Prodigal Magazine

SPORT :: WAKEBOARDING 101
New to wakeboarding? – Follow our simple starters guide to get you out on the water fast!

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!

Written for Bob Spalding. Online retailer of wakeboards and other related
extreme sport gear.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Gourd