Is wakeboarding hard?

[produceguy]

I want to buy one but I don't want to waste 100$ if the kids can't do it.
I tryed to kneeboard when I was a kid and could never get up on the board and my shorts kept fallin off :redface:
Looks like alot of fun thou.

 

[Rellik546]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

hey produce guy...i learned how to kneeboard and wakeboard. got up the first time i tried on the wake board...i also snowboard. and kneeboarding can be easy or difficult. i suggest you watch a couple instruction videos on youtube....they really offer some good pointers for newbies. also dont know how old yours kids are. but good luck getting a wakeboard and bindings for 100 bux unless your buying used. kneeboards can be had for around 100 bux but they better ones are around 250 300. they are cheaper than wakeboards because it is a less popular sport. a good wake set up will be a few hundred bux where a pro model set up will run u close too 600 700 bux.

both are pretty easy if you are given some simple techniques

 

[pigrge]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

When I was learning how to get up on a wakeboard, I swallowed ALOT of water until my cousin from Texas gave me a classic example of how to position myself in the water in preparation for getting up. Pretend like your sitting on the pot trying to take a deuce. Laying on your back of course..... It reallly worked! The further into your chest you can get your knees the easier its going to be to get up. Those that try to fight the water with their knees straight are the ones that end up giving up. Once you get up, staying vertical is just a learning curve, we've all had our bumps, bruises and even broken bones, just don't give up! I thought I lost hearing to one of my ears last summer, but you better believe you'll find me at the lake every weekend this summer doin it all over again! have fun man!

 

[kailec00]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

To me getting up on a wakeboard is easy. Going back and forth from side to side is easy. Cutting hard and jumping high and across the wake is hard. I only started late last summer, so maybe 7 times on a wakeboard. I hope to figure out the jumping thing this summer.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

I find it extremely easy... then again, I can't waterski for the life of me. My legs tend to go every which way, thus I spend my life on boards only.

 

[Tolyn]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

Greetings!

Getting up can be difficult for some and depends on a whole bunch of things (rider skill, weight, equipment, boat, skill/knowledge of who is at the helm, etc..).

It can be frustrating for little ones! It took me several tries to get up the first time. For me I think it had more to do with my wife (at the helm) and I just finding a rhythm of what worked best to haul my buns out of the water. A medium-slow start with my knees tucked in works well for me. I can get up every time now when she is at the helm.

You might try looking on your local Craigslist for a used Wakeboard setup. That way you have something for a reasonable cost that you can turn around and sell for about the same if it doesn't work out for you.

Respectfully,
-T

 

[mxfever]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

It's a combination of the person in the water and the person driving the boat. The driver should ease into the throttle. The rider should sit in the water as if in a chair leaned back, with the board just out of the water, ah heck just watch this. http://test.waketrix.com/view_clip.php?id=70

Some people get it right away. Others try over and over and over and over before they finally get up. Once it clicks they can normally get up the first pull every time. It's a ton of fun!

I found a board for my wife on craigslist. Someone was moving and had to unload a board quickly. Picked up a Liquid Force Trip with LF bindings for 50 bucks. Deals like that don't come along every day but they are out there.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

Thanks guys, I have a ski rope, would that work for wakeboarding?

I think I,m going to buy one but don't tell the wife.
Is thier a certain brand I should stay away from?

 

[mxfever]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

I think I,m going to buy one but don't tell the wife.

I know how that goes!

We rode our first year on a ski rope. Then I bought a rope for wakeboarding. There is a significant difference. A wake rope won't stretch like a ski rope will and the handle is wider but like I said we ran a ski rope for a year so it can be done.

I can't really tell you which rope to stay away from. The first one I bought was from Dunhams sporting goods. It worked good for a while but the handle fell apart. Then I bought a Liquid Force rope and love it but it's black. The best advice I can give you on a rope is buy one that's bright. You can't see a black rope in water to save your life. Every time the boat circles around I have a hard time locating the rope. Not that I ever fall!

 

[produceguy]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

mxfever, Thanks for the tip.
How about wakeboards. How do I know a good one from a lemon? What should I look for?

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

As with most extreme sports, I think the age at which one makes his first attempt has MUCH to do with the (perceived) degree of difficulty. What is easy for a fearless 20-something with no responsibilities is way harder for a late 30ish wannabe with a mortgage and bad knees. The stuff I used to do on my mtn bike, and not even think twice about it, is darn near impossible now. Even with a better bike, and actually better physical conditioning. The mental aspect will play a HUGE part in how difficult it is, and how much punishment you are willing to take to learn. I plan on trying it, and both of my kids want to also, but truth be told...we will all prolly have more fun on a tube. You need to take lots of pics and vids for us to watch and "critique" you on.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

Pretend like your sitting on the pot trying to take a deuce.

Awesome description!

My dad told me as a very young child learning to ski "pull your legs up like you are sitting in a chair, and keep them there until you are out of the water" and this worked well for me. But the crapping description is even better. Keep those legs up and close to your chest until you are REALLY up.

I have attempted to teach others but their BIGGEST mistake it so straighten up and stand up too early. You really need to stay squatted until the board/ski is fully planed, otherwise you will stand up and sink it.

Keep your butt as close to the board/ski/skis as possible for as long as possible.

