A Beginner’s Guide to Wakeboarding What You Should Know Before Getting on the Water
Have you thought about trying something new lately? Many people suggest trying cooking or watching a new show, but have you ever thought of wakeboarding?
Wakeboarding is a water sport in which you ride the surface of the water with a board. While doing so, you also hold onto a rope that is attached to a boat, pulling you. The sport is a combination of skiing, surfing, and snowboarding. More than 3.2 million Americans took part in the sport of wakeboarding in 2015.
There are other water sports that are similar to wakeboarding, yet are very different. Wakesurfing is pretty much the same thing, except the boards used for wakesurfing are much bigger than those used for wakeboarding. The ropes used in the two sports are also different. The length of the wakeboarding ropes are longer than the ropes used for wakesurfing.
There are a few facts and wakeboarding tips that you should know if you’re trying the water sport out for the first time.
How to Get Going on the Water using a Wakeboard
The first thing you need to do when getting up on the water is to put your stronger foot up at the top of the board. You’ll use this foot to help navigate and steer. Since you are a beginner, starting with a short rope is the best so you won’t get thrown around much. Next, hold onto the rope tightly and keep the board edge above the water as the boat starts to go faster.
What to do When You’re on the Water
Make sure to keep your legs straight and be confident in your movements when you get up on the water. Put all of your weight on your back leg so that you’re not putting too much pressure on the front part of the board.
What Does a Ballast System do for Wakeboards?
You may have heard of the term “ballast systems” and might be asking to yourself “What does a ballast system do?” A ballast system is a compartment within a boat that holds water to provide stability. In the case of wakeboarding, the ballast system is used to change the wake size and shape. This determines what your ride will be like, depending on which pump is being used on the boat. So, the next time you hear the term “ballast systems,” or the next time you hear someone ask “What does a ballast system do?,” you’ll be able to simply answer and even explain how it relates to wakeboarding.
There is one thing you should remember as a person new to wakeboarding or wakesurfing that is more important than anything else mentioned above. REMEMBER: Practice makes perfect! If you fall down, it’s not a big deal. Wakeboarding is a sport that takes a lot of practice. Don’t worry if you fall down, just get back up and try again.
