| If you are a beginner or you have never been | | | | considered. Boards with narrow centre make it more |
| wakeboarding before, a large wakeboard would be | | | | difficult to get height from a jump as less of the |
| an ideal size to start off with. This is because larger | | | | board hits the wake and therefore less propulsion |
| boards have a greater surface area that is contact | | | | into the air. They are also harder to land from jumps |
| with the water, providing greater buoyancy and | | | | as they have a smaller surface area. Despite being |
| more stability to the rider. The size of the board has | | | | harder to control on the surface of the water, |
| to be right for the rider because if it is too small, the | | | | boards with a wider centre are better for getting |
| board will not be able to support their weight and | | | | good air as more of the board hits the wake and |
| making them more likely to sink and if it is too big, it | | | | they are easier to land. |
| will be too hard to manoeuvre. However, if you are a | | | | The rocker (the bend in the board) can influence |
| more advanced rider, a smaller board offers more | | | | control and speed of the board and there are |
| control, allowing you to pull off tricks much easier. | | | | generally two types of rockers; the continuous |
| A board with square ends are ideal for beginners as | | | | rocker and the three-stage rocker. The continuous |
| this shape makes the board glide slowly through the | | | | rocker is one where the board has a smooth bend |
| water as it makes contact with the straight edge of | | | | from top to bottom. The advantage of having a |
| the front of the board. A slower board means that | | | | continuous rocker is that the rider can obtain greater |
| the rider has more time to react to the water and | | | | speeds as there is less friction between the board |
| have more control over their actions. A board with | | | | and water. A board with a three-stage rocker is |
| more rounded edges are more suited to riders with a | | | | similar to a skateboard as it has 2 noticeable bends in |
| bit more experience in the sport as this offers | | | | it but not as drastic. These types of boards are ideal |
| greater ability to pull off surface tricks but offers less | | | | for beginners as they ride slower due to the water |
| stability and are harder to land from a jump. | | | | hitting the bend in the board but they also enable the |
| When it comes to making jumps off wakes, the | | | | rider to get good height when jumping off a wake. |
| width of the board at the centre should be | | | | |