How to Handle Rough Water on a Wakeboard

Wakeboarding is a fun way to ride the waves behind a motorboat, putting your feet on one board instead of a pair of skis, and staying upright instead of holding onto a tube. Even if the waters are rough on a particular day, making some adjustments can keep you up on your feet behind the boat.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select a larger fin if you know you're headed into rough water. If you're using a six-fin configuration, you already have a lot of stability added to the bottom of your wakeboard, so you may not need to add size. For twin- or quad-fin setups, though, you will want to bulk up.

    • 2

      Keep your bindings shoulder-width apart for added stability in rough water. Move one foot back toward the rear to keep horizontal stability in the water. For your front foot, when you string your binding, use an angle of up to three holes' difference between the two sides. For example, put the binding through the third hole on the left side and the sixth hole on the right side, if your right foot is the front foot, and switch the sides if your left foot is up front. For the rear foot, string the binding either straight across or just at a difference of one hole for the back foot. As with the front foot, if you put the binding in at an angle, point the angle inward; string the binding through the first hole on the left side and the second hole on the right side if your right foot is in the rear; switch the angle if your left foot is in the back.

    • 3

      Make sure to wear a buoyancy vest, even if you're experienced. In rough waters you are more likely to take a spill, and safety is the most important consideration.

    • 4

      Bend your knees slightly more than usual throughout the ride. Maintaining this additional flexibility will make it easier to stay up with the additional bumping from the waves.