New To Wakeboarding?
New to wakeboarding? - Follow our simple starters guide to get you out on the water fast! Weve taken common questions from our customers that are new to the sport and provided answered from our experienced staff.
Most wakeboard manufacturers provide useful information to help you decide which board is right for you. This information is usually limited, so we"ve put together this simple guide to help get you started.
What type of wakeboard Should I buy?
It"s important that you choose a board which best suits your own individual skill level. You should also consider the type/style of boarding that you want to do.
All wakeboards are specially designed with different features. Variables such as the shape and size of a board are what ultimately determine how it will perform.
What board shape should I choose?
Beginners generally prefer a board with squared edges. The squared edges give you more control and stability, this type of board is usually recommended for someone who is not ready for big air tricks.
More advanced riders would be better suited to a board with rounded edges which help to make air tricks easier to land. The Rounded edge design allows less chance of catching an edge when landing. The rounded edge also helps give the board more speed and lift when jumping.
Wakeboards are also designed with either single or double tips. Single tipped boards are pointed at one end and squared off at the other. Double tipped boards are rounded at both ends, allowing for easy transition when switching directions and landing tricks. The majority of the boards available are double tipped.
We would recommend a double tipped board for beginners. The reason for choosing a double tipped board is that it allows for easier execution of the basics such as reversing the direction of the board. In addition to this, most modern double tipped boards are lighter and easier to jump with.
What length board should I choose?
Wakeboards come in various different lengths and this will vary depending on the manufacturer. Usually, any one particular model will be available in 2 or 3 different lengths. The table below can be used as a rough guide to which board length might best suit you:
Small Person 125cm - 135cm Meduim Person 135cm - 140cm Large Person 140cm - 145cm+
For Beginners, longer boards are most commonly recommended as they offer more stability and can take larger riders.
Ive bought my board, what else is there to know?
Once you have purchased a board there are one or two other things you will need to consider before hitting the water.
Your board most likely came with a set of fins, but if it didn"t you will need to choose and buy fins to suit you, your board and your preferred style of riding. Make sure your fins are tightly secured with the wider end to the outside of the board. Longer fins will track more easily in the water giving you a more stable feeling on the board. Shorter fins will release from the water more easily, giving a looser feeling on the board. Many beginners will find it better to use longer fins, 2" to 2.5", when they are first starting out, especially if they are riding in choppy water.
Your rope should be secured to the pylon or tower at a set distance depending upon your boat's wake. The closer you are to the boat, the smaller the wake will be - this may be better suited to the beginner. As you get further from the boat the size of the wake will increase.
You don't want to be so close that you hit with the spray of water that shoots up at the start of the boat's wake, this is often referred to as the rooster tail. Once you feel comfortable, you may want to try extending the rope length so that you are riding the wake where it is larger. A longer rope will also allow you to take a longer cut at the wake, gaining more speed and allowing you to get bigger air.
And please don't forget your most valuable piece of equipment, your buoyancy aid!
Author: Jake Gourd
Written for Bob Spalding. Online retailer of wakeboards and other related extreme sport gear.
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