Monday, April 27, 2009

Wakeboards for sale

One of the best things to consider when choosing a wakeboard is to look into what is available as far as wakeboards for sale. One of the great things about the internet these days is that you can often times find quality discount wakeboards for cheap prices. Many times the big board manufacturers like Hyperlite, Liquid Force, CWB and Ronix will have left over wakeboarding inventory and will need to sell it for cheaper prices in order to make room for the season's new wakeboard gear. This is a good opportunity for you to find all kinds of cheap wakeboarding equipment. You can get a good pair of wakeboard bindings or a wakeboard helmet that are last years model that may be almost exactly the same for much cheaper simply because of the fact that it is last years model and they are trying to free up room for the season's new inventory. It is a good idea to stay relatively current with your wakeboard equipment since the technology sees so many advances from year in and year out but sometimes it is simply a better bargain to take advantage when you can find quality equipment for sale. The plus side to having the latest wakeboard equipment however is that you will be using better technology which can play a big part when it comes to learning new wakeboard tricks.While this is true there are a lot of times when the only thing that changes from year to year might be the wakeboard graphics which obviously will not have an effect on how the board rides. Keep this in mind and be sure to take advantage of the internet in finding great deals on wakeboards for sale.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Training for wakeboarding and preventing wakeboard injuries

Wakeboarding is a very strenuous sport. Usually any beginner wakeboarder will tell you after their first time that the next day they were very sore. The reason is because you are using the wakeboard rope and your body to pull yourself along the surface of the water. Even getting up on a wakeboard for a beginner can take a considerable amount of energy. That being said, wakeboarding is also one of the best recreational activities as far as being good excercise. I can't tell you exactly how many calories per hour you burn while wakeboarding but I would assume it has to be extremely high seeing that I recently discovered snowboarding is a high cal/hour count. It also depends a lot on how intense you are riding. Someone doing simple wake to wake jumps or other beginner tricks on a wakeboard will obviously not be using as much energy as someone doing advanced inverts or advanced spins. It is strange but it seems that no matter how in shape I feel like I am (IE if I stayed in the gym in the off season) I always end up sore after my first ride of the year on a wakeboard, even if I take it easy and don't do my harder tricks.

Learning tricks on a wakeboard will inevitably require more from you physically and the easiest way to keep up with your progression is to stay in shape, use the best wakeboard equipment available and do what you can to prevent injuries. Going to the gym and keeping yourself in shape is a great way to keep your body ready for the wakeboarding season. Even other sports, such as snowboarding, will help you retain the muscle memory and is a good training method for wakeboarding when it gets too cold to be out on the lake. The most important muscles you use in wakeboarding will be those in your back and your core. While other body parts (shoulders, arms, legs) play a part as well, the condition of your core and back are the most vital. Crunches and deadlifts are two excercises I try to stay on top of even in the cold months to maintain my conditioning for wakeboarding. LIke I said earlier, there is still a good chance you will be sore after your first rides of the season, hopefully the soreness will not last as long and your body will be able to adjust once you start riding again.

Make sure you're up to date on your wakeboard gear. Using the proper wakeboard bindings can make a big difference in your riding. In recent years bindings have become a lot more rider friendly, comfortable, and also provide more support than ever before. Having a good pair of wakeboard bindings can allow you take longer sets before your feet start hurting and also can provide more protection against wakeboard injury. People have often asked me how to break in wakeboard bindings. This really depedns on the brand. Ronix has recently come up with a method of heat compression molding their bindings so that it fits exactly to the contour of your foot. ONe of the oldest best ways to break in wakeboard bindings I have always used is to run a tub of hot bath water (not too hot, but really warm) and put your bindings on in the bath tub and sit there in them for 10 minutes or so. The warm water will allow the bindings to loosen up and help better fit your foot so you aren't ripping them around trying to put them on once you're out on the boat. Using some type of lubricant can also help you slip into your wakeboard bindings and make them last longer since you dont have to pull and tug on them as hard. People also wonder if they should wear wakeboard helmets. I say wearing a helmet is a good idea these days. I have seen too many people get concussions and other head injuries simply because they weren't wearing a helmet. Not to mention there are a lot of companies like protec, capix, and hyperlite are all now making good looking helmets that also serve the purpose of protecting. There is no question that you should always wear wakeboard helmets when hitting sliders or rails. There is no excuse not to as a head injury can easily occur if you slip out and hit your head while not wearing a helmet.

