How to Buy Wakeboarding Equipment

Wakeboarding is an extreme water sport that is a combination of water skiing and surfboarding. There are several pieces of equipment that you need to purchase or rent in order to participate in the sport. Getting the equipment is pretty easy and finding a good body of water to practice on isn't that difficult either, however breaking the addiction to this fun sport is very challenging.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine your actual size and weight. The boards used for wakeboarding vary greatly when compared to the equipment for water skiing. In order to pick out the board that will be easy for you to use, you need to base the decision on which one to buy on your body shape. The Internet is a great place to shop for the board and other equipment; just be sure that you are buying your tools from a source that is reputable.

    • 2

      Stay firmly planted on your board. This is an extreme sport and in order to prevent the water from separating you from your board, you need boots and bindings. If the board is only going to be used by you, a boot and binding fixed to your foot size is recommended; the custom fit will make it tighter, decreasing the chances of being knocked off. A beginner or someone who is going to be sharing the board with friends can get adjustable bindings as long as they understand that for the more complex maneuvers they will need to upgrade.

    • 3

      Survive the nasty wipeouts and avoid drowning. This can be accomplished by purchasing a safety vest. Safety vests vary by activity, however they all serve the same purpose to keep you afloat. The vests designed especially for wakeboarding are going to cost a lot more than the generic orange life vests you normally see. The other advantage of the cheaper model is you can use it for other water sports such as tubing, or water skiing. If you have extra money to spend, or just want to look fashionable, the wakeboarding buoyancy vest works great.

    • 4

      Dress for success. Some people like to wakeboard in just a swimsuit which is fine for warmer waters, however cold water will require a wet suit, and really cold water might even require a dry suit. After you decide on what will be covering your torso, protect your head with a safety helmet. Just like when you are riding a bicycle a fall on a wakeboard can be quite jarring, possibly even resulting in a concussion if you don't wear protection.

    • 5

      Grab a rope with handle, this will be tied to the boat on one end and the handle will be grasped by you in order to be pulled into the boat's wake. A wider handle is better for beginners. Any rope will do as long as it is designed for the sport.

    • 6

      Buy or rent a boat. In order to wakeboard you need a wake which of course means you will have to find a boat with an inboard motor, to use. There are a wide variety of boats that can be used for wakeboarding; the important thing here is price. If buying a boat outright seems undoable then rent one or borrow one from a friend. Most marinas that support wakeboarding will have the appropriate boat for rent.