HOW TO WAKEBOARD by:Jack Rivette

What is Wakeboarding?

Wakeboarding is a water sport where a person rides a board while being pulled by a boat or cable. The rider stands on the board and uses the rope to stay balanced and do tricks. It's a mix of water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing. Wakeboarding is fun and exciting, especially for people who enjoy fast-paced sports.

Gear

Wakeboarding is a pretty gear intensive sport. It requires a boat, life jacket, a wakeboard, and a helmet to wear on a cable course. Wakeboarding is a very expensive sport to own all the gear so i recomend renting gear from a reliable source to beginners. Getting gear that fits and feels comfortable is the most important part of choosing gear; you don't need the carbon fiber board on your first ride if it doesn't even fit.

Item	Beginner Option	Intermediate Option	Advanced Option
Wakeboard	Rental board	Soft-flex board	Carbon fiber board
Life Jacket	Basic foam vest	Adjustable neoprene vest	Performance neoprene vest
Helmet	Basic water helmet	Comfort-fit helmet	Lightweight pro helmet
Rope & Handle	Stretchy beginner rope	Standard non-stretch rope	Pro-grade handle with grip

Before starting info

Before you try to wake board, make sure you are comfortable swimming in water with a life jacket and make sure you are following all the rules and regulations that come with wakeboarding in your area. Make sure your equipment is up to date and works before you start wakeboarding. If you aren't sure if you are physicaly fit enough to have the body control to absorb crash impacts and to swim, do not attempt wakeboarding.

Step one: Getting up

The hardest part of any board sport is getting up and finding a balance point. Whether it be snowboarding, wake surfing, or skimboarding, the most critial part of a ride is rising into the riding stance. Wakeboarding has two main ways you do this. On a cable course, you have to jump off the platform and land with the nose out of the water pointing up. Then the cable will drag you around the course until you let go and fall off. For getting pulling behind a boat, you start behind the boat and hold onto the rope tightly and bend your knees. Then, you give the driver the signal to accelerate and you will feel a hard tugging sensation on your arms, it's important to keep them stiff and transfer the energy to your legs and then you will be pulled up into riding postion. its important to not fall forward after you get up because many beginners do this becuase they aren't prepared for the harsh pull the boat gives you as it speeds up.

Step 2: Balancing and stance

Once you're up, the key is to maintain a proper stance. Keep your knees slightly bent, back straight, and arms relaxed while holding the handle low and close to your hip. Keep your eyes forward and not on your feet. Try to stay balanced by shifting your weight slightly onto your back foot. This helps you ride smoothly and avoid faceplants.

Step 3: Turning and carving

To turn, gently lean in the direction you want to go while keeping the rope tension. To carve harder, apply more pressure to your heels or toes depending on the direction. This is how riders steer and also build up for jumps or tricks. Practice small movements at first until you’re confident in your balance.

Advanced tricks

Once you've mastered the basics, you can try more advanced tricks like jumps, grabs, spins, and flips. These require good balance, strong legs, and practice. Start by learning how to jump the wake and then progress to tricks like the 180, 360, or even a backroll. Always wear a helmet when practicing new stunts.

Summary

Wakeboarding is a thrilling and physically demanding sport that combines fun, balance, and skill. With the right gear, safety checks, and technique, anyone can learn to ride and eventually perform tricks. Remember to start slow, listen to instructors, and most importantly—have fun on the water!

Get the right gear
- Choose gear that fits well and suits your level of experience.
Practice water safety
- Always wear a life jacket and follow local safety guidelines.
Master getting up on the board
- Use proper form and stay calm when the boat or cable starts pulling.
Improve your balance and stance
- Keep your knees bent and eyes forward to maintain control.
Work up to tricks gradually
- Start with basic turns and jumps before trying spins and flips.

Links to videos