If you’re a wakeboarder, chances are you’ve heard people refer to wakeboards as “huge snowboards.” On the surface, this appears to be a fairly accurate description.
Both have a similar form and share several attributes in common. However, does this comparison stand up when put to the test? Is it possible to snowboard on a wakeboard for real?
The second thing that you need to consider is whether the wakeboard variant you want to buy will suit your needs. However, before we get into the details of this subject, you might be wondering why someone would ask such a question. Why would you want to utilize a wakeboard as a snowboard in the first place?
Snowboarding, for example, is a rather expensive sport to start out with, and snowboards are not inexpensive. Furthermore, only during the winter may snowboarding be practiced.
What this implies is that you’ll be investing a huge amount of money to merely get the chance to play the sport in a certain season. Wakeboarding is somewhat less restricted, however it has the same problem as other sports: it’s at its best during the summer.
While wakeboarding and snowboarding have many similarities, it wouldn’t be completely outside the realm of possibility to start with a wakeboard first. And now that we’ve answered the question “Can you use a wakeboard to snowboard?” without further ado, here’s the solution.
Can You Use a Wakeboard to Snowboard?
At first sight, snowboarding and wakeboarding may appear similar. However, further study will reveal that each sport is distinct in its own way, especially when it comes to the equipment.
Snowboards have a somewhat different shape than wakeboards. When compared to wakeboards, snowboards have a thinner and longer form. Snowboard-style skateboards are distinct from wakeboard-style skateboards in several ways. Apart from having a wider base, wakeboards tend to include fins on the bottom of the board to improve stability.
In a word, snowboards wouldn’t make good wakeboards since they wouldn’t be able to displace enough water to keep you above the surface. At high speeds, you won’t be able to do any type of turn.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
CLIMATE
The amount of snow on the ground may be checked by counting the number of thaws, which are created when air travels through the packed snow.
The ideal time to go snowboarding is after a snowfall, when temperatures are at their coldest.
On the other hand, wakeboarding is not as limited by weather when compared to kite surfing. You can go wakeboarding in cold weather as long as the water isn’t frozen technically.
The ideal time to go wakeboarding is when the air temperature and wind speed are low, as this will allow you to build up your expertise over a longer period of time.
LOCATIONS
The most important distinction between the two sports is that wakeboarding is a bit more challenging than surfing. Obviously, you can’t wakeboard on mountains and hills. You’ll need a lake with enough engine power to tow you across it, as well as a boat with adequate motor power.
You may also go to a wakeboard cable park. Snowboarding necessitates mountains and hills in order for you to rapidly descend and get the most out of it.
EQUIPMENT
When it comes to equipment, snowboarders usually require more due to the cold temperatures and harsh weather. Snowboarding necessitates the use of boots, whereas wakeboarding may be done without them.
You will also need goggles, winter apparel, and gloves while snowboarding to prevent yourself from getting cold.
For wakeboarding, you only require a swimming suit, a life jacket, bindings, and your board. Another item you’ll need for wakeboarding is a durable rope because you’ll be dragged by a motorboat at high rates, therefore you’ll want something that can resist the force without breaking.
You want a powerboat with enough of motor to tow you at high speed (or maybe a bowrider or deck boat?)
Is it possible to translate snowboarding abilities into wakeboarding?
This is a difficult question to answer since there are so many variables at play. The response can differ from one individual to the next. Whether or not you’re able to already do well in both sports might make a difference. To address this issue, we must break it down into two separate questions.
- To begin with, will wakeboarding enhance my snowboarding abilities?
- Second, do these sports have anything in common?
SNOWBOARD AND WAKEBOARD SEASONS
This will differ somewhat depending on where you live. For example, each sport has its own distinct season in the Midwest. Individuals who want to learn water sports may begin practicing as early as mid-March with Dry Suits and continue until late October or early November.
The length of the season for snowboarding varies from year to year. For example, a good year might let you snowboard from mid-November until March.
TRANSLATING WAKEBOARD SKILLS INTO SNOWBOARDING
If you’re a decent wakeboarder who has never snowboarded before, you won’t be able to snowboard immediately.
Unless you already practice two sports, you can’t directly profit from doing one of them. In fact, snowboarding is a lot more difficult than wakeboarding.
Every sport has its own mentality and feel to it. When doing wakeboarding, you may improve in snowboarding, but only if you understand how each activity differs from the next.
There are similar skills that apply to almost every activity and can be improved by only a seasoned wakeboarder or snowboarder. Even so, the difference is slight, so don’t expect significant gains. Nothing compares to doing the real thing instead.
SNOWBOARD PARK AND CABLE PARK
When it comes to snowboarding in the cable park, this is one of the few places where you can significantly improve your skills. If you’re already familiar with riding in the cable park, you’ll benefit a lot from it.
Although the two parks have many distinctions, they also have a lot of parallels. Both parks will have you performing stunts and going off-ramps. The landings are likewise in style.
The major distinction between the two is that in cable parks, the pull from the winch is not as effective as it is in snow parks, and downhill speed is more important. Other than that, both parks have a lot of comparable features and components.
Certain elements in the first, second, and third acts are reminiscent of one another. Here are a few examples:
- Jumpers, ramp, and kicker
- Ground locations or surface positions
- Rails, pipes, boxes, and wall features
Once you’ve mastered these in either wakeboarding or snowboarding, you’ll be able to apply them to any other sport with ease. What this implies is that practicing one sport may help you improve in another.
However, making the transition from one sport to the next won’t be simple. You’ll have to practice a lot and get acclimated with both sports before long.
WILL IT HELP?
It’s time to answer the million-dollar question. Will practicing wakeboarding make you a better snowboarder and vice versa?
Yes, if you’re talking about rope parks and snowboard parks. Both facilities have a lot in common, and by doing one, you’ll be able to perform both sports at the same time, which is fascinating.
The answer, however, is the same whether you’re riding behind a boat or down a mountain. Some common abilities apply to both activities. Balance is one of them. You will actually be developing the proper muscle memory and technique by mastering balance in one sport that will help you in the other.
This is especially significant because each of these sports has its own season and time frame. This implies that you’ll be able to practice your snowboarding and wakeboarding skills at the same time almost all year long.
However, while this does not indicate that by practicing wakeboarding you’ll be an instant better snowboarder, it is nevertheless critical to remember that the process is gradual.
If you’ve never practiced the real thing, you’ll never be a skilled wakeboarder or snowboarder. There are distinct ways and techniques for each activity that can only be learnt and practiced through regular practice.
Conclusion: Can You Use a Wakeboard to Snowboard?
To summarize, no, snowboarding on a wakeboard is not a great idea.
While wakeboarding and snowboarding are distinct activities, they share enough in common to make the leap between them a pleasant one.
If you already enjoy snowboarding and wakeboarding, why not try both?