Summer is finally here with us and there is nothing that makes a free afternoon at the beach better than a game of wakeboarding in the water. Whether you are starting out in wakeboarding this summer, or you have been doing it for a while and are looking forward to improving your game, the starting point is getting a quality board. When you have good quality wakeboard, you learn the right skills, and the learning process is simple and less problematic. With the thousands of wakeboard brands in the market, it can be difficult to select the ideal one to suit your needs. Here, are some tips and guidelines which you will find very useful.
One: What are Your Skill Level and Riding Style?
The first consideration to make when buying a wakeboard is your skill level. If you are a complete beginner in the game, think about getting a board that has square edges.
Boards with square edges make it easier for the user to control their movements when in the water, which is ideal for someone that hasn’t spent a lot of hours in the ocean.
As you continue perfecting your game inside the water, you will find boards with rounded edges more convenient. The round-edged ones are better for experienced borders because they make air tricks easier to maneuver and execute.
Boards that have rounded edges are also great for people with experience because they allow faster acceleration, which is ideal for liftoff wakes when jumping.
Two: What Width and Length of Rocker do You Need?
The average length of a quality wakeboard is between 120 and 150 centimeters. Most boards are designed with a width of between 38 and 44 centimeters. Longer boards are the best for someone starting out because they offer a lot of stability when starting out and making simple turns. Longboards are also great for tall people with large body frames as their weight is distributed evenly, allowing stability.
The rocker is the design that determines how the board is curved. When a board has a higher rocker, it is more rounded at the bottom. The design makes jumping and landing very simple.
The other option here is a gradual rocker curve, also known as the continuous rocker. These are rockers that have a gradual curve along the center but are more angled under the feet.
In summary, longboards are best for tall and large people while shorter ones are ideal for short and small people. Boards with higher rockers are best for beginners while those with gradual curves are best for experienced surfers.
Three: What Type of Fins Does Your Board Have?
The third crucial consideration to make in relation to the wakeboard that you choose is the type of fins attached at the bottom. Fins are the feature which helps steer the board. The fins that you select depend on the water you plan to surf in.
If you are going to be practicing in smooth waters, look for boards with smaller fins as they will make it easy to maneuver through the water.
On the other hand, if the waters near you are rough, look for boards with wider fins because they offer more stability against the turbulence and rough currents.
Wider fins are ideal because they create a suction effect between the board and the water, which stabilizes the movement of the person doing the surfboarding.
Four: What Type of Binding or Boots is Ideal for You?
The other crucial consideration to make on the features of the board is the condition of the bindings or boots. The ideal wakeboard bindings should be snug. However, they should not be so tight that they cause pain to your feet.
If the boot feature of the board is too tight, you will be running the risk of breaking your ankle when making turns and other tough maneuvers. Tight boots are especially dangerous in case of falls because releasing the board becomes difficult, increasing the possibility of hurting your leg.
Some boards have bindings with a lace up feature. This feature allows you to tighten and loosen the boot to your level of comfort when you have worn it. Experts recommend boards with this feature as you will be in control of how tight the boot is on you.
Five: How to the Boards Feel on Your Feet?
The fifth important consideration which you have to make when dealing with surfboards is trying them to feel their effect on your feet. The rest of the features mentioned above are all about theory, but the only way to know for sure that a board is perfect for you is fitting it.
Many pro shops will have a demo board for all the brands which they carry within their stores. Some will charge a fee to allow you to look and fit the boards on your feet; however, most will take this fee off your bill when you purchase a board.
Six: What Is the Cost of the Board?
The other important question which you need to ask yourself when buying a wakeboard is how much it costs. You are advised to have a budget in mind. However, you should have a flexible budget that will allow you to spend a little extra on the features which will simplify your surfboarding process.
The most important thing to remember here is to make sure that you get the best value for your money. Compare and contrast the features which come with all the brands in your outdoor store of choice. Only by making a proper comparison of the costs and features can you land the best board at the best price.
These are the most important considerations to make before shopping for your first wakeboard. Note that wakeboards are one of the tools of trade whose selection becomes easier as your skill level and experience on the water increases. Take time and learn how you like surfing, what makes you most confident in the water, and choose the boards which allow you to explore that.
