How to Drive a Boat for Wakeboarding

In wakeboarding, as in water skiing, the driver of the boat is just as important as the wakeboarder to achieve a successful tour in the water. As the motorboat's driver, you must know the vessel and be able to communicate with the person wakeboarding. There are a few tricks of the trade for giving a wakeboarder the ride of his life.

Things You'll Need

  • Speedboat
  • Wakeboard
  • Wakeboard line
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get the wakeboarder going straight quickly from the beginning. Incorporate turns after the wakeboarder is already comfortably in line.

    • 2

      Keep the boat balanced. You want an equal spray on both sides of the boat. Good balance makes for a safer ride and easier maneuverability.

    • 3

      Execute smooth transitions. Don't speed up on turns or go excessively fast, as this can wear out the wakeboarder. When turning, point the boat's nose a few inches into the direction you want to go, rather than making a hard turn.

    • 4

      Maintain a consistent speed by consulting your tachometer. Keep the boat straight by focusing on a landmark and steering toward it.

    • 5

      Communicate with the wakeboarder about what kind of ride they are looking for or what sorts of tricks they want to try. It's their gig after all, and your job is to provide them with the experience they want.