2025 Wake & Knee Board, Water Ski Review: Your Lakeside Guide

Person wakeboarding on a calm lake at sunrise

The sun is just a little bit higher now, and that familiar warmth on your skin means lake season is pretty much here. That feeling of gliding across glassy water is, to be honest, something we wait for all year. So, the question that is on everyone’s mind is what kind of gear will you be riding this year? The 2025 lineup for wakeboards, kneeboards, and water skis is actually very interesting, with some genuinely nice updates for all kinds of riders. I mean, we’re talking about gear that feels just a little more connected to you, a little more responsive behind the boat. It’s almost time to take a look at what this new season has in store, you know?

A Closer Look at the 2025 Wakeboards

This year, wakeboard makers seemingly focused on two things: making the boards feel lighter and giving you more say in how they ride. For instance, we’re seeing some new core materials that are kind of a big deal. The 2025 Hyperlite “Aeron Core” is a good example; it’s a foam composite that is just a little bit lighter but also a bit stiffer. In other words, you get more pop off the wake without the board feeling like a tank under your feet. This is frankly what a lot of riders have been asking for. The shape of the boards is also seeing some changes; a lot of the new models have a more ‘continuous’ rocker, which basically means a smoother, more predictable curve from tip to tail for a faster ride. Yet, others have a three-stage rocker for a more aggressive, vertical pop, so you just have to choose what fits your style.

Let’s talk about the new Ronix “Momentum 2025,” as a matter of fact. This board is honestly a work of art for the average to skilled rider. It has what they call ‘channeled grooves’ on the bottom that are a little deeper this year, which typically helps the board grip the water better when you’re cutting in for a jump. You feel really locked in. The edges are also slightly thinner, which seemingly allows for quicker cuts from side to side. When you’re out there, this all means that the board responds almost instantly to what your feet are telling it to do. It’s pretty much like the board can read your mind, you know what I mean? Still, it’s not so aggressive that it’s scary for someone who is just getting comfortable with their first inverts.

Bindings: The Real Connection

Okay, let’s be honest, a great board with bad bindings is just a frustrating day on the water. The 2025 bindings are very focused on comfort and a more custom fit. The Liquid Force “Aero 6X” bindings, for example, have a new heat-moldable liner, sort of like you find in high-end ski boots. This means the inside of the boot will actually shape to your specific foot, which is obviously a massive improvement for comfort. They are also using a slightly softer but still very supportive material that gives you just a little more flex for grabs and tweaks in the air. At the end of the day, you can ride for hours without your feet feeling tired or sore, and that’s a huge win.

The Timeless Fun of 2025 Kneeboards

Wakeboarding gets a lot of the spotlight, but kneeboarding is still one of the most fun things you can do on the water, you know? It’s arguably the best way to get anyone, from young kids to hesitant adults, feeling the joy of being pulled by a boat. For 2025, the new kneeboards are definitely leaning into that accessibility. The new O’Brien “HydroSlide Pro,” for instance, has a much larger and plusher knee pad than older models. Seriously, it’s almost like kneeling on a cloud. It also features an integrated ‘hydro-hook’ that holds the rope for you during starts, which literally removes the hardest part of learning. You just get on, hook the rope in, and let the boat pull you up gently. It’s really that simple.

I remember trying to teach my nephew to get up on a water ski for, like, an entire afternoon with no luck. The next day, we pulled out a kneeboard with one of those tow hooks, and he was up and smiling on his very first try. The confidence that gave him was just incredible to see.

The designs are also a bit more fun this year. We are seeing some very vibrant graphics that look amazing skipping across the wake. More or less, they’re designed for a good time. The bottoms are shaped for great stability, so it’s pretty hard to catch an edge and fall unexpectedly. For any family with a boat, having a good, comfortable kneeboard is almost a requirement. It is just a little tool that guarantees everyone has a chance to get out on the water and make some memories, anyway. You can still do some pretty neat tricks on a kneeboard too, like surface 360s and even flips if you get good enough.

Carving Up the Lake: What’s New for Water Skis in 2025

For those who love the classic feeling of cutting through the water on one or two skis, 2025 is actually a very good year. The technology in slalom skis, the single ski for advanced riders, has really gotten impressive. The Connelly “Carbon V” for 2025, for example, uses a new carbon fiber layup that makes the ski extremely light and responsive. As a matter of fact, when you lean into a turn, you feel the ski bite into the water with so much power, yet it remains smooth. It’s a very satisfying feeling for anyone who loves running a slalom course. They are also playing with the shape of the ‘tunnel’ on the bottom of the ski, which typically creates suction and helps with stability at higher speeds.

On the other hand, for families and beginners, combo skis are better than ever. The HO Sports “Excel Combos” for 2025 are a fantastic option. Their bindings are just so easy to adjust, you can have them fit a teenager one run and an adult the next in just a few seconds. The skis themselves are a little bit wider than older models, which basically provides a more stable platform to learn on. They also come with a removable stabilizer bar that connects the tips of the two skis, making it virtually impossible for a learner to do the ‘splits’ and fall. It’s a simple idea, right, but it makes the learning process so much more fun and less intimidating.

How to Pick Your Perfect Gear for the Water

Alright, so with all these choices, how do you find the right one for you? Well, the most important thing is to be honest about your skill level. Buying a super advanced slalom ski when you’re just learning will, like, only lead to frustration. A wider, more stable board or ski is always your friend when you’re starting out. As you get better, you’ll naturally want something that can turn quicker and go faster, and that’s when you can look at the intermediate and advanced gear. For instance, think about who will be using the gear most of the time. If it’s for the whole family, a versatile wakeboard or a set of combo skis and a kneeboard is pretty much the perfect setup.

Your weight and the boat’s speed also matter a lot. Generally, there are sizing charts available for every board and ski. You just need to follow them. A board that’s too small for you will sink too much and feel sluggish, while a board that’s too big will feel like you’re trying to turn a boat yourself. The same goes for ski length. And don’t forget the rope! A good wakeboard rope is non-stretch, which gives you a consistent pull, while a water ski rope has a little give to absorb some of the shock when you cross the wakes. It’s a small detail, you know, but it actually makes a big difference in how the ride feels.

Our Favorite Picks for the 2025 Season

Choosing is tough, to be honest, because there’s a lot of great new equipment. But if we had to pick a few standouts, these would be at the top of our list for their performance and all-around fun. At the end of the day, the best gear is the gear that gets you out on the water and smiling the most. So, here are a few that we think really hit the mark for 2025.

Best for Pure Beginners: The 2025 Hyperlite Foundation wakeboard is just fantastic. It has a very forgiving shape and a smooth base that makes learning your first wake-to-wake jumps much easier. It’s almost built to build confidence.
Best for the Whole Family: It’s definitely the O’Brien “HydroSlide Pro” kneeboard. The plush pad and tow hook make it so easy for anyone to enjoy, literally from ages 8 to 80.
Best All-Around Wakeboard: We really like the Ronix “Momentum 2025.” It’s a board that a new rider can grow with for years, and it’s got enough performance to keep a really advanced rider happy too.
Best for Slalom Skiers: The Connelly “Carbon V” is just a beautiful piece of equipment. It is so responsive and smooth through the turns, it will probably help you shave a few seconds off your course time, seriously.

Read our full review: [2025 Wake & Knee Board, Water Ski Full Review and Details]
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