Wakeboarding is a common sight in places with beaches. It is a 30-year-old water sport, and you can find its origins in surfing, skiing, and snowboarding. In this sport, the riders (feet) are fastened to their wakeboards and towed behind a fast motorboat. The average speed of the boat is around 48 km/h, which lets the rider ride the surface of the water and do wakeboarding tricks/stunts.
This sport was first invented in Australia around the late 1980s and was initially known as skurfing. When people started skurfing, they used the non-binding hand-shaped boards specifically made for towing. Today, skurfing is not seen anymore on the beach, as wakeboarding replaced it and uses a safety gear called bindings that were absent in skurfing boards. Many offshoots of wakeboarding emerged in the last few years, known as wakeskating and kneeboarding.
Wakeboarding has become so popular that it is now added as a competitive sport in X Games II, and the World Skiboard Association renamed itself as World Wakeboard Association. You can try these sports as there is no special training or course needed for this sport. Just grab a wakeboard and hit the sea.
But what makes a great wakeboard? And, how to recognise a good quality wakeboard?
This article will discuss the tips to recognise a quality wakeboard and tips to enjoy the sport safely.
You must look for these while purchasing a wakeboard.
Know the Labels and Size
The boards can be categorised into three levels based on the skill requirements of wakeboarders. The three categories are beginner, intermediate and advanced boards.
When you are starting out, you should get the beginner’s board, and if you are a veteran and going for a tournament, you can opt for the advanced wakeboards. Advanced boards are made for more aggressive performance and tricks and are made of a different material than the other two categories.
Selecting the appropriate size is also crucial for an easy and safe ride. Make sure that the boards are not too small or big for you, and you can take help from the store staff or a veteran for selecting the right board. A proper board manufacturer will give you the sizing chart to pick from because it will help you balance your weight while wakeboarding.
Know the Material
Usually, most wakeboards are built from fibreglass. The fiberglasses are wrapped around either a wood core or a foam core. Boards made of foams are more common than wood, and they can take more blows and punishment than wood. Graphite is another material used in manufacturing these boards. The graphite helps lighten the board and increase stiffness. In addition, less weight of boards makes it easier to control the board.
Good Fin Great Wakeboarding
Whether you are surfing, wakeboarding, or skiing, the fins are crucial for the board. There are many kinds of fins, such as deep big fins for beginners and small and functional fins for advanced wakeboarders. The fins are usually removable, and you can try different kinds of fins to test your comfort. But, some prefer fins that are moulded into the boards. Choose the one depending on your requirement.
Remember to keep these essential points in mind when buying a new wakeboard and follow all the safety measures. When you reach the beach, put on the binders before starting the sport, and enjoy wakeboarding to the fullest.