When most people think of pontoon boats, they probably think about floating parties and relaxing with friends. Maybe even some music and a cooler of cold drinks are involved. But the new generation of pontoon boats are capable of so much more! The best watersports are now possible behind many modern pontoon boats, meaning you and your family can enjoy your pontoon boat for both relaxation and adrenaline. Below, we’ve gathered some of our favorite watersports that are now possible with pontoon boats. They’re listed roughly by skill level from easiest to most challenging. All of them are fun in their own ways, so make sure to give them a shot! And when you need a new pontoon boat that’s equipped for watersports, stop by North Georgia Watersports. Located in Blairsville, GA, we carry some of the best manufacturers and serve the areas of Atlanta, Gainesville, Hiawassee, and Blue Ridge, Georgia, as well as Murphy, North Carolina.
Tubing
When you’re new to powersports or you want to keep the kids entertained, tubing is one of the best options. While the term “tubing” refers to the innertubes which are commonly used, it can refer to any activity in which a rider sits or lays on an inflated object and is towed with a rope behind a boat. Some tubes can accommodate multiple riders and come in fun shapes and designs. Tubing is also easier for those who are new to driving a pontoon because you don’t have to worry too much about acceleration or turns in the same way you do with other watersports.
Kneeboarding
Kneeboarding is the next step up from tubing in terms of difficulty and it’s a great hobby for teens. Usually it takes a little bit of time to figure out exactly how to get going since the board can sometimes come out from under the rider. Kneeboarding is often best at speeds ranging from 16-26 mph, and at that speed you can eventually learn to do tricks or even jump the pontoon boat’s wake.
Wakesurfing
With the next three sports, their exact difficulty is harder to judge because they require some degree of skill. Most people will need several runs to figure out how to even get standing on a wakesurf board, wakeboard, or water skis. Wakesurfing involves surfing the wake of a boat on a foreshortened board that’s similar to a surfboard. You can start out with a tow rope when you’re new to the sport, but the pros usually ditch the rope and use the forward force of the wake to propel them. Simple tricks can be pulled from the surfing repertoire, and you’ll probably figure out a few of your own moves along the way.
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding takes a little while to learn and to get good, you need to be a good athlete. A wakeboard uses rubber and plastic bindings to keep the rider’s feet in place. The rider must use the force of the pontoon to pull him or her up and out of the water, and then they use a tow line to propel them along. Skilled wakeboarders can get some serious air jumping the boat’s wake, and the best wakeboarders can do flips, spins, and other acrobatic trips. Younger riders can get into wakeboarding if they are brave, but it’s crucial that you wear a well-fitted life jacket because the higher speeds involved in wakeboarding can lead to harder crashes.
Water Skiing
One of the classic boat sports is waterskiing. For many riders, waterskiing will take some practice to figure out. In wakeboarding, you want a big wake to give you something to do tricks on. But in water skiing, you want as little of a wake as possible. Waterskiing often takes place at the highest speeds of any watersport, with speeds ranging from 35 to 45 mph for skilled riders. Many riders enjoy the free feeling of water skiing.
Ready to give watersports a try behind your very own pontoon boat? Stop by North Georgia Watersports, where our team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic watersports experts can help you find exactly what you need. We’re located in Blairsville, Georgia, serving Atlanta, Gainesville, Hiawassee, and Blue Ridge, Georgia, as well as Murphy, North Carolina.
