A water sports equipment storage rack includes a seat configured to receive a first portion of a water sport device, an engagement member configured to linearly move in outward and inward directions between extended and retracted positions and to rotatably move about a pivot axis between an open position where the engagement member is spaced from the water sport device and a closed position where the engagement member abuts the water sport device thereby securing the water sport device within the water sports equipment storage rack, and a drive mechanism configured to linearly move the engagement member in the outward direction during a first portion of the linear movement of the engagement member and configured to rotatably move the engagement member from the closed position to the open position during a second portion of the linear movement of the engagement member.