Wakeboarding Essentials for Beginners and Pros

Wakeboarding is a form of surfing in which surfers ride standing up on their boards. In this game, the driver is tethered to a board and towed by a speedboat. The wakeboarder must pick one. The rider will glide over the water’s surface and perform wakeboarding tricks behind the boat.

The riders and their whaleboats seem to become close companions on the sea. In the 1980s, this water sport was created in Australia. Its beginnings date back 30 years ago. Later, this activity was compared to water skiing, surfing, and snowboarding as a whole.

Skurfing was the name for wakeboarding before it became popular. Furthermore, it was performed on non-binding hand-shaped boards designed particularly for towing. This activity is now available in a variety of shapes and forms, such as kneeboarding. It has a more feminine ring to it.

The nicest thing about wakeboarding is that it can be done by people of all ages, physique types, levels of experience, and genders.

Table of Contents

Wakeboarding Essentials For Beginners and Pros

There are many challenges when learning anything new. Wakeboarding is no exception. Even though learning how to wakeboard is quite simple. It becomes more exciting to glide on water as a Pro.

Wakeboarding Equipment :

A wakeboard boat: Choose the appropriate wakeboard boat based on your needs. The finest wakeboarding boats are Bayliner Boats, Axis Boats, and Calabria Boats.

A board: Beginners should opt for a double-ended board with a fin since it is more steady. A board with a consistent curve and fins is preferable. Energetic designs are popular among the Pros.
Bindings: Waterline is a no-frills, fun-loving company with one mission in mind: to make and distribute high quality wakeboard gear at affordable prices. We have the best class of products at low costs. Non-adjustable boot bindings, on the other hand, provide more support than adjustable boot bindings. Wakeboarders will benefit from high-back boot binding since they offer robust support.
Rope: Beginners can employ a thin, non-stretch rope. The shorter the rope, the better, since you will have more control as you become more trained with it. Experts should use it in the opposite way.

Wetsuit: The thickness of your wetsuit depends on the weather you’ll be wakeboaring in. wakeboarders spend a lot of time out on the water. Furthermore, if you’re taking up wakeboarding for the first time in chilly surroundings, a 5/4 mm wetsuit will keep you warm throughout most of the year.
Buoyancy Aid: A buoyancy aid or a life jacket is required for everyone, whether you’re an armature or a professional. No matter the weather, age, or physical condition, safety comes first.

How to Get Up on a Wakeboard :

The major obstacle that all beginners must overcome is getting on the wakeboard. There are three phases to the whole process. It’s not difficult to learn, but it does need patience and full concentration. Make sure you don’t worry too much and maintain your composure at all times.

Positioning Yourself :

Before heading out onto the water, get used to the hand signals you’ll need to communicate with the boat’s driver. Thumbs up means go faster, and thumbs down means go slower. Stops the boat by slashing across its neck.
Adjust the settings to your liking. Make sure they’re neither too tight nor too loose. Consider it a work shoe. The more comfortably they’re applied, the more flexible you’ll be with your boat. Keep in mind that you’ll have to execute a lot of turning and shifting throughout the race.
Take a long breath and dive into the water. As you slide off the boat and into the water, keep one hand on the tow line handle. Allow yourself to relax while the boat pulls away from you for a few moments. You may use the rope to maintain your position when floating in the water after it is taut.

Make sure you have a firm grip on the tow rope. Ensure that your hold does not slip as you float in the water. When floating in the water, keep your arms at ease and your legs bent. It will be more difficult to let go if you hook or loop the handle around or over any part of your body.
Keep the board’s edge in the water. Put the wakeboard on its edge at first, with the bottom of the board parallel to the water’s surface. The board’s edge should just peek above the water’s surface. If you try to maintain a level under you while the boat speeds up, you won’t be able to balance.
Place one arm on either side of your front knee to lift it up. Before you start wakeboarding, have someone gently push you from behind to help you determine which foot to put forward. The foot you put in front of the wakeboard is the one that will be pushed back. Place one arm on either side of your front knee when you’re in the water with the wakeboard. Your arms should stay close to your body.

Standing Up on the Bord :

Keep your knees bent as much as possible. Getting into an upright position is easier if you stay near the board. Keep your knees bent and your feet close to your body when the boat goes faster.
Allow yourself to be carried by boat. When the power of the boat increases, don’t fight it. The board should be raised to the surface of the water using the force of the boat. Avoiding bending your arms to bring the handle closer to your body is recommended.
Keep the majority of your weight on your forward foot as you rise. To go upward on a wakeboard, you’ll need to keep more than 60% of your weight ahead. After climbing up on the board, you may equally distribute your weight among both feet.

Take your time getting up. Children in particular are notorious for rushing while standing up. It will only make things more difficult for you to maintain control. However, if you did hurry it up, lean a bit forward to keep your posture straight. Keep your temper and don’t lose your patience.
Take a firm hold on the handle. Raise the rope close to your front hip for greater control. Raising it might cause you to fall off balance and make staying on the board more difficult. While softly bending your elbows, keep a tight grip on the handle.
Knees first, then slowly rise to your feet. Begin straightening your legs as the boat’s momentum forces the wakeboard onto the water while keeping your knees slightly bent to absorb some of the strain. Tow-rope handle should be positioned in front of your hip.

