Choosing a Wakeboard....

In order to choose the right board, one of the basic criteria to take into consideration is your physical structure and especially your weight. It is understood that a bigger board is going to be needed for the heavier rider. If you are a beginner and you are trying to get familiar with sliding on the water, a bigger board will help you in order to have more balance.

Another important factor that you must take into consideration is your style. In my opinion, is the most important factor. It is something attained, but it can change in the long run. This is why I recommend having your own equipment if you are confident on the water and on the wake; your choice should be made following the advice of the person that is training you.

A wide variety of boards that match each style have resulted from technological developments. According to the shape or the material that is used, boards behave differently. A particular design [a] resembles a snowboard or skateboard. Wakeboarders call them universal and their basic characteristic is maneuverability and instability. They are perfect for smooth riders that prefer to perform high rotational tricks. Boards with squarer cut angles are called freestyle [b] and they have a very dynamic acceleration, but many models are also less maneuverable. Yet they are perfect for big air jumps.

Many riders expect the boards to combine many features, such as stability - maneuverability, dynamic acceleration - speed stability, etc. As a result, more complex forms of shapes are created with more fins fitted. They have no particular names. Each brand markets a product, giving it a specific name and trying to make it unique in the market.

According to the material that is used to build the boards, two basic categories can be determined. There are boards that are made out of foam core and others made out of honeycomb. Boards made out of foam core are cheaper and more durable, whereas the boards made out of honeycomb are more expensive and much lighter. On the other hand many companies also produce light boards using foam. Fins are sold along with the board, which usually are the same brand name as the board and of very good quality. You also have to spend some extra money in order to buy bindings, which connect the board to your feet, resulting in feeling that the board is an extension of your body.

Once more, style must be taken into consideration before buying bindings, since there are softer and stiffer boots that determine our position through the respective lock they apply in ankle and knees. I suggest you purchase the best, and often the more expensive bindings, as they will secure your control over the board. All the new models have straps that make the bindings easier to wear. The placement of the bindings on the board determines the stance you are going to adopt, which is very important.

If a beginner places the bindings more towards the middle of the board, it will be obvious that only by pressing heavily on the back leg he or she will be able to control the board, which is a natural move, but not the most appropriate action. This is why the bindings should be placed at the back of the board in order for the rear of the board to be deeper in the water creating better control, resulting on equal distribution of the weight on both legs. As the rider gains more experience, the bindings can be placed more towards the middle, while the stance opens up more at shoulder level. Last, according to the natural way of riding each one has, the degree factor can be determined.