Knowing your limits on a wakeboard is one thing that is often overlooked. After a long day of wakeboarding, you're tired and just want one more set. You've been out in the sun all day and maybe had some adult beverages and tired from riding but you decide to try that new trick. Bam, you get hurt, all because you were pushing it too much when you should've just called it a day and went home to rest. There's always tomorrow. If you keep trying to land that moby dick or air raley and it is just not coming to you that day move along. I've seen way too many people get hurt wakeboarding simply because they were too tired and wouldn't give it a rest. Another thing not to do while wakeboaridng is trying tricks that are too advanced for your skill level. The great thing about an instructional wakeboard dvd. such as The Book wakeboard dvd, is that it will explain to you the progression steps in wakeboarding. What tricks in what order you need to work on and try. There are a lot of people that get hurt trying to do wakeboard tricks that are just too advanced for their skill level.

These things are important because training for wakeboarding and preventing injury are the two biggest factors when it comes down to how much time this summer you will spend out on the water wakeboarding. So keep yourself in shape and take the precautionary measures to keep yourself healthy so you can spend as much time as possible this year learning how to wakeboard and get better!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Wakeboard Tricks and Terminology

Wakeboard Terminology and Tricks

Most people who, for the first time, see wakeboard tricks are usually taken aback and are impressed by all the spinning and aerial maneuvers experienced riders can perform. Often times beginner wakeboarders, while enthusiastic about the tricks involved, are often clueless about trick names or the differences between them. Many beginner wakeboarders cannot easily differentiate between the different tricks and oftentimes most tricks appear the same. They can easily identify the difference in a wakeboard flip or spin, but when you start combining the two, things can start to get a little confusing. In this article we will cover the basic wakeboarding tricks and terminology involved to help beginners become a little more educated about all the wakeboarding trick terminology.

Toeside and Heelside:

Simply put – a wakeboarder rides the board sideways. When a rider cuts outside the boat wake on either side, either their toes or heels will be facing the wake. For one to initiate a jump, the rider must effectively edge back in towards the wake. This is where the reference for toeside and heelside come in. If someone wakeboarding edges in towards the wake while their toes are facing the wake is is known as a toeside edge. Vice versa, if a rider edges in with the heels facing the wake, this is known as the heelside edge. Most beginners in wakeboarding find that the heelside edge is generally the easiest to get used to as the toeside edge requires more twist in the hips to properly initiate. Ultimately whichever side of the board a rider edges on is determined by either heelside or toeside.


Frontside and Backside:

These are two terms that usually reference the direction that a wakeboarder is spinning. The rule of thumb is that if the rider’s chest is open to the boat first in the wakeboard spin, this is considered a “frontside” spin. On the other hand, if the rider spins with his back facing the boat first, this would be considered a “backside” spin. Different people will find different difficulty levels based on personal preference. A wakeboard frontside spin is easier in the beginning as you can pull the handle across the front of your body to initiate the spin, but harder because you have to pass the handle near the end of the trick before you land. A wakeboard backside spin is harder at the beginning because you have to initiate all of the spin without much leverage by pulling the handle to your back, but is easier because the handle pass is early and your body will be open to the boat upon the landing. Some people find spinning one certain direction while wakeboarding is easier, and others will find that both are of the same difficulty.



Wakeboard Spins:

Spinning on a wakeboard can be one of the most difficult things to learn for a beginner. Most people consider spins (360 or more) to be harder than most wakeboard inverts. One of the factors that makes wakeboard spins difficult is the fact that there’s a wakeboard handle involved. You can’t successfully execute a full spin and keep riding, obviously, if you do not successfully complete a handle pass. With a skateboard or a snowboard there is no rope, so all you need to do is initiate the spinning with your body. While frontside 180’s are fairly simple spins, anything more than that will require a handle pass. With spins there is also the choice of either spinning on axis or off axis. On axis wakeboard spins, or sometimes called flat spins, mean that the wakeboard will remain flat throughout the entire spin – from the time the jump is initiated all the way through the landing. An off axis spin will be one in which the rider will angle the board away from the boat after jumping, but will bring the board back beneath them before landing. Like most things in wakeboarding, people will generally find one easier than the other based on personal preference. Pro wakeboarders can do frontside wake to wake spins both on axis and off axis that include 360, 540, 720, and 900’s. The best wakeboarders can do backside spins all the way up through 720. Off of double ups, some of the best wakeboarders have even landed 1080 and 1260’s. That is incredibly difficult and involves a lot of handle passes and spinning. Most beginning wakeboarders will start out with basic 180’s and later move on to the 360 and so on.

