The Newbie's Guide to Wakeboarding (Please Read)

LFADAM · Last edited by LFADAM on May 03, 2005 3:08 pm; edited 2 times in total

This is the all inclusive newbie guide to wakeboarding and wakeboarder.com. If you are new to the sport or the site, please read carefully.

Part 1. The wakeboarding basics.

-So you just started wakeboarding, welcome. Now you want to know what board and bindings to get. Well, there are 3 big brands. CWB, Liquid Force, and Hyperlite. Although these companies make good stuff, there are plenty of other options like Blindside, DoubleUp, Jobe, and O'Brien just to name a few. A good way to figure out what board is right for you is to go here

-What is rocker? Rocker is the curvature in a wakeboard from tip to tail.
A. Continuous rocker is a smooth arc which will send you farther out on your jumps and lower than a 3 stage rocker. It will also have less drag, therefore not tiring you out as fast.
B. A 3 stage rocker is like a skateboard. It has 2 bend points. This kind of board will let you jump more up and not as far but will tire you out faster because of more drag on the water.
C. A hybrid rocker is in between these two.

-What kind of bindings should I get?
If you are planning to get bindings for a bunch of different people to use, adjustable ones such as lace up or velcro bindings would be good. If it is just for one person you may want a binding that molds to your foot like the Liquid Force Ultra Suction. The key thing in bindings is that they support your ankles well. NEVER USE SANDAL TYPE BINDINGS

-What kind of rope do I need?
NON STRETCH. You probably want spectra core wakeboard rope. It is a little pricey but is well worth it. It will help you have more control in the air and not get pulled forwards.

-Do I need a life vest?
Yes. Always wear a life vest. You can get seriously injured in wakeboarding. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

-What kind of boat do I need?
There are boats designed for wakeboarding such as the Correct Craft Super Air Nautique, Master Craft X-Series, Malibu Wakesetter series, Supra boats, Centurion Storm Series, and Moomba Mobius boats. These have a tower (a large cage like thing that helps you get more hang time and height on your jumps) and a weight system to make a bigger wake.

-I cant afford a wakeboard boat/I all ready have an Inboard/Outboard or Outboard boat. can I use that?
Yes. To make it better for wakeboarding, you probably want to add weight to it like fat sacs. (water filled bags) or cement or people. Anything works. You also may want a tower or extended pylon (a pole that extends the tow point up high and is supported by straps). This will help you get more height and hang time. For I/Os and Outboards you usually want to trim your engine about 1/4 to 1/2 to make the wake nice.

-Ok, Im on the water. What should I learn first/How do I get up?
Its a good idea to get an instructional video like Higher Education, Detention, The book, or waketrix. These will tell you how to get up and guide you through all the tricks.

-How fast should the boat be going.
For beginners, 18 mph is good. More advanced riders like anywhere between 18 and 26 mph.

-What is Toeside (TS) and Heelside (HS)?
These are the way you edge on a wakeboard. If you are leaning on your heels, this is heelside. If you are leaning on your toes, this is toeside.

-What is switch/fakie/switchstance
If you ride left foot forwards, your switch position would be right foot forwards and vice versa. Half cab means that you begin a trick switch and landing in your normal position. It can be a 180, 540, Backroll, etc.

-What is BS/FS?
These are the directions in which you spin. FS (frontside) is when you spin so your chest faces the boat first. It is much more natural than BS (backside) Backside is when you spin against the direction of the pull of the boat. Your back faces the boat first.

-What is progressive edge?
This is the edge that you take to many wakeboard tricks. You start out cutting mildly towards the wake and build your speed as you approach the wake so that you are traveling your fastest at the peak of the wake, right before you straighten your legs to jump. This is key to getting big air.

-I can jump wake to wake now, what should I do next?
First, learn how to do the grabs. Then learn how to do jumps and grabs switch. Then work on w2w (wake to wake) 180s. After you have mastered those, either try a Heelside Backroll or Heelside Frontside 360. These are usually considered the easiest tricks beyond 180s. For help on doing these, visit the trick tips forum or the home page of wakeboarder.com and go to the "trick tips" section.

