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.