Wakeboard Inverts and flips:

Most of the time beginners see someone do a wakeboard flip, that is the first thing they want to learn. Wakeboard flips, or more commonly called inverts, usually take some basic wakeboarding experience and a little bravery. A back roll or a tantrum are usually one of the first wakeboard inverts most people will learn.
A back roll is a sort of reverse cartwheel motion invert when approaching from the heelside. A tantrum, also performed from the heelside, is a back flip. The inverts tend to be two of easier and more popular among those learning to wakeboard. Toeside inverts can be a little more tricky as the edging technique required can take more time to properly develop. The two most popular toeside inverts first learned are the toeside backroll or the scarecrow. While fundamentally it is better to learn a toeside front roll on a wakeboard before the scarecrow, most people learn the scarecrow first simply because the landing is easier. The toeside backroll is performed by edging in toeside and performing a back flip. The front roll can be done by coming in toeside and doing a front flip. A scarecrow is a front roll with a frontside 180. This is oftentimes easier for beginners to learn because a scarecrow allows a wakeboarder to land open to the boat while the front roll requires more rotation for a rider to land over their toes. Wakeboarding inverts can be exciting and will definitely impress your friends and onlookers from other boats. One of the best feelings in the world, that you’ll probably never forget, is what it feel like landing your first wakeboard invert.


Wakeboard Raley Tricks:

The Air Raley in wakeboarding is the single most sought after wakeboard maneuver that anybody who ever sees one in person wants to do. It is a trick that only exists in wakeboarding, as a rope is a definite requirement to complete it. A wakeboard raley is where a rider takes a very progressive cut into the wake at a high speed propelling themself into the air. Once in the air the rider lays out stretching flat out on their stomach almost as if they’re flying like superman. Beginners even refer to the raley as the “superman trick” often. Air raleys are popular because they are generally taken very big and it is quite the spectacle to see someone fly through the air, laid out like superman. For whatever reason it seems this is the most requested wakeboard trick by the females. Raley tricks can also be performed from the toeside. One of the more popular toeside raley tricks is the batwing. A batwing is a toeside raley where the rider grabs indy, or between his feel toeside, with their trailing. This is a very stylish wakeboard trick and can be done several different ways. The hoochie glide, which is a raley with a method grab, is another very popular wakeboarding trick that can be taken very big. Most every beginner wants to learn an air raley because it truly is an exciting trick, and part of that reason is because it is exclusive to wakeboarding (because of the wakeboard rope).

Advanced wakeboard tricks:

The most advanced of all wakeboarding tricks are the ones that combine both inverts and spins. In wakeboard speak, these tricks are usually referred to as mobes. Any mobe is a trick which consists of both an invert, and atleast one full 360 with a handle pass. Examples of some of these tricks are crow mobes, the heelside mobius, moby dick, pete rose, kgb, slim chance, and dum dum. Mobes, along with high level spins such as the 720 and 900 are easily considered some of the most difficult tricks in the sport. These are usually the tricks you will see that make up a competition run of some of the best wakeboarders in the world. A whirlybird is another trick which involves both an invert with a 360, the difference with this being that the rotation is done with the handle rotated over the head (since whirlybirds are done without a handle pass most do not consider this trick a mobe. When these mobes are done with a 540 instead of a 360, they are called mobe 5’s. Examples would be a crow mobe 540 / crow 5, or a whirly 5. Other wakeboard tricks that are considered some of the hardest are those in which riders are landing blind. Blind, in wakeboard terminology, means that the riders back is to the boat and therefore cannot necessarily see the landing. Most blind landings are done by landing wrapped. The term wrapped, in wakeboarding, means that the rider opts to land with his lead arm twisted behind his back rather than opting for passing the handle. Such examples would be a tantrum to blind or a roll to blind. Like with many other aspects in this sport, some people will find that mobes come easier than landing blind or landing wrapped and vice versa. Truth be told they are both very hard and can only be achieved by more advanced wakeboarders.

