How To Choose Your Gear
Skill Level/Riding Style
When choosing your first wakeboard, you will want to think about your skill level and the style of boarding you want to do. The different features of each wakeboard will determine how the board will perform. Beginners usually go with a board with squared edges. The square edges allow more control and stability. More advanced riders might prefer a board with round edges. The rounded edges of the board are less likely to catch when landing tricks off the wake.
Boards do come in two different styles of tips. There is single tipped and double tipped boards. Single tip boards are less common and are usually only used for one way riding, while double tipped boards are the majority, they make it easier to switch directions and land tricks.
Width, Length, and Rocker
The wakeboard length you choose varys depending on your size and weight. The bigger you are the longer board you will want to purchase. Board lengths usually average between 120-150 centimeters. Widths usually average between 38-44 centimeters. Click here to see a Wakeboard Sizing Chart.
The rocker of a board is how the board curves or angles at its ends. A higher rocker means a more rounded bottom and makes landing jumps easier. The lower rocker gives a flatter bottom allowing more speed and easier board control.
Fins
Fins are exactly that, fins on the bottom of the board. They are designed to help steer the board. Smaller thin fins work well in smooth water. In rougher water your going to want larger wider fins for your board. Wider fins displace more water and create a suction keeping the board on the water.
Bindings
When buying bindings fit is the most important thing since your feet have to be in them all day while your riding. You want them to be snug but not so tight that its painful. If the boot is too tight serious injury can occur because the board will not release from your feet properly when falling. Most bindings allow a lace up feature that allow tightening of the binding once its on your foot. The material of the bindings is also a very important factor. Material can make all the difference of the comfort of your binding, and the more comfortable you are the better and longer you can ride. The binding should curve in and support the arch of your foot and out to accommodate your toes.
Buying a Tow Rope
Choosing a tow rope for your wakeboarding excursions may sound like a simple task, but there are more elements to this process than you might think. First off the biggest factors that affect your choice of a rope is your budget and your skill level.
Two types of ropes are out there. Stretch, and no stretch.
Stretch ropes are made of a material called polyethylene, and usually stretch around one percent or so.
No Stretch ropes are made of spectra material. These ropes are very strong and stretch to less than half a percent under pressure.
Almost all professional riders choose the no stretch type. The no stretch is much more predictable and allows much better riding, and the feel doesn’t compare to a stretch rope.
Length of Your Rope
The second important factor is the rope length. Most ropes are somewhere in beween 60 to 70 feet. Rope lenght is personal preference, but beginners may choose a shorter rope because the wake is narrower closer to the boat. The better ropes have adjustment loops that allow for quick adjustment to change to mulitple lengths.
Handles
The last part of the rope equation is the handle. Wakeboarding handles are 13-15 inches wide, which is wider than the 11-12 inch water ski handles. The wider handle makes performing tricks easier.
Life Jackets
Obviously safety is an important factor when doing any type of water sport. Life jackets should be worn at all times. When choosing a life jacket for wakeboarding, one of the most important things is fit. You want it to be snug but not to small, and if its too big you could slip out of it when you fall. They now have neoprene life jackets made for water sports. They are thin and light weight, making it easier to move while riding.
Overall, the key to advancing in wakeboarding is just like everything else. Practice, practice, practice, and don’t be afraid to try different styles of boards, bindings, or ropes. Its all about finding the products that fit you and your style.
Find all of this gear in our products section.
