Switch / fakie
Riding with the opposite foot forward from your natural stance.
Recreation
Switch / fakie 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 Switch / fakie 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 Switch / fakie 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
Switch (also called fakie) means riding in the stance opposite your natural one, so a regular rider rides with the right foot forward and a goofy rider with the left. Riding switch is a difficulty multiplier: every basic skill must be relearned in the unfamiliar stance, and many tricks are named or scored differently when done switch. For competition and progression, being able to ride and trick switch dramatically expands a rider's repertoire, since it effectively doubles the catalog of maneuvers available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is switch / fakie?
Riding with the opposite foot forward from your natural stance.
Why does switch / fakie matter for lake health?
Switch (also called fakie) means riding in the stance opposite your natural one, so a regular rider rides with the right foot forward and a goofy rider with the left. Riding switch is a difficulty multiplier: every basic skill must be relearned in the unfamiliar stance, and many tricks are named or ...
Related Terms
Your natural riding stance: regular means left foot forward, goofy means right foot forward.
Jumping and spinning your body 180 degrees while the board stays pointing in the same direction.
Spinning only the board 180 (or 360) degrees beneath the feet while the rider's body stays facing the same direction.
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.