Wake
The wave thrown off the stern of a moving boat, which the wakesurfer rides; on a properly set-up wake boat it forms a continuous, surfable face.
Recreation
Wake 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 Wake 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 Wake 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
The wake is the displacement wave a boat generates as its hull pushes through the water. For wakesurfing, the goal is a steep, clean, well-shaped wake with a defined pocket and enough push to hold the rider without the rope. Wake size and shape are tuned with ballast (weight), surf systems, wake shapers, and boat speed. Unlike an ocean wave, the wake is continuous as long as the boat keeps moving at a steady plane, giving the rider an effectively endless wave to surf, carve, and trick on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wake?
The wave thrown off the stern of a moving boat, which the wakesurfer rides; on a properly set-up wake boat it forms a continuous, surfable face.
Why does wake matter for lake health?
The wake is the displacement wave a boat generates as its hull pushes through the water. For wakesurfing, the goal is a steep, clean, well-shaped wake with a defined pocket and enough push to hold the rider without the rope. Wake size and shape are tuned with ballast (weight), surf systems, wake sha...
Related Terms
A towed watersport in which a rider surfs the wake created by a specialized inboard boat, releasing the tow rope to ride the wave free of any line.
A wake with a smooth, well-defined curling face and minimal turbulence, the ideal surfable shape produced by proper boat setup.
The steepest, most powerful section of the wave next to the white water, where the push is strongest and where riders want to stay.
Added weight (water-filled bags or hard weights) placed in the boat to sink the hull deeper and build a bigger, more defined wake.
An aftermarket device mounted on the transom or hull that disrupts and shapes the water flow to clean up the wash and lengthen the pocket.
The clean section of the wave that propels the rider forward without the rope; finding it is what lets you ride hands-free.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.