It is the same for any standup pull sport.

kneeboards suck. Not enough time to take a deep breath before you go nose under...

When you are standing up, and you know you are going down, you have plenty of time to take a deep breath before you go face first into the drink.

 

[Rellik546]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

i kneeboard and wakeboard.... never had a problem with not having enough time to take a deep breath before crashing on either....will say that it can be scary on a kneeboard for biginners because u will be upside down in the water if your still strapped t to ur board...aka ur head it pointing to bottom. but all u do is undo the velcro. overall id say kneeboard falls hurt less than wakeboard falls. i do back rolls on my kneeboard, and will attempt them on my wakeboard this year. i will say that with either you can take some nasty spills but eventually you kinda get use to it.

For rope id get the ronix R8 mainline its an 80' line with 5- 5' take offs. this gives you lots of options in terms of length and how far behind the boat you are/ finding the best spot of the wake to hit.

Accurate A-line and X-line are good...the X-line is shorter

Proline Vapor mainline

the kind of rope makes a huge difference in the air you get. poly-E line streches. spectra and dyneema doesnt stretch, so you can load the line and this creates pop even without a wake.

Id say any spectra or dyneema from any company would be good. stay away from the ronix frank synthetic though, it has a leather or vinyl cover that is stitched on and it comes undone. most coated line are dipped in some sort of urethane.

you can get either coated line or uncoated, the coated coils easier with less tangles and is alil softer on the hands. personally i dont care which i use, there isnt much difference IMO.

alot of people dog kneeboarding, and im okay with this. its not very popular in terms of big tricks, but thats changed alot in the last decade...kneeboards are getting the same tech as wakeboards with rockers and spines and channels. I believe Ronix is also producing a kneeboard for 2012. It also less expensive to get a pro setup then a wakeboard. I love wakeboarding to, i just like having variety which is why this year im also getting a wake skate

 

[mxfever]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

Produceguy - How old and tall are your kids? If they are younger you may just want to get an el cheapo board anyway. They will out grow it so fast you'll be buying a new board every summer.

Kneeboarding is a blast! However growing up riding and racing dirt bikes my knees can't take the abuse.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

As with most extreme sports, I think the age at which one makes his first attempt has MUCH to do with the (perceived) degree of difficulty. What is easy for a fearless 20-something with no responsibilities is way harder for a late 30ish wannabe with a mortgage and bad knees. The stuff I used to do on my mtn bike, and not even think twice about it, is darn near impossible now. Even with a better bike, and actually better physical conditioning. The mental aspect will play a HUGE part in how difficult it is, and how much punishment you are willing to take to learn. I plan on trying it, and both of my kids want to also, but truth be told...we will all prolly have more fun on a tube. You need to take lots of pics and vids for us to watch and "critique" you on.

You got it bud.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

i kneeboard and wakeboard.... never had a problem with not having enough time to take a deep breath before crashing on either....will say that it can be scary on a kneeboard for biginners because u will be upside down in the water if your still strapped t to ur board...aka ur head it pointing to bottom. but all u do is undo the velcro. overall id say kneeboard falls hurt less than wakeboard falls. i do back rolls on my kneeboard, and will attempt them on my wakeboard this year. i will say that with either you can take some nasty spills but eventually you kinda get use to it.

For rope id get the ronix R8 mainline its an 80' line with 5- 5' take offs. this gives you lots of options in terms of length and how far behind the boat you are/ finding the best spot of the wake to hit.

Accurate A-line and X-line are good...the X-line is shorter

Proline Vapor mainline

the kind of rope makes a huge difference in the air you get. poly-E line streches. spectra and dyneema doesnt stretch, so you can load the line and this creates pop even without a wake.

Id say any spectra or dyneema from any company would be good. stay away from the ronix frank synthetic though, it has a leather or vinyl cover that is stitched on and it comes undone. most coated line are dipped in some sort of urethane.

you can get either coated line or uncoated, the coated coils easier with less tangles and is alil softer on the hands. personally i dont care which i use, there isnt much difference IMO.

alot of people dog kneeboarding, and im okay with this. its not very popular in terms of big tricks, but thats changed alot in the last decade...kneeboards are getting the same tech as wakeboards with rockers and spines and channels. I believe Ronix is also producing a kneeboard for 2012. It also less expensive to get a pro setup then a wakeboard. I love wakeboarding to, i just like having variety which is why this year im also getting a wake skate

Thanks
What is all this stuff, rockers spines ,spinners,wake skate? I couldlook it up but I would rather ask you.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

Produceguy - How old and tall are your kids? If they are younger you may just want to get an el cheapo board anyway. They will out grow it so fast you'll be buying a new board every summer.

Kneeboarding is a blast! However growing up riding and racing dirt bikes my knees can't take the abuse.

Great advice, thank you.
I didn,t know they made different size boards.
Kids are 15,14,5.

 

[bradtw191]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

wakeboarding is cake compared to slalom skiing in my opinion. the basics at least like getting up and riding. i jumped wake to wake my first day but i have skiid since i was tiny and i am 20 so like you said i dont have much fear of it haha

 

[bigpoppakdog]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

teach them how to ski first. Then progress to the wakeboard. Just my two cents.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Is wakeboarding hard?

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