U.S. Army Iraq war veteran Michael Chapasko motions to the sky as he rides a wave while surrounded by volunteers during the Hit the Beach event put on by American Legion Post 35 and the Wounded Warrior Project at North Beach in Hampton on Friday. Chapasko suffers from spinal nerve damage and severe PTSD and has travelled from Rhode Island to Hampton to participate in the event for four years.Photo by Ioanna Raptis/Seacoastonline
U.S. Army Iraq war veteran Michael Chapasko motions to the sky as he rides a wave while surrounded by volunteers during the Hit the Beach event put on by American Legion Post 35 and the Wounded Warrior Project at North Beach in Hampton on Friday. Chapasko suffers from spinal nerve damage and severe PTSD and has travelled from Rhode Island to Hampton to participate in the event for four years.Photo by Ioanna Raptis/Seacoastonline Credit: Ioanna Raptis

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) —

New Hampshire is enacting new rules for wake surfing, though they won’t take effect until fall.

Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill this week adding wake surfing regulations to the state’s boating laws. Wake surfing refers to using a surfboard, wakeboard or other device to ride in the wake directly behind a boat.

Under the changes, wake surfing is banned at night and is allowed only if there is someone else in the boat who can observe and assist the surfer. Wake surfers also will be required to wear Coast Guard-approved personal floatation devices.

The bill takes effect in late September.