In this part of our guide, we'll discuss wakeboarding, a watersport where the rider, standing on a wakeboard with foot bindings, is towed behind a motorboat across its wake to perform aerial maneuvers and tricks.
Wakeboarding has its roots in the 1980s. It evolved as a combination of water skiing, surfing, and snowboarding. The sport began with "skurfing," where riders used surfboards to ride the wake created by boats. Tony Finn's invention of the "Skurfer" in 1985 marked a milestone, blending elements of surfing and water skiing. The introduction of bindings and boots in the early 1990s further revolutionized the sport, allowing for better control and stability.
Wakeboarding and kitesurfing share similarities. Both sports involve riding a board while being pulled by an external source. The key difference is in the source of propulsion. Wakeboarding uses a boart or cable system, while kitesurfing relies on wind power. Nevertheless, the skills involved in wakeboarding, such as balance and board control, can be beneficial when learning kitesurfing.
Wakeboarding has various forms. Boat wakeboarding is the traditional form, where a motorboat tows riders. Cable wakeboarding involves being pulled by an overhead cable system, often found in wake parks. Wakeskating is similar to traditional wakeboarding but without bindings, allowing for skateboard-like tricks. Wakesurfing involves riding the boat's wake without being directly towed, an experience similar to surfing.
Wakeboards come in different styles, including the continuous rocker, 3-stage rocker, hybrid rocker, camber, and flex boards.
Best for carving and smooth landings, continuous rocker boards are smooth, with a continuous curve from nose to tail, providing a fast, smooth ride with predictable pop off the wake.
3-stage rockers include three distinct planes, with a flat center and more pronounced angles at the nose and tail. Best for riders looking for maximum height and aggressive tricks behind the boat, they offer an explosive pop off the wake but can be less predictable and harder on landings.
Combining elements of continuous and 3-stage rockers, hybrid rockers balance smoothness and pop, providing versatility for cable parks and boat riding. They are best for riders who want a versatile board that performs well in various conditions.
Camberboards feature a cambered profile, similar to snowboards, offering a unique feel with more even weight distribution, enhancing control and stability. They are designed for advanced riders looking for a different riding experience.
As the name implies, flex boards are more flexible than traditional boards, allowing for pressing and tweaking tricks, particularly on rails and obstacles. They are for park riders who enjoy jibbing and technical trips.
Boat boards are designed for riding behind a boat. Typically, they are stiffer with more pronounced rockers for a better pop, while cable boards are softer and more flexible, often with reinforced bases to withstand obstacles in cable parks.
At the competitive level, waterboarding is known for an impressive array of tricks, which can be categorized into several types. These include the ollie, a fundamental trick where the rider jumps off the water using the wake's energy; grab tricks, which involve grabbing the board while airborne, such as the indy grab and tail grab; spins, which are rotational tricks like the 180, 360, and more advanced tricks like the 540; and inverts, where the rider goes upside down, such as the tantrum and backroll.
Essential equipment used in wakeboarding includes the wakeboard, bindings, rope and handle, a life jacket, and helmet.
Wakeboarding, like any extreme sport, comes with inherent risks. Common injuries include sprains, strains, and concussions. Wakeboarding is considered an extreme sport due to its high speeds, aerial tricks, and physical demands. Its evolution from water skiing to a standalone discipline with its own competitions, such as the X Games, highlights its status in the extreme sports community.
Topics related to wakeboarding are appropriate resources for this category, although retail sites should be submitted to the corresponding Shopping & eCommerce category.
Recommended Resources
The wakeboarding school and cable park is located in Colorado. They offer various services, including wakeboard lessons, summer camps, group events, and clinics with professional wakeboarders. Their facilities include multiple two-tower cable systems and a full-size cable system. Photos and videos highlighting the facilities are provided, and information about private lake memberships, a calendar of events, contacts, and the months and hours of operation are included.
https://milehighwake.com/
Specializing in providing coverage of events, reviews, and general information about wakeboarding in and around the United Kingdom. Its topics include discussing the dangers of wakeboarding, the difficulty in learning wakeboarding, tips and tricks to get started in the sport, and unraveling the physics behind wakeboarding. Other resources include a beginner's guide to wakeboarding and choosing the right size and type of wakeboard for a person's skill level and body type.
https://ukwakeboarding.com/
Situated in the Parish of Moynalvey, close to Summerhill County, Meath, Ireland, Wake n Ski is a man-made, purpose-built wakeboard and waterski lake. The 700m long and 50m wide lake provides plenty of space for an enjoyable set on the water, and its high banks give protection from the wind. Included are opportunities for wakeboarding, waterskiing, open-water swimming, and a tournament slalom course for slalom skiers. An overview of the faciliy is provided, along with prices, and online booking.
https://wakenski.ie/
Situated in Cam Thanh, Hội An, Wake Park is Vietnam's first and only cable wake park. The park features a 2-tower cable system designed for wakeboarding and various activities suitable for people of all ages and skill levels. Included are beginner lessons, wakeboarding opportunities, kneeboarding opportunities, Ringo Rides, and paddleboarding, each of which is highlighted, along with other services and activities. Photographs, contacts, and prices are included.
https://www.wakeparkvietnam.com/
Wake World is a popular website dedicated to the wakeboarding community. Its content includes news and articles updating the latest in wakeboarding, detailed reviews of wakeboarding equipment and accessories, videos and photographs showcasing tricks, competitions, and events, community forums where wakeboarding enthusiasts can discuss topics, share tips, and network with one another, events, contests, a classified section, a blog, and an online shopping area.
https://www.wakeworld.com/
