| In today's age and with the progression of board | | | | board. The thickness of the rail dictates how |
| technology the market of wakeboarding is flooded | | | | aggressive the board will track which will establish |
| with so many board shapes, sizes and characteristics | | | | how fast the board accelerates and overall speed |
| that it is hard to choose a one that is suited to you. | | | | when on rail. Thinner/sharper edges are more |
| With factors like rocker type, amount of molded or | | | | aggressive and faster however are less forgiving and |
| removable fins, board dimensions and shape, | | | | are easier to catch an edge than a thicker rounded |
| construction material, binding type, brand and graphics | | | | one. Therefore it makes sense for beginners should |
| the task of selecting the perfect board for you is | | | | choose a board with thicker rounded edges. The |
| always a daunting task, be you a beginner or a | | | | benefit of have a variable rail is that it combines the |
| seasoned rider. Your riding style, weight and skill level | | | | best of both worlds of a thick and thinner edge. It |
| should be the determining factors of what board you | | | | has a more forgiving rail whilst keeping aggressive |
| choose and with the right selection your riding will | | | | tracking when on rail. Most companies today |
| benefit significantly. Here is a breakdown of the | | | | incorporate this into their boards. |
| important factors of when choosing a wakeboard | | | | Fin type/size- There are two types of fins that are |
| and what each component is responsible for. | | | | on the modern wakeboard, molded (which cannot be |
| Rocker type- The rocker is the curve in the board | | | | removed) and removable (which can removed). The |
| from tip to tail and the type influences how the | | | | amount of, the size, and how your fins are set up will |
| board rides, the speed of the board, the amount of | | | | regulate how well your board tracks the water. |
| pop (height gained when hitting the wake) and the | | | | Personal preference decides if you want a hard |
| hardness of landings. There are two types of | | | | tracking board or a looser, snowboard feel which |
| rockers. | | | | normally reflects your riding style. Large fins give a |
| Continuous rocker (continuous arch, smooth) | | | | more stable ride but makes it harder to break |
| These type of rocker provide a smooth, fast ride | | | | traction for surface tricks and can sometimes catch |
| with predictable pop and softer landings. They are a | | | | the water more often if you don't quite land your |
| more relaxed board that suits many riders great for | | | | trick right. They are however more suited to |
| carving. Beginners are encouraged to start with this | | | | beginner riders or for rough conditions. Smaller fins |
| type of rocker. | | | | ofter the opposite with the ability to break traction |
| 3 Stage rocker-(angled with flat spot) | | | | easier for surface tricks and are preferred in |
| The 3 stage rocker have 2 defined angles at the tips | | | | smoother conditions. Depending on the level of board, |
| of the board with one a flat spot in the centre. This | | | | they can have a combination of small and large fins |
| type of rocker gives an aggressive (more) pop | | | | however most either have on large fin at each end |
| however is not always as predictable as the | | | | (possibly with a few molded fins), or 2 smaller fins at |
| continuous rocker. The landings are harder because | | | | each end (again with with/without molded fins). |
| of the flat spot and speed is slower as board does | | | | Removable fins give the flexibility to change how |
| not glide through the water. Fins do not track as well | | | | hard the board tracks as they can be removed to |
| and results in a looser feel on the water. This type of | | | | give a looser feel on the water. They can also be |
| rocker is recommended for more advanced riders | | | | removed if you are hitting rails or kickers to prevent |
| that can control the unpredictablity of the pop and | | | | board damage. |
| harder landings. | | | | Board base shape: There are four basic shapes that |
| Brand name- With the growing popularity of the | | | | are incorporated into today's wakeboards, with some |
| sport, many new companies are emerging to cash in | | | | involving a combination. These shapes are as follows: |
| on the masses. Here are a few of the big players in | | | | concave- are indents on the base of the |
| wakeboarding, a safe bet that your new board will | | | | wakeboard which break the suction between the |
| be good investment. | | | | base of the board and the waters surface. This |
| Liquid force | | | | creates lift, makes the board sit higher in the water |
| Hyperlite | | | | and allows the board to move faster. |
| Obrien | | | | channels- are long, fin like sections of the board |
| Ronix | | | | which direct the water beneath it which break water |
| Double Up | | | | tension, this gives smoother landings. |
| Gator Boards | | | | v shape/spines- help soften landings and ease the |
| CWB | | | | transition from edge to edge (heelside to toeside) |
| Construction material- As technology advances many | | | | featureless- a board without any of the above |
| new types of materials are being used in the making | | | | features and relies on the board shape, fin set up |
| of boards, each with different characteristics be it | | | | and rocker to determine how the board rides and |
| strength, weight, or flex. The two main ways of | | | | handles. |
| constructing a wakeboard is either by having a solid | | | | Board Size: The size of your board should reflect |
| polyurethane or foam core wrapped by fiberglass, or | | | | your body weight with longer boards for heavier |
| a honeycomb fiberglass/graphite core wrapped in the | | | | riders and the opposite for their lighter counterparts. |
| same material. The latter is a more expensive | | | | Board lengths range from 120-150cm and usually have |
| construction but the benefits are a lighter board | | | | the weight recommendation on them. Other factors |
| which is more easily maneuvered and gives a | | | | of choosing board size are that shorter boards in |
| smoother ride. This core is found on more advanced | | | | general, are slower across the water as it takes |
| and pro model boards. The base of the board can | | | | more energy to push them through the water (they |
| also be made in different materials to give extra | | | | have less surface area to keep them above the |
| strength for hitting hard objects like rails and kickers. | | | | water = more drag in the water). However due to |
| Board edge/rail type- Two edge types are available in | | | | their shorter length they are easier to spin and |
| today's market are the uniform edge and variable | | | | maneuver off the wake but landings are also harder. |
| edge. A uniform edge is one the has the same | | | | Longer boards are the opposite generally being faster |
| thickness throughout the entire rail from middle to tip. | | | | across the water with landings softer but spinning |
| A variable edge as the name suggests has a thicker | | | | and maneuvering being harder. These characteristics |
| and rounder edge in the middle and progressively | | | | make longer boards recommended to beginner riders |
| gets thinner and sharper towards the tip of the | | | | as they are easier to learn on and ride in general. |