First of all, you should determine the style of riding. There are two big areas in which all boards are differentiated: riding behind the winch and behind the boat.

Park wakeboards have a smoother surface and an extra abrasion-resistant layer on the skid. They are designed for figure skating, which means they don’t have built-in fins and the main emphasis is on better gliding.

Boat wakeboards, in turn, need to be more stable and stable, and therefore have built-in and removable fins and deep channels on the skid in order to better cushion while jumping and doing tricks.

Park wakes often have a core of natural wood slats for responsiveness (snap) and durability, while boat wakes have a foam or hybrid core for greater rigidity or lightness.

Of course, there are also hybrid models designed for both park and boat. But it’s not always a viable choice.

Once you have decided on the style, you should pay attention to the length of the wakeboard. Length is considered one of the most important indicators and, depending on the weight of the rider, the length of the board will vary. The heavier the rider, the longer the wakeboard should be. Consider the main advantages of long and short boards:

Long wakeboards

• More stable and good for beginners
• Due to the greater surface contact with the water, they are more stable when barreling and develop more speed
• More surface area for balance and easier landings

Short wakeboards

• Smaller surface area makes it easier to do tricks and flips
• Generally more maneuverable wakeboard, but less stable
• The nose of the board may burrow into the water when landing and landings are generally heavier
• Slower than long wakeboards. Requires more effort to accelerate.

The rocker or the curve of the board

Probably one of the most important criteria in choosing a wakeboard is the rocker and the shape of the board. There are three kinds of rockers:

• Continuous rocker. A smooth curve of the board from bow to stern. Provides stability and good glide. Suitable for beginners.
• Three stage rocker. Wakeboard has two bend points and thus divided into three parts: bow, center and tail. Suitable for advanced riders and thrill-seekers, as such board cuts the water better, is more responsive to rider’s movements, has better elasticity and high speed. Wakeboard with a three-stage rocker is suitable for an aggressive style of riding, it is easy to perform tricks and high jumps. For even more advanced riders, there is also a five-stage rocker.
• Hybrid Rocker. This is an attempt to combine the benefits of a continuous and three-stage rocker. Of course, such a board glides better, is more stable, and at the same time it is easy to perform various tricks on it and to cut the water hard. But this wakeboard in most cases is chosen individually for a particular rider.
• Progressive rocker Smoothly changing radius of curvature from the center to the nose and tail, wakeboard as if it is part of a large circle, if you look at it in perspective. The disadvantage of such wakeboards can be called a high price, because making boards with a progressive rocker is quite expensive. Ideal for flate riding, will be a good help for those who are trying to get on the water for the first time.

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Determined with the leading leg, you can already try to get up on a wakeboard on the water. For the first time it is better to try to get up on a wakeboard behind the boat or on a reversible winch and necessarily with an instructor, because the start on a circular winch is quite abrupt, and to master it from scratch may not be as easy as it seems from the outside.

Once you are in the water, lie on your back and place your wakeboard perpendicular to the movement. Tighten or lace your bindings firmly so you don’t accidentally jump out of them as you skate. Choose, put on and adjust the vest so that you feel comfortable in it and it does not restrict your movement. Once you are in the water, lie on your back and position your wakeboard perpendicular to the start direction. The halyard should rest on top of the board. Grasp the handle with both hands, arms straight out and do not bend. Keep your knees pressed against your chest. When you are ready to start, give a special sign to the boat pilot or the winch operator – lift the halyard up slightly and lower it – to start moving. When the halyard straightens and you begin to be pulled forward, stay in a semi-seated position while you are pushed out of the water onto the board. Stand up slowly, as if you had been squatting for a long time. Don’t fully straighten up too soon until you are pulled out of the water.

As soon as the boat or winch pushes you out of the water, lightly shift your body weight to the rear leg and the wakeboard turns toward the boat. The front of the board now faces the boat. Your knees are slightly bent, your shoulders and hips are in line with the wakeboard, and your arms are straight. Lean back slightly so that your hips are over your front foot and your shoulders are over your back foot. Try to keep your balance at all times and enjoy the process of riding.

You certainly have seen many videos on Youtube where riders do different tricks on a wakeboard, both when riding on the winch and behind the boat. However, not all riders like to do stunts. You can just glide across the water and enjoy the experience. Speed, splashing water, wind in the face – already a good combination of new experiences for those who first got on a board. Well, for those who are already confident on a wakeboard and crave more extreme we can offer to learn how to do various tricks on a wakeboard: waterboarding, jumps, rotations, etc. (read about this in the following articles).

Mistakes of beginner wakeboarders

Of course, trying to get on a wakeboard is not without mistakes at first. When riding a wakeboard you should always remember to stay safe and develop a sense of balance. It’s necessary when the boat pushes the rider out of the water as well as when the rider is already on the water. Developing a sense of balance is not an easy task and special exercises such as the famous “swallow” or balance-board will help you.

Other typical mistakes that wakeboarders make are:

• bend their arms and pull the halyard towards themselves, while the boat itself should push the wakeboard out of the water;
• Straightening out completely before the boat pushes the wakeboard out of the water;
• Excessively trying to lift the board over the water (only the front of the board should be lifted)

There are many different ways to start on a wakeboard. For example, you can start not only from lying down, but also from sitting or even standing. Another way is to start not from the water, but, for example, by diving from the pier. But these ways are more traumatic and are suitable for more experienced riders. We advise for beginners to start riding a wakeboard from the water, from prone position. This way you can avoid unnecessary strain on your knees and back and not harm yourself and others around you.

What else you need to keep in mind

If you spend a lot of time in the water in the sun, do not forget about personal comfort and safety. Always wear a life jacket when out on the water. It cushions possible hits against the water and, if necessary, slightly supports you on the water if you fall. It is also advisable to wear a wetsuit or a wetsuit, depending on the weather. A lycra wetsuit will protect you from sunburn in warm weather, and a neoprene wetsuit will protect you from hypothermia in cold weather.

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