WARNING:
BOATING AND BOAT-TOWED WATER SPORTS, INCLUDING TUBING, WAKEBOARDING, WATER SKIING, WAKESKATING, AND BARE-FOOTING IS DANGEROUS. THERE IS A RISK OF DROWNING, COLLISION, INJURY FROM THE TOW LINE, AND CONTACT WITH THE MOTOR'S PROPELLER WHICH CAN CAUSE BODILY HARM OR POSSIBLY DEATH. IT IS ALWAYS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF THESE RISKS AND TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFE, HAPPY BOATING.
THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. ALWAYS BE AWARE OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOUR BOAT'S MANUFACTURER AS WELL AS ANY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF YOUR INFLATABLE TUBE, WAKEBOARD, WATERSKI, TOW LINE, AND ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT. WATERLINE PRODUCTS, WATERLINE MARKETING, AND BOATWATERSPORTS.COM ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INFORMATION REGARDING ITS ACCURACY, APPLICABILITY, OR SUITABILITY FOR ANY SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
BOAT-TOWED WAKEBOARDING BASICS
WAKEBOARDING IS ONE OF THE FUNNEST WAYS TO ENJOY TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON YOUR POWER BOAT. ANYONE WHO HAS ANY EXPERIENCE WITH WATER SKIING OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR WATER SPORTS WILL FIND WAKEBOARDING ESPECIALLY EASY.
PICKING A WAKEBOARD:
WHEN CHOOSING A WAKEBOARD, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND IS YOUR SKILL LEVEL AND THE TYPE OF BOARDING YOU WILL MOST LIKELY BE DOING. OFTEN TIMES THE BEST WAY TO DECIDE IF A BOARD IS RIGHT FOR YOU IS TO SIMPLY LOOK AT ITS DESIGN.
THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD LOOK AT WHEN DECIDING ON A BOARD ARE THE BOARD'S EDGES. AN EASY RULE OF THUMB IS THE MORE SQUARE THE EDGES ARE, THE MORE STABLE THE BOARD WILL BE AND THEREFORE, MORE SUITABLE FOR THE NOVICE RIDER. MORE ADVANCED BOARDS WILL GENERALLY HAVE MORE ROUNDED EDGES, ALLOWING THE RIDER TO EASILY LAND AIR TRICKS WITHOUT THE THREAT OF THE EDGE CATCHING THE WATER. ALSO, ROUNDED EDGES ALLOW A RIDER TO GAIN MORE SPEED WHEN HEADING INTO THE WAKE FOR A JUMP, LETTING THE RIDER PERFORM BIGGER TRICKS.
WAKE BOARDS COME IN TWO PRIMARY DESIGNS, SINGLE AND TWIN TIPPED. THIS JUST REFERS TO THE ENDS OF THE BOARD OR ITS "TIPS". A SINGLE TIPPED BOARD WILL BE POINTED AT ONE END AND SQUARED OFF AT THE OTHER, INDICATING THAT THE BOARD IS MEANT TO RIDE IN ONLY ONE DIRECTION. TWIN TIPPED BOARDS ARE ROUNDED ON BOTH ENDS AND ALLOW THE RIDER TO EASILY RIDE THE BOARD IN EITHER DIRECTIONS. THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS IS THAT THE RIDER CAN EASILY TRANSITION BETWEEN DIRECTIONS WHEN PERFORMING AND LANDING TRICKS. BY FAR, THE MAJORITY OF BOARDS MADE TODAY ARE TWIN TIPPED.
THE WAKEBOARD LENGTH, WIDTH, AND ROCKER
WAKEBOARDS' LENGTHS AVERAGE BETWEEN 120-150 CENTIMETERS AND HAVE WIDTHS BETWEEN 38-44 CENTIMETERS. AS A GENERAL RULE, LONGER BOARDS PROVIDE AN EASIER, MORE STABLE RIDE FOR BEGINNERS WHEREAS ADVANCED RIDERS WILL PREFER A SHORTER, LIGHTER BOARD BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE RIDER TO MOVE FASTER ACROSS THE WATER AND GAIN MORE AIR OF THE WAKE.
THE ROCKER IS SIMPLY THE TYPE AND DEGREE OF CURVE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WAKEBOARD. A "HIGHER" ROCKER MEANS THE BOARD WILL HAVE A MORE ROUNDED BOTTOM TO ALLOW THE RIDER TO LAND JUMPS MORE EASILY. THESE BOARDS ACTUALLY SIT IN THE WATER MORE THAN OTHER BOARDS AND THEREFORE PROVIDE A MORE STABLE RIDE. WHILE THIS IS GREAT FOR NOVICE RIDERS, THE MOST OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE TO THIS DESIGN IS THAT IT WILL USUALLY SLOW DOWN THE BOARD AND MAKE IT HARDER TO CATCH BIGGER AIR. LOWER ROCKER BOARDS HAVE FLATTER BOTTOMS AND ARE MORE SUITED FOR THE ADVANCED RIDER SINCE THEY ALLOW GREATER SPEEDS AND MORE CONTROL OVER THE BOARD. A PROGRESSIVE ROCKER INDICATES A BOARD WITH A GRADUAL CURVE ALONG THE CENTER WHICH BECOMES MORE ANGLED UNDER THE FEET.