These are just some of the terms and definitions surrounding the sport of wakeboarding. You should always start with the most basic fundamentals and build upon them when you first learn the sport. Wakeboarding progression will come much faster down the road if you take the appropriate time to learn the basics and truly have them down pat before trying to move on to more difficult and advanced tricks. Hopefully this article will leave you with a better understanding of some of the wakeboard terminology involved in this sport, and like anything else, the more you watch it the more you will begin to recognize what tricks you are looking at. Now go grab your gear and get out there and learn some new wakeboard tricks!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Wakeboard Helmets

Wakeboard Helmets:

One of the newest, perhaps long overdue, things to come about in wakeboarding is the popularity of wakeboard helmets. There are now numerous companies who make and distribute wakeboard helmets giving many different options to pick from. Most people use wakeboard helmets when hitting any kind of rail or wakeboard slider. This is a good choice as falling and hitting your head on a wakeboard slider could severely damage or even kill you if you are not wearing a helmet. The main thing to look for in a wakeboard helmet is how well it will protect your head in the case of a collision. Is the helmet hard? Does it fight tightly and securely to your head or does it allow for some degree of movement?

The best wakeboard helmets will have a snug, secure fit and I thick outer casing that can absorb a lot of impact. The padding within the helmet should also be relatively thick to act as a shock absorber if you were to take a hit to the head. Most wakeboard cable parks or any other places that have wakeboard sliders will require that you wear a wakeboard helmet to ride there. This is to be expected as there is no reason for a wakeboarder to suffer a serious, or life-ending injury just because of not wearing a helmet. Some wakeboarders even choose to wear a wakeboard helmet while riding behind the boat. Bad falls, even on the water, can cause a very severe whiplash effect slamming a rider’s head into the water. Many people believe wearing a wakeboard helmet will help minimize that impact. This is a disputable fact, as some believe that a wakeboard helmet would actually increase the surface area of impact and deliver a harder blow rather than if a rider opted not to wear a helmet. If you are going to hit sliders on a wakeboard, be sure and wear an appropriate wakeboard helmet. While riding the wake alone may be ok without one, you should always wear a wakeboard helmet when hitting rails. There is just too much at risk. Make sure and try on many helmets before settling on one that’s both secure and will hold up to a hard fall. It also might be a good idea not to be cheap when it comes to wakeboard helmets because they are, after all, protecting a very important thing. All in all I would say it would be worth spending an extra few bucks on the good wakeboard helmets when protecting your head!

Wakeboard DVD

Picking a wakeboard dvd:

Have you ever paused to wonder about the differences and which wakeboard dvd you should buy? Selecting a wakeboard dvd can be a tough choice and they are all a little different and have different things to offer. Depending on what kind of wakeboard dvd you choose, among them are instructionals, lifestyle-oriented, and pure technical wakeboarding. An instructional wakeboard dvd can be a huge advantage when trying to enhance your skills in wakeboarding. Not only do you get to see and hear first hand from some of the best pros in the world, but the pros will break down all kinds of wakeboard tricks in most every wakeboard dvd. The life-style oriented dvds will typically show not only a good bit of technical wakeboarding by the riders, but will also showcase a lot of what they do when they aren’t on the water and what their lives are like. These wakeboard dvds are typically more artsy and many believe they showcase better cinematography. When someone refers to a wakeboard dvd as being ‘pure riding’, this means that is almost exclusively wakeboarding footage. Each rider usually will have a section that features trick after trick, usually their hardest or most stylish tricks. This type of wakeboard dvd is probably the most exciting and what inspires most riders to want to get out on the lake and ride. All of the different wakeboard dvd types serve their purpose and usually you can look up reviews online to find out which ones you would be most interested in buying.