To shift your weight between your heels and toes, lean back or forward. Bend backward slightly to shift your weight to your heels and position the board heelside on the rear edge to gain a sense of the wake. Then, while leaning forward and moving the board to your toes, attempt cutting across the lake with it toeside on the front edge. This will make it simpler to slice through the lake.
Wait for the boat to return around if you slip. If you fall or lose your grip on the rope, remain calm. So that everyone in the vicinity may see you, lift your board halfway out of the water. The boat driver will return the rope to you so that you may try again.

Troubles and Solutions :

Reduce the rope’s length. If you’re a beginner, a shorter rope may be more effective. Change the rope for one that is 20 feet (6.1 meters) long or less. You may also hang it from a ski pylon. The rope is usually 30 to 50 feet (9.1 to 15.2 meters) long.

Reduce the boat’s speed. While some individuals believe that pushing themselves to their limits will give them the energy they need to get up, this is not the case. Allow the boat’s driver to keep the speed below 16 mph (26 km/h) so that you may board.
Pull the rope lightly. Wakeboarding isn’t about standing up straight after all. It’s more about allowing the boat to carry you upward. Pulling on the rope will most certainly dig your board’s nose into the water. It might put you at risk of stretching your arms too far and losing balance.
If you’re having difficulties, turn your feet around. It may be a simple answer in some cases to reverse the position of your feet. Instead of attempting to wakeboard with your right foot forward, try it with your left.

Look straight ahead at all times. Looking at the boat might assist you in focusing and maintaining your balance. If you’re looking at your bindings all the time, you’ll put too much strain on your feet.

So, there you have it: the regulations and hacks that must be followed to ride wakeskates. Beginners and experts alike must adhere to these methods. Beginners, on the other hand, may benefit from these lessons since they are more concerned with fundamentals than professionals are.

Wakeboarding Ideal Shape and Size Guide

Wakeboards are divided into three categories:

Wakeboards for Beginners

Wakeboards for Intermediate Riders.
Professionals’ Wakeboards.

Beginner wakeboards have a different degree of stability and features than the other types. Beginner wakeboards frequently feature squared-off edges. It makes for a more steady and controlled ride.

You will not be jumping for a long time. It’s not worth it to buy a specialized board too early in your surfing or snowboarding career. In contrast, intermediate and expert riders’ boats are more unbalanced and aggressive. They are considerably less forgiving than beginning boards.

You might choose a wakeboard based on the rider’s weight, as seen in the optimum wakeboard size chart. If the person weighs more than 100 pounds, the wakeboard length should be more than 130 cm. For 90-150 pounds, lengths of 130-134 cm are adequate, whereas for 170-250 lbs, lenths of 135-139 cm work well.

Pick a wakeboard that matches your weight and height. In the case of a kid wakeboard size chart, this list is quite consistent. You may pick a board depending on the kid’s weight.

In addition, wakeboard bindings are crucial to the game. The following are some things to think about when selecting wakeboard bindings: flex, toe, and lacing. It’s difficult to try on bindings with wet feet. Most binding models are difficult to put your feet into.

Water might be beneficial, but lubricants like Airheads Boot Goo are preferable. Lubricants were created with the intention of assisting you in slipping your foot into your binding. Bindings should be tight yet not painful. Visit your local wakeboarding shop if you want a more precise fit.

To get better results, follow the wakeboard binding size chart. The general guideline for ladies who prefer to use men’s wakeboard bindings is to choose one that is between one and 112 sizes smaller than their own. Here’s an example: A woman’s shoe size 9–9.5 would fit a man’s size 8.0 shoe comfortably.

How to Go Pro?

What else can you do to become a professional wakeboarder while learning, practicing, and knowing lots of interesting hacks? It’s simple. You must be recognized. Begin doing public appearances with your ability. Start taking part in various competitions, television programs, and social media postings.

There are always new shows and contests in addition to the ones that have been mentioned previously. Follow your favorites in this field and start by having a successful debut. It’s fine to fail, as long as you try. Another fantastic choice is to use social media. These days, YouTube is very popular.

Create an account right now and let the world see your tricks and abilities. You’ll be noticed in no time. You might receive some sponsorships and begin rolling.

Conclusion

wakeboarding is a popular outdoor activity that people from all around the country enjoy. Wakeboarding is a simple sport to pick up, in comparison with other activities. You’ll get the hang of it after you figure out how to board. The wakeboard’s speed and size varies from person to person.

The wakeboard differs in size and speed based on experience and age. Regardless of whether you’re a novice or an expert, this sport may be enjoyed by anyone. Every phase adds a new type of thrill and grows in intensity over time. So keep striving forward and stay safe!