Whats a slider?
-A slider is a man made (usually) object in the water. They are rails (like in skateboarding) ramps, or funboxes. ( A table like structure with a slippery material on the top letting you slide across it)

Part 2. How to fit in at wakeboarder.com

First thing is first. The search button. This feature is located below the wakeboarder.com logo at the top left of the page. Use this feature. People hate when users post the same topics, over and over again. If you do not use this, you may get bashed/flamed (insulted) to a high degree.

Common Abbreviations.
pm (private message) You can send someone a private message by clicking the logo in their profile.

IMO(In my opinion)

.02 (Thoughts/opinions)

Pat(Pat McCarthy, founder of the site)

wb.com (wakeboarder.com)

ws.com (wakeskating.com)

To get a picture under your name in threads, edit your profile and enter the file name under your "avatar"

Post things in the correct forum. People do not like when you talk about your favorite car in General wake Discussion. This belongs in the non wakeboarding forum.

Do not curse or post inappropriate material. This will just get threads deleted, cause the moderators grief, and probably get you banned.

Since you are a newbie, you will most likely get bashed at some point. It happens. Just try not to make the same mistake again and ignore it. If you try to retort, you will get flammed harder.

Thank you for reading and welcome to wakeboarding.

:Post any additions to this and I will edit them in:

RufioSwashbuckle · Posted: May 02, 2005 5:52 pm Post subject:

LFADAM, WOW. Probably the best post I've read in a long time. Good job , and thanks.

DavidHoff · Posted: May 02, 2005 6:57 pm Post subject:

Good post...Someone had ALOT of free time on their hands!

A mod should probably sticky this.

luketx04 · Outlaw Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 145 City: Houston

Nice, very nice.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

.....so, just because I have the big bad "Ladies Man" attatched to my name it means that i'm one of the first to "bash" some one?? Laughing

dude...you must have been really, REALLY bored to write all of that.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

LFADAM · Posted: May 03, 2005 11:52 am Post subject:

K-dub, generally, yes. Its just the way it is. Im sure if I was a ladies man, I would too. Its the internet. And yes I was bored but it is very needed. So many people make the same threads over and over.

colefooter · Posted: May 03, 2005 12:42 pm Post subject:

You should change that thing about the people with high posts. I NEVER see a new comer get flamed on a good or densient post. Just don't be a douche and you won't get flamed.

That must of taken forever though, good post.

matt1808 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 1981

good post, but it probably wont help pat did a helpful link sticky post and people still post on those topics.

Ctipping · Posted: May 03, 2005 6:04 pm Post subject:

matt1808, party pooper. This is a good tool, faster/easier to get through.

matt1808 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 1981

Ctipping, i know it is very helpful, but not if they don't read it.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

Nice right up! I do, however, have a question. You mentioned to us the search button (im on many various boards so i know this), but i have tried this manytimes and ALOT of useless threads come up making it harder to find what you want.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Centrider, if you get too many narrow your search. Don't forget to select the forum you are looking for: IE if you're looking for binding lube info search in general wake only. Or if you're interested in boat cleaning supplies you should only select the boat forum.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

I'd change that link to WakeWorld Shocked

(edit <--- the WW word is not allowed on this site Laughing

) and send it to the Boardstop.com wakeboard selector.

Good post.

LFADAM · Posted: May 06, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject:

Centrider, try clicking the button that searches all terms, not just phrases containing what you searched (the default) This helps a lot.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

Cool, thanx for the help!

Mike.H · Posted: May 08, 2005 6:56 pm Post subject:

very nice LFADAM but i doubt newbies will pay any attention to this

snooks · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 313 City: Calgary

I DID

elyse · Posted: Aug 13, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject:

snooks, good for you!!

might as well bump this back to the top as well.

Blake · Posted: Aug 13, 2005 7:57 pm Post subject:

Smokinheels07 · Posted: Aug 13, 2005 8:00 pm Post subject:

very nice post..and i paid attention too...most "newbies" probly just won't post sayin they read it..not always fun being a newbie

Blindside_137 · Posted: Aug 14, 2005 5:37 pm Post subject:

great job adam, it is very need around here, i dont know how many times i have seen an "i need more air" topic

JWH445 · Newbie Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 4 City: Metairie

Hey Blindside

I am a newbie and I was wondering how I can get more air on my jumps?

John Very Happy

armed and dangerous · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 22 City: milwaukee

great best post i ever seen that mite hekp me a little even though i can go out a the wake already not so good i know but dont laff. but just great and i like the part i dont know who keeps postin glove wearers??