origin of the term "wakeboard"

[Torsten]

Hi, I've read on a German site that the term 'wakeboard' has originated from the word 'wake' meanining 'the wave pattern created by a surfer. Is that correct?

TOEIC listening, talks: Reporting on a company's stock price movements

[Luschen]

Almost - it does originate from "wake", but that is the wave pattern created by a boat. The person riding the wakeboard uses the wake of the boat pulling him to do jumps, flips and other tricks. A special boat is used to generate as big a wake as possible, so that the bigger waves can be used to jump higher in the air.

I suppose the wakeboard would generate its own wake as well, but this would be very small and insignificant.

[Torsten]

Thanks a lot for this explanation, TJ. I read the Wikipedia entry on 'wakeboard' and didn't find what I was looking for.

TOEIC listening, talks: Safety regulations in a nature park