When shopping for a wakeboard dvd keep in mind that while the latest will almost certainly have the best riders performing their latest tricks, some of the older wakeboard dvds will showcase a lot of history and general knowledge about wakeboarding in it’s early years. It seems like now almost every wakeboard dvd that comes out will one up the last, creating healthy competition that keeps the sport fresh. The instructionals have gotten more in-depth, the lifestyle types have gotten more soulful, and the raw wakeboarding in the technical type truly keep raising the bar. There is absolutely no way to get yourself more pumped up about riding than to pick yourself up a quality wakeboard dvd!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Wakeboarding Equipment

Wakeboarding equipment can be expensive. Anyone who has owned a board or any wakeboarding equipment can vouch for that. The best way to keep money in your pocket is to take care of what you’ve got. Here are a few tips you can use to take care of your wakeboards and wakeboarding equipment. This is by no means an all inclusive list, but here are 10 simple tips that will help your wakeboarding gear last longer.

1) Do not leave your wakeboard out in the sun. Extended time in the sun will cause damage and will eventually cause your wakeboard to fade and will damage the inside of the board.

2) Always make sure your wakeboard bindings are securely attached to your wakeboard. This means make sure the screws that attach the bindings are tight and secure.

3) Allow your wakeboard lifejacket to dry before storing after use, but like wakeboards do not leave in the sun too long or it will damage the neoprene.

4) After riding, hold the handle of the wakeboard rope and toss the other end out behind the boat while idling. This will allow the rope to untwist. Also be sure to wind your wakeboard rope up and store it securely.

5) Always rinse everything after wakeboarding in salt or brackish water. This include all wakeboard gear AND the boat itself.

6) Take it easy on your wakeboard bindings and use some type of lube for entry. Many use anything from soap to shaving cream to make entry into the bindings easier and less stressful on the binding material.

7) Keep records on, and have your wakeboard boat properly maintained. A boat is only as good as the timely service that is performed on it.

8) Be careful about letting others use your wakeboard gear. Is it ok to occasionally let people without a set up ride your wakeboard but be weary that both of you are approximately the same size as to avoid stretching your life jacket or bindings out. Also – if the equipment is too small the other person could be injured more easily.

9) Be cautious when handling your wakeboard around the boat. It is not hard to drop a board or forget to secure a board in the wakeboard rack only to have it fly out while going down the lake (or worse come out on the highway while towing your boat home).

10) Periodically check the hardware on your wakeboard tower to ensure the fittings are secure. I have known some people who never checked the bolts and it ended up cracking one of the legs in the wakeboard tower.

Bottom line – take care of your wakeboarding equipment and in turn your wakeboarding equipment will take care of you for much longer..

Wakeboarding: Wakeboard Towers

Wakeboard Towers

In recent years, wakeboard towers have become extremely commonplace in the sport and most all wakeboarding boats (and even some non-wake boats) now come equipped with a tower. Although wakeboarding is a relatively young sport, it hasn’t been that long since wakeboard towers did not exist, much less a wakeboard specific boat. Wakeboard towers will help your progression in wakeboarding because with riding behind one you can get a significant amount of more air, and what I like to call “loft” in your jumps. The reason you can get more air using a wakeboard tower than compared to not using one is that they allow you to be towed from a point of about 8 feet high. If a rider is being towed by a rope attached directly to the back of the boat, the tow point is going to be just above the water surface and lower than where the rider will be holding the wakeboard handle. This being said, as soon as the rider jumps, he is being pulled back down because of the low attachment of the rope. With wakeboard towers and a high tow point you are not immediately being pulled back down and can get more air and you also tend to be able to ‘float’ a little more giving you more time. Getting more air and having more time in the air is a big factor in learning and mastering wakeboard tricks. Wakeboard towers also make it convenient in that most are equipped with wakeboard racks that attach to the tower and allow all the wakeboards not being used to be stowed in the racks instead of laying around the boat.

Before wakeboard towers became so popular and dominated the market, there was the pylon. Wakeboard pylons are large poles, usually about 7 feet high, that are mounted to the floor of a boat, and have a place at the top where a rope can be attached. The wakeboard pylon was the earliest version of implementing a higher tow point in wakeboarding that would allow for more air and harder tricks. Wakeboard pylons are still around, and you still see the occasionally, but wakeboard towers have all but taken over. Wakeboard towers, because of the four points of attachment, do not flex nearly as much as a wakeboard pylon. This along with the fact that wakeboard towers aren’t as intrusive and can hold many wakeboards have increased their popularity through recent years. And one last thing – with the sleek designs wakeboard towers look really cool as well!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Wakeboard Ropes

Wakeboarding: Getting Started - Choosing a Wakeboard Rope

Choosing a wakeboard rope is one of the most important, yet very often overlooked, aspect when first getting started in wakeboarding. Many people invest a lot of time researching wakeboarding boats, towers, bindings and wakeboards but do not give the rope nearly as much consideration. This is partly because wakeboard ropes are generally much less expensive than some of the other equipment needed in wakeboarding and thus beginners assume it is not as important. This is a big mistake, as which rope you choose to wakeboard with will have a tremendous effect on your progression.

