Wakeboarding is yet another name for a popular sport in the United States, which mixes three sports together: water skiing, surfing, and snowboarding. Because only one board is used by the wakeboarder rather than two, there is a small difference between water skiing and wakeboarding.
Surfing is included in the definition since a wakeboarder surfs the wave likewise as a surfer. Finally, like snowboarding, the rider utilizes a single board to zip across the water quickly. You may be asking yourself who came up with these inventive sports first?
It wasn’t until much later that I realized what a difference this made in my life. It was Tony Finn, also known as the creator of wakeboarding, who first came up with the idea of making wakeboards in 1985.
At the same time, another exceptional mind from Texas, Jimmy Redmon, was also thinking about the very thing that would later become a world-famous game.
Why history matters?
Nobody believed this little-known water sport would one day be recognized as the world’s most popular water activity. According to statistics, nearly 4 million people from all around the world took part in this high-speed game last year.
In recent years, the materials, boards, and towers used in these sports have evolved. As a sports enthusiast, you might be curious as to how the original wakeboard looked. Was it similar to today’s? Perhaps not! Continue reading to learn more about this fascinating topic!
The first wakeboard: Skurfer
In 1985, Tony Finn designed his wakeboard and named it “Skurfer.” This was the first wakeboard in history. He called it Skurfer because it was a mix of surfboards and water skis.
This board had caught the attention of a lot of people in a short time. One of them who was particularly interested was Herb O’Brien.
However, there was a minor issue with this concept. It was quite thin in width, and it required a significant amount of effort to raise. As a result, for a novice it was somewhat tough to participate in the activity. For the experienced surfer, though, it was a real treasure.
More about Tony Fin – the change-maker:
This pioneer was born and raised in Los Angeles, but most of his life has been spent on the west coast. He began surfing when he was 11 years old. His brother gave him the first lesson, and he used to go on water ski excursions with his uncle Bob. The water ski became tedious for this young man over time.
Then, they took their surfboards and began skiing behind the boat. Who knew that this fun gamer would help to found the first company to successfully sell wakeboarding?
The boys added straps to the board so they could jump, do flips and get big air. Finn enjoys visiting Tavarua, Fiji as his favorite vacation spot. He adores this island for its massive waves. In Canada, he dreams of building a snowboarding chalet alone with his friends.
The history of wakeboarding: the big change
The sport grew in popularity by the day. In 1990, Hyperlites produced a wakeboard that looked like a surfboard with a tip and tail, though it was shaped more like a surfing board.
In the year 1992, World Sports and Marketing, a sports and event organizer firm based in Florida, began staging and promoting pro-wakeboard competitions, which marked one of the most significant turning points in the history of wakeboarding. These events were fantastic to watch.
How the Wakeboard tower evolved:
Not all wakeboards require the use of a tower. A tower, on the other hand, makes it a lot easier. The tower allows riders to leap higher, adding to the excitement of the game.
A big wake is the most popular desire among wakeboarders. However, when riders attempt to jump, the rope connects to the back of the boat, generating more friction. The rope pulls them down and prevents them from jumping far.
The rope is yanked back up to 7 feet above the ground after crossing the chasm. This solves the problem because it allows riders to leap with less restriction.
The previous version of the wakeboard tower was by Ski Nautique in 1996, and it is no longer produced. Towers are now built in a variety of metals rather than just aluminum.
The majority of wakeboard towers are constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum tubing or stainless steel (ss). The stainless one is considerably more durable than the aluminum one, but they will both support and draw the rider equally. In bad weather or saltwater, on the other hand, the stainless steel wakeboard tower will endure longer than the aluminium tower.
What are the steps of a wakeboarding beginner?
You may be inspired to get on a boat and head out for the first time ever! If you’ve never wakeboarded before, it might be challenging at first. However, with practice, you’ll come to enjoy it. To ride a wakeboard, follow these steps:
- Tie the board to your feet.
- Make absolutely certain you’re facing the boat with the board in front of you.
- Take a look at the water that’s floating on your back and begin.
- With your arms outstretched, hold the towline straight.
- Keep your arms on your knees while you do so. Then bend your legs to begin the trek.
- Hold this posture until you’re ready to stand up.
- In the meanwhile, flash your driver that you’re ready to begin.
- When the boat’s speed is high, lift yourself up with it.
- Stand up slowly and enjoy the experience.
As a lover of water sports, I’m interested in history. I am always pleased to learn who took the risks of inventing something that I enjoy on a daily basis.
Without them, we would not be aware that from three distinct water activities, completely new sports will emerge and be labeled as one of the most exciting water sports in the future!
The history of wakeboarding keeps me believing in the concept that – even in today’s mundane sports, something amazing may happen with an innovation!