Wakeboards

[xrated]

Looking to learn about wakeboards.

Leaning heavily towards picking it up this summer as I think I can do it more then I get to ski, and my wife is willing to try it out. (she won't ski).

I'm a slalom skier and I don't know much of anything about boards.

How do I figure out the size, type of binding style, etc. I know I could go to a proshop and ask, but odds are very good I will be buying online to get the best deal and I hate wasting a shops time like that.

What should I be looking for in a board, etc?

 

[togwotee9]

My local proshop let me try different boards, I have 2 blindsides with blindside binders.

 

[Powderboy]

Cant go wrong with anything HO. Order one from Barts by phone and they can size the board. The length is based on rider weight.

http://www.bartswatersports.com/

 

[summitboy]

Big fan of Hyperlite boards and Ronix boots. Go to any good pro shop and they will set you up.

 

[xrated]

leanign more towards rails and sliders vs going big behind a boat. Any expeirence with that?

 

[TSchultz]

One thing on the rails and sliders, where are you going to find them? People generally build them themselves, and really don't care for random boats using them. Hitting them is generally pretty high up in your wakeboarding learning curve as well.

As far as boards my recommendation if your shopping for cheap prices is to spend more on high quality bindings and less on the board if $$ is an issue. Get a board with continuous rocker as opposed to three stage. Continuous is much more predictable and there are pros that use them as well. So don't think you need a three stage because the kid at the store told you you'll get more air, because that isn't nessisarilly true.

 

[summitboy]

X2 on the continuous rocker ! When i was at Shapiro's camp i went to a continuous rocker on his recommendation at it actually helped me out quite a bit. I use a Hyperlite 3DS with Ronix One boots. Great combo !

 

[xrated]

One thing on the rails and sliders, where are you going to find them? People generally build them themselves, and really don't care for random boats using them. Hitting them is generally pretty high up in your wakeboarding learning curve as well.

As far as boards my recommendation if your shopping for cheap prices is to spend more on high quality bindings and less on the board if $$ is an issue. Get a board with continuous rocker as opposed to three stage. Continuous is much more predictable and there are pros that use them as well. So don't think you need a three stage because the kid at the store told you you'll get more air, because that isn't nessisarilly true.

I grew up on a lake and have almost a mile of shoreline, so I am not worried about where to put rails/sliders. Also I'm not to worried about placing them as I hope to have a winch system to pull from shore. That way I can keep the rails out of the normal boat traffic areas.

Thanks for the board info though. That is what I am looking for. I don't understand rockers, concave vs convex, etc very well.

 

[summitpeaking]

If you're going to concentrate on rails/sliders/etc., buy a nice set of bindings (I use a pair of Hyperlite Murray's), and buy a used board. Rails and sliders are extremely hard on boards, and there is no need (in my mind) to buy a $400+ board to just scratch the crap out of it.

I don't know you're wakeboarding experience, but I have found that boards with 3-stage rockers are easier to "ollie" (don't know if that's the correct term in this case) than a continuous rocker, which is usually good for hopping up onto rails. As someone stated earlier, continuous rockers are more forgiving for newer riders though. I don't know if this has been proven, but that's what I have found over the years.

 

[Scott]

I'd wait til it thaws outside.

 

[xrated]

If you're going to concentrate on rails/sliders/etc., buy a nice set of bindings (I use a pair of Hyperlite Murray's), and buy a used board. Rails and sliders are extremely hard on boards, and there is no need (in my mind) to buy a $400+ board to just scratch the crap out of it.

I don't know you're wakeboarding experience, but I have found that boards with 3-stage rockers are easier to "ollie" (don't know if that's the correct term in this case) than a continuous rocker, which is usually good for hopping up onto rails. As someone stated earlier, continuous rockers are more forgiving for newer riders though. I don't know if this has been proven, but that's what I have found over the years.

No wakeboard expierence at all. Been a hardcore slalom guy since I was 16. Just don't have time to hit that as much now with kids. Gotta find something I can do during naptimes, and well good ski water is hard to find at 1pm.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I might have to search around on some of the different board school sites to find out what I should look for in rocker, etc.

Definitly am not opposed to a used board at all. Problem is there aren't many for sale in March yet.

 

[treemagnet03]

I guess I don't have anything too much to add here about the boards, but if your wife is gonna try this before skiing I would try nicely to persuade her otherwise. To me (personal opinion mind you) it is much harder to get out of the water on a board. The first day brings a lot of inhaled lake/river, possible broken noses (I have seen it) and high levels of frustration. It took me half a day to get really comfortable with it and I was already used to a tow rope for skiing. Just a small word of relationship caution...

 

[skibreeze]

I beg to differ, IMO, with some proper instruction, getting up on a wake board isn't that hard. My wife can't get up on skiis, but can wakeboard. It can be very easy to pop up and out of the water.

 

[sledin]

the boat driver can also have alot to do with a newby gettin up for the first time.

 

[Jaynelson]

^Agreed.

My girl got up within 5 or 6 hits....doesn't water ski, doesn't snowboard. Good instructions and driving go a long way. Once you get up the first time, you'll wonder what the hell you were doing the other times. She loves it.

I've had 3 boards now and currently ride a Liquid Force PS3....it's a really smooth and forgiving 3-stage board and not too much $$$. Would definetly recommend for beginners or anyone really.

 

[Assault22]

Learning

Personally I have never been a fan of water skiing only been up on skis twice in 30 years. I tried wakeboarding for the first time about 15 years ago and hot up on the third try. So yes proper instructing and a good driver have a lot to do with it. Since learning my buddies and I have taught numerous people how to board and all different ages. The youngest would be a 9 year old girl and she got up on her second try and now has been boarding for five years. Take your wife out with some buddies that have girlfriends or wives that wakeboard and let her watch them and see some different techniques on getting up. Don't throw her behind a winch her first time out, getting up dragging by a winch is a lot different than a boat. Good luck and happy boarding to ya man!!!

 

[augerin]

Started on a Hyperlight......the original, then stepped way up to a Hyperlight Pro in 1990. Now we are on an airchair. I think I am getting dumber