Top Wakeboarders of All Time (As of 2026) — Ranked by Career Stats

This list ranks the greatest wakeboarders of all time as of 2026, based on career statistics, not popularity and not a single season.
Stats include world championships, major titles, longevity, and competitive dominance across eras.

Wakeboarding does not have one single governing body, so “world titles” include WWA, IWWF, and officially recognized World Championships.

🐐 1. Shaun Murray (USA) — 4× World Champion

Career stats:

• 4× World Champion

• 2× Masters Champion

• Over 15 years competing at the highest professional level

• One of the highest career podium counts in wakeboarding history

Why he’s all-time elite:
Shaun Murray defined modern wakeboarding. His stats, longevity, and influence on judging standards make him the most historically important competitive rider ever.

Links:
https://www.shaunmurray.com
https://www.wakeboardingmag.com

2. Harley Clifford (Australia) — 4× World Champion

Career stats:

• 4× World Champion

• Multiple Pro Wake Tour Championships

• Multiple WWA National Titles

• First rider to land double flips and ultra-technical spins consistently in competition

Why he ranks this high:
Harley Clifford is the most statistically dominant rider of the modern era. His world titles + technical progression put him firmly in the GOAT conversation.

Links:
https://www.thewwa.com
https://alliancewake.com

3. Dallas Friday (USA) — 4× World Champion

Career stats:

• 4× World Champion

• Multiple Masters titles

• Dominated women’s wakeboarding for over a decade

• One of the highest win percentages in competition history

Why she’s top tier:
Dallas Friday didn’t just win — she controlled an era. Statistically, she is one of the most dominant athletes wakeboarding has ever seen.

Links:
https://www.wakeboardingmag.com
https://www.thewwa.com

4. Meagan Ethell (USA) — 3× World Champion

Career stats:

• 3× World Champion

• Multiple Masters titles

• One of the most consistent podium finishers in women’s wakeboarding

• Extremely low crash rate in finals

Why she belongs here:
Meagan Ethell’s career stats show precision dominance. She wins through consistency, not luck, which matters in long-term greatness.

Links:
https://www.thewwa.com
https://alliancewake.com

5. Daniel Grant (Thailand) — 5× Cable Wakeboard World Champion

Career stats:

• 5× Cable Wakeboard World Champion

• Multiple Red Bull and FISE wins

• One of the most decorated cable riders ever

• Global dominance across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

Why he’s all-time great:
While cable-focused, Daniel Grant’s world title count is unmatched. By pure championship volume, he is one of the most successful wakeboarders ever.

Links:
https://www.redbull.com
https://www.iwwfed.com

6. Dominik Gührs (Germany) — 3× World Champion

Career stats:

• 3× World Champion

• Multiple international major wins

• Consistent finalist across multiple disciplines

• Longest competitive career among European riders

Why he matters:
Dominik Gührs bridged the gap between old-school power riding and modern technical wakeboarding, with stats to back it up.

Links:
https://www.redbull.com
https://alliancewake.com

7. Massi Piffaretti (Italy) — 3× World Champion

Career stats:

• 3× World Champion

• Competitive wins across three different decades

• One of the longest pro careers in wakeboarding history

• Major influence on European wakeboarding growth

Why he’s all-time:
Longevity + titles. Very few riders remain competitive for 20+ years at the world level.

Links:
https://www.iwwfed.com
https://www.wakeboardingmag.com

8. Raph Derome (Canada) — Major International Champion

Career stats:

• Winner of Red Bull Rising High

• Multiple pro podiums

• Known for amplitude and execution consistency

• One of the most influential riders of the 2010s

Why he’s here:
While not a multi-time world champion, his major wins + influence earn him all-time consideration.

Links:
https://alliancewake.com

9. Thomas Herman (USA) — WWA National Podium Finisher

Career stats:

• WWA National Championship podium

• Multiple finals appearances

• One of the most consistent U.S. contest riders of the modern era

Why he matters:
Not a world-title rider, but by career consistency and finals rate, Thomas Herman is statistically one of the best American competitors of his generation.

Links:
https://www.thewwa.com

How This “Best of All Time” List Is Measured

This ranking is based on:

• World Championships won

• Major international titles

• Longevity at elite level

• Era dominance

• Consistency over multiple seasons

This is not a list of “best tricks today” — it’s a career achievement ranking as of 2026.

Final Takeaway

When judging greatness by stats — not hype — the GOAT conversation centers on:

• Shaun Murray

• Harley Clifford

• Dallas Friday

These athletes didn’t just win — they defined entire eras of wakeboarding.