the rider leaves the water, with or without the board.
Why does aerial matter for lake health?
Aerial is the umbrella term for any maneuver that takes the rider off the water surface, whether the board stays attached (an air) or is briefly separated. It encompasses simple airs off the lip up through grabbed and rotated aerials. Aerials are advanced because they require speed, a clean launch, ...
Related Terms
Launching off the lip with the board into the air and landing back on the wake with the nose still facing forward.
Any aerial maneuver where the rider leaves the water, with or without the board; a synonym for an air.
An air in which the rider grabs a rail of the board with one hand while airborne.
A full 360-degree rotation of board and rider, most commonly performed flat on the water's surface in skim style.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.