You’ve bought a boat and it’s geared towards water sports so naturally the first activity you want to try is wakeboarding. This is an adrenaline-rushing way to cruise through the water that teaches you balance and coordination. Working at a boat dealership, we’re big fans of getting out on the water and testing out different styles of boards. We recently tested out our skills on our new 2020 Chaparral 25 Surf boat and we aren’t disappointed! We want you to enjoy this watersport too, but the purchasing process can be a little tricky so here is a guide on picking the right wakeboard for you!
Knowing Your Wakeboard
There are three characteristics that are equally important in every wakeboard, even though they are rated differently. The first is flex, which is exactly that – measuring the flexability of your board. More flex equals more bounce on the water. The board flexes to jump with the movement of the water. Stiffer boards allow for less bounce so the flex you are looking for is a matter of personal preference.
Next is the “rocker,” which indicates the level of curve in your wakeboard’s profile. There are two categories for the rocker design: continuous and three-stage. Being new to the sport, the continuous rocker design has a smooth curve allowing your ride to be more consistent despite the size of the wake. This is easier for beginners to use. The three-stage design has two sharp bends that give you an aggressive jump off the water, which is more ideal for experienced riders.
Fins are the last and optional part of a wakeboard. You don’t necessarily have to have them, but you can install and detach them on your own. Fins prevent your board from rotating in the water, giving you much better control. If you’re a beginner, consider getting deeper and thicker fins as these dig further into the water providing more stability. Smaller, thinner fins are usually what more experienced riders prefer for a performance payoff.
Styles of Wakeboard
After knowing the basic anatomy of your wakeboard, you need to think about the type of board that will suit your style and experience level. A common style is the Boat board. These are sturdy, which allow you to maintain control when riding behind a fast-moving boat. You’ll usually find fins providing more stability and not a lot of flex, but that will save you energy while riding the wave. The durable construction makes landing smoother and takes pressure off of your joints.
Wake Park boards are ideal for experienced riders because they handle rough and are more difficult to ride. They have a lot of flex, a smooth base and dense sidewalls that make the board harder to control. These boards are valued for their speed and maneuverability!
The Hybrid board is a mix between the Boat and Wake Park boards. They have moderate amount of flex and mid-sized fins. This is a great transition board for people who have a little bit of experience, but aren’t quite ready to tackle the difficulties of a Wake Park board.
Buying a wakeboard is a little more involved than most people would imagine, but hopefully this guide helped you in finding a good fit for your style and skill level. If you have any questions, call Longshore Boats at 843-396-3383! Now go grab your boat and your board and let’s meet on the water!
