This category of our directory focuses on the equipment and gear used in wakeboarding, an extreme water sport in which a rider, standing on a wakeboard, is towed behind a motorboat. It combines elements of water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing.
The sport is characterized by the performance of aerial maneuvers and tricks, which closely resemble the moves used in kiteboarding.
Since this is the shopping section of the directory, we'll focus on wakeboarding products here. The corresponding category in our Sports & Recreation tree covers the sport in more detail.
The origins of wakeboarding go back only as far as the early 1980s when Tony Finn introduced the "Skurfer," a hybrid of a water ski and a surfboard. This early version of a wakeboard lacked bindings, requiring riders to balance themselves barefooted. Nevertheless, the Skurfer marked the birth of a new sport.
As the popularity of wakeboarding grew, other versions of a wakeboard were developed to make the sport more accessible and enjoyable.
Modern wakeboards are designed to accommodate the dynamic movements of the rider. They are typically constructed of a buoyant foam core wrapped in fiberglass to provide both durability and flexibility.
Some prominent wakeboards include rocker designs, such as continuous or three-stage rockers, that influence the board's performance in terms of speed and air. Unlike the Skurfer, modern wakeboards come with ergonomic bindings and boots, allowing for better control. Advanced designs may include removable fins and sharp edges that assist in maneuverability and stability during aerial tricks.
Besides the wakeboard itself, the sport requires other gear, both for safety and performance. Life vests are mandatory in most jurisdictions and are designed to be lightweight, buoyant, and minimally restrictive, allowing for freedom of movement. While not used by all wakeboarders, helmets may be used to protect against head injuries during high-impact falls. Depending on water temperatures, wetsuits or drysuits provide insulation, buoyancy, and protection from abrasions. Specialized ropes with minimal stretch are used with rubberized handles to maintain control during tricks and turns.
While there are others, some prominent manufacturers supplying the wakeboarding market include Hyperlite, Liquid Force, and Ronix, while retailers like BuyWake, Evo, and Marine Products provide wakeboarding gear online. Additionally, brick-and-mortar stores can offer personalized advice and fittings.
Manufacturers and retailers of wakeboarding products are appropriate resources for this category, along with websites featuring product reviews and comparisons.
Recommended Resources
Owned and operated by a core group of wakeboarders, BuyWake is a wake-specific retailer founded in 1997 and located in Kennesaw, Georgia. Online shoppers can shop by brand, by product (wakeboard, wakesurf, wakefoil, life jackets/vests, clothing and accessories, boat), by women's or kid's products, or through its sales outlet. Other resources include a buyer's guide, reviews, gift certificates, and information about its shipping, international ordering, and returns policies.
https://buywake.com/
Located in Snoqualmie, Washington, the company manufactures several types of wakeboards, which may be browsed through its online catalog or found through a wakeboard finder feature that guides shoppers through a number of questions, including sex, experience level, and type of ride (boat or cable) in order to present a selection of options more likely to be appropriate for a particular shopper. Collections and sale items are also available, along with an informational blog, and a dealer program.
https://www.hyperlite.com/
Founded in 1995, Liquid Force is a manufacturer of wakeboarding, wakesurfing, wake foiling, and other wake-related products. It is one of the leading manufacturers of wakeboard-related products. Besides manufacturing, Liquid Force sponsors several events and athletes to promote and advance the sport. Shoppers can view a full catalog of its products, find global retailers or international distributors, or shop its online catalog directly. Size charts are avaialble.
https://www.liquidforce.com/
Headquartered in Hudsonville, Michigan, Wakehouse has three locations and is a significant water sports outfitter in Michigan. In business for more than twenty years, the company offers products for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wakesurfing, including wakeboards from several manufacturers, wakeboard packages, bindings, and accessories, along with life vests, wetsuits, drysuits, wakefoil packages, boards and sets, boat accessories, and apparel. Closeouts are also featured.
https://www.wakehouse.com/
Situated in Bend, Oregon, WakeMAKERS was founded in 2009, specializing in wakeboarding and wakesurfing products, including wakeboard ballast systems, wakesurf boards, props, marine audio, and accessories. Its online product catalog is sorted by product (ballast, props, surf, foil, wake, boat, gear, outlet). With several options available, photos, specifications, reviews, and other details are offered for each item, and purchases may be made online. Buyer's guides are included.
https://www.wakemakers.com/
Wakesports Unlimited has a brick-and-mortar store in El Cajon, California, although the largest part of its business is done through its online store, which carries products for wakeboarding, wakesurfing, foiling, waterskiing, and skateboarding. Its wakeboarding products include various types of wakeboards, wakeboard packages, bindings, and boards made specifically for men, women, or kids. Photos, size charts, options, prices, and other details are posted on the site.
https://www.wakesports.com/
