How to choose your First Wakeboard?
There is not a single perfect wakeboard for everyone, as each rider has their own unique preferences. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your perfect board, which we’ll outline in this article.
The most important thing to consider when choosing a wakeboard is the type of rider you are. Are you an experienced rider looking for a more aggressive board? Or are you just starting out and looking for something more forgiving? Wakeboards are made in all different materials, sizes, shapes and colors, so it’s important to figure out what will work best for you.
In this article we’ll give you a crash course on the different types of wakeboards available on the market today, and help you to choose the right one for your riding style.
1. Introduction
Before you start taking a look at the boards on the market, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The first and most important thing to keep in mind is that there is not one perfect wakeboard for everyone. Each rider has different preferences and competency levels when it comes to wakeboarding. That is why regardless of which board you choose, there is a chance you are going to have a bad experience if you don’t match it up perfectly with the type of rider you are and the riding experience you want.
So before you get too carried away with what type of board would be excellent for you, you should do some research and really think about your needs.
It should also be looked at to match your board with your skill level, body type and any other preference that you have.
The next step is to take a look at the most common types of wakeboards available on the market.
2. Wakeboard Types
Always a good idea to perform your own research before choosing a board, since not all the boards are created equal.
So there are a few different types of wakeboard you can choose from.
Here are the main differences amongst them.
Shape: Wakeboards come with different shapes, which work for different people.
Rocker: The shape of the board looks kind of like a blackboard, which is a fancy way to describe that it has a ‘rocker.’
Freeriding: Also known as a drop-through. This style is great for those who like to get pretty high off the wake. It’s a great board for those who like to feel the wind on their face.
Specs: If you’re throwing out 90 feet, this is what you’re going to need. So don’t buy a rule for $400 if you think you’re only going to go 40.
Shape: Some boards, like the image below, have the ability to be railied, so if you want to jump off a wake, that’s the type of board you want.
Generally, the front of the board will be the closest to the water, so in this image, the board on the right is the one with all the white space, and the board on the left is the board with the red trim, it’s probably going to be railier.
3. Choosing Your Wakeboard: The Rider and Board Size
There are many different wakeboard brands in the world today, and all of them are designed to suit a variety of riders’ needs. There are four main kinds of wakeboards out there:
There are wakeboards purely for carving-slalom, and serves as a great way for intermediate and experienced riders to learn advanced carving skills. It also allows for a great time on water with their friends. There are boards also mainly for the more powerful surfers with a curved edge and cutout concave nose provide a fast surface and extra control for a wide range of skills.
For a bomb of skill transfers, you can switch out to a board with a low-profile rounded concave design so you can learn more sweep styles and carve faster.