Welcome back, aspiring boaters! I hope that everyone stays safe during these times with the COVID-19 virus. The itch to go boating or to go out like you’re used to may be strong, but please stay inside and stay safe! This week we’ll continue the series on water sports with wakeboarding.
For this water sport, as with all of them, you need a life jacket and spotter as required legally (click here for a refresher of boating laws). It is also important for drivers to be aware of the lake and other boats, as well as how the person they’re towing is doing.
checklist
- A wakeboard correct for your skill, weight, and foot size (see Discover Boating for tips)
- Wakeboarding rope with attached handle (you can use ski rope as a beginner)
- Wakeboarding helmet (optional)
- Boat capable of going 18-20 MPH
Do your research before purchasing, especially for the board. Not only are there different sizes, but the “rocker”, the curvature of the board, is different based on skill and preferences. There are specific boats for wakeboarding that create a larger wake for doing when you advance to tricks, so decide how committed you want to be to the sport.
how to wakeboard
Before starting, determine which foot you would like to put forward. For a relatively simple test, have someone push the boarder from behind to see which foot they naturally put forward to keep their balance. This will be the foot that is likely best to lead when you wakeboard.
- Like water skiing, wakeboarding requires a deep water start, so find a safe spot to get set up. Make sure the boots are adjusted to the correct setting for your feet. You can put the board on before getting in the water or put it on while floating like with water skis; your choice.
- Once you’re strapped in, lean back with your knees bent so your board sticks straight up out of the water horizontally and you’re directly facing the boat. Keep your arms relaxed while maintaining a good grip on the rope handle.
- Once you’re comfortable and ready, signal your driver to go; similar to water skiing, you’ll get up to the 18-20 MPH almost immediately. Let the boat do the work; don’t pull yourself up and instead focus on maintaining your position.
- As you’re pulled up, point your leading side’s hip towards the handle. This will put your front foot forward to achieve the wakeboarding position. Keep your legs bent and stay leaning back a bit.
- When you’re comfortable, you can put more pressure on your toes or heels to cut across the water in the respective direction.
- Like with skiing, you can just let go of the rope to stop and sink down into the water; your boat can turn and pick you up. It’s best to signal before doing so.
After a lot of practice, you can look up how to jump the wakes and do tricks. Make sure that you figure out what you’re doing first; even though you’re in water, there’s still a possibility for injury if you push yourself too far. Remember if you’re falling, let go of the rope. You may think you can save yourself, but especially if you’re just a beginner, holding on will only do more damage.
That’s it! This summer you can conquer the wakeboard and be doing tricks before you know it. Comment below with questions or what water sport you would like to read about next. As always, have fun and be safe!
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Advice for the Aspiring Boater 