First off - a wakeboard rope is very different from a traditional ‘ski’ rope. Most traditional ski ropes are made out of an elastic, nylon type material. This is ideal for skiers, most notably slalom skiers, as they need the rope to stretch and recoil when executing their turns. In wakeboarding, the exact opposite is ideal. Wakeboard ropes are typically thinner and are composed of a non-stretch material called spectra. This is a big factor when it comes to progressing in wakeboarding. Here is why: When a wakeboarder cuts in towards the wake to jump, there is an increase in tension put on the rope. A nylon ski rope will effectively stretch with the added tension, while a non-stretch spectra rope will not. The problem arises when someone wakeboarding using a nylon (stretchy) rope jumps the wake. After becoming air-borne, the tension on the rope is relieved and the stretchy rope will then recoil. This effectively robs the rider of considerable height on the jump. A wakeboarding rope made of spectra has next to no stretch, allowing the rider to maintain the same line tension and achieving the most out of the energy used in jumping the wake. I will go into further detail in a later article, but know that using a non-stretch wakeboard rope is a crucial piece to getting better at wakeboarding.

When selecting a rope as with any other piece of wakeboarding equipment, it is always best to research online and ask any others you can who have used or are familiar with the product. Most wakeboard ropes cost between 70 and 120 dollars and some will come packaged with a wakeboarding handle. There are many variations of wakeboard ropes. For example some have a soft casing on the outside to protect the rope and prevent rope-burn to a rider’s hands. Other ropes are fluorescent in color so that a boat driver will easily be able to see it and avoid running over it. Make your decision based on reviews, your budget and what properties appeal the most to you when it comes to choosing a wakeboard rope. Ultimately, as long as it is a non-stretch wakeboarding rope made of spectra, it will perform adequately.

One important thing to note is that some companies, trying to cash in on the growing popularity of wakeboarding, have packaged nylon ropes with print on the package calling it a wakeboard rope. Make sure to inspect it yourself to ensure it is a non-stretch rope made of spectra and don’t waste your time, or dime, on a nylon rope with a ‘wakeboard’ label on it.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Wakeboard Bindings

Wakeboarding: Getting Started – Choosing Wakeboard Bindings.

Choosing the correct wakeboard binding is very important and is definitely worth investing a little time to research and try on different ones to find the right fit. The reason is simple – Wakeboarding is a physically demanding, impact sport. With catching big air and learning different wakeboarding tricks, comes the possibility of an injury. While you can never completely eliminate the chance of getting hurt, using the proper equipment (in this case, your wakeboard bindings) can help to reduce your chances.

I’ll use myself as an example. A few years ago I was wakeboarding one afternoon with a few friends. At the end of my first set I ended up breaking my wakeboard (it was a few years old, and this is not unusual if a wakeboard has been ridden hard). My friend, who had just purchased a new wakeboard and binding set up convinced me to try his out my second set. I was lazy and chose just to ride his bindings instead of putting my own (that fit correctly) on his new board. I ignored the fact that his wakeboard bindings were noticeably too loose for me and on my second trick attempt I ended up dislocating my ankle and breaking my leg in two places. I now have a steel plate with 8 screws in my leg as a result of being lazy by using his wakeboard bindings that did not fit my feet properly.

Wakeboard bindings should have a “snug” fit. By snug, I mean tight but comfortable. You should feel ‘locked in’ but still have some flexibility – balance is the key. You want them to be secure, but with no heel lift or ability to roll your ankle inside the wakeboard binding. This is what can cause an injury. At the same time, your wakeboard bindings should not be so tight where you could not possibly “eject” from a hard fall. In wakeboarding, the term “eject”, refers to completely coming out of your wakeboard bindings in the event of a hard fall. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances of the fall, ejecting from your wakeboard and bindings can be beneficial. Be sure to try on many pairs, as choosing wakeboard bindings is the same as choosing a wakeboard in that there is personal preference involved that changes from one person to the next. As mentioned when purchasing your wakeboard, your local shops should provide some sort of demo program that will allow you to try the bindings out before actually purchasing. Unlike a wakeboard however, you will be able to get some idea of the bindings and how they fit your foot by trying them on in the shop (rather than having to actually use a wakeboard on the lake to experience it). However, I strongly suggest riding the bindings first hand before handing over your hard-earned cash.

Wakeboarding has come a long way in recent years as far as product design. Older wakeboard bindings generally consisted of nothing more than a stretchy rubber material you slipped your foot into that did a poor job of connecting the rider to the wakeboard. Now wakeboard bindings are made of all kinds of material that are more comfortable and durable, and have all sorts of laced cinches, hinges, velcro straps, and cable systems that will lock your foot into place.

So in short – When purchasing a pair of wakeboard bindings:

1) A little research online before you step foot in a retail store will help enormously.
2) Choose a wakeboard binding that has both, a comfortable fit, and keeps your foot secure.
3) Try on the wakeboard binding in the shop, and if satisfied give the bindings a ‘test’ run on the water, whether that means trying out a friend’s or doing a demo through a local shop.
4) Buy the wakeboard bindings that fit correctly and you are comfortable in, attach them to your wakeboard, and hit the lake!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Wakeboarding – Getting Started: Choosing a Wakeboard:

There are multiple things to consider when first learning to ride a wakeboard but one of the more obvious choices to be made is selecting which wakeboard is appropriate for you. If you are just starting out, the latest ‘pro model’ wakeboard is probably not the ideal way to go, and can actually hinder your learning. The higher end wakeboards tend to be less forgiving for beginners and are engineered specifically for riders at a higher skill level. Doing some research online can be a good source of unbiased info, and can give you a general idea about a lot of things before encountering the over-eager sales guy trying to sell you a wakeboard you may not want or need.

When selecting a wakeboard, resist the urge to pick a favorite based on what the board looks like. While having a snazzy looking wakeboard can be tempting, this really will have nothing to do with the way the wakeboard performs. I personally have owned some of the most hideous wakeboards ever only because they were best suited to my riding style and ability. The length of the board, however, is very important. A wakeboard is measured in centimeters, and typically runs in sizes between 124cm to 145cm. Generally, the larger the person – the larger the wakeboard needed. Ill use myself as an example: I am 6’ tall, 200 lbs. and ride a 141cm board. There is some flexibility here and can be experimented with based on personal preference. Larger wakeboards offer more stability, while shorter boards tend to be more maneuverable. That said, I could comfortably ride any length wakeboard ranging from a 137cm up to a 143cm. Because of the increased stability however, beginners often benefit from a slightly larger wakeboard within their range.

There are many variables that distinguish one wakeboard from the next. Fins, rocker, shape, bottom contours and edges are all things that will influence how a wakeboard rides. The most important thing to remember when choosing your first wakeboard is that there is NO substitution for physically riding the board for yourself. The shops in your area will most likely offer some type of demo program where you can try out a particular wakeboard for a day or two for a set fee. Most shops will credit your ‘rental fee’ toward the purchase of a wakeboard from their shop. Wakeboarding is an individual sport, and therefore different people will favor different board types based on what fits their riding style. Wakeboarding, generally speaking, can be relatively expensive and purchasing a wakeboard means forking over a pretty good chunk of change. The last thing you want is to be disappointed with your purchase because you did not experience it first hand before buying.

So in short – When purchasing a wakeboard:

1) A little research online before you step foot in a retail store will help enormously
2) Choose a wakeboard appropriate to your skill level and one that you feel comfortable with.
3) Do whatever you can to ‘test’ ride the wakeboard beforehand. Whether that means trying out a friend’s or doing a demo through a local shop.
4) Make your purchase with confidence and get out there and start wakeboarding!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Learn to Wakeboard

Welcome to Learn to Wakeboard. This site provides tips and techniques for beginners to learn about wakeboarding. If you have questions not covered in Learn to Wakeboard please feel free to email your question to wkbrd4444@gmail.com