Thinking of joining the sport.

FeeltheRush · Newbie Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Posts: 1 City: Bay Area

Hey there. I just got done with a work related trip at Lake Shasta. They rented a boat for us and I got the chance to wakeboard!

I already ride a sportbike, play paintball, and rollerblade with my GF, but getting up on that board for the first time was like losing my virginity all over again! Nobody else could figure out how to get up on the damn thing till I got out there Laughing

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We kept trying to fight the board and launch in the position you are in when on top of the water, then I finally had a stroke of genius when I remembered how I saw other people getting up on TV with the board horizontal and got up my first try like that( Laughing

I actuall got really close to getting up starting forward)..

Man just typing that made me feel like a dope fiend with nothing but lint in his pockets. IM DEPRIVED Laughing

So on to the questions I have....

1. Can a jet ski tow a wakeboarder well?

2. What is the minimum displacement you would recommend?(specify 2strk/4strk)

3. What are the maintainance costs like associated with owning a jet ski?

4. What kind of board would be right for a person around 6'0". The board I was using seemed in the longer range. Is board size associated with style more than body size?

Thanks a lot I am not sure how active this forum is hehe....

PS you can tell me your setup and stuff if you use a jet ski....TIA.

Justin 25 · Addict Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 797

A jet ski can tow a wakeboarder fine, but you won't be able to throw many tricks behind it.
I don't understand your second question and as for your third I don't own a jet ski.
Your height doesn't matter for the board size, only your weight.
Hope I was helpful.

Xanadu · Outlaw Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 129 City: Ottawa

HHI Dave · Posted: Oct 01, 2006 8:29 am Post subject:

If you really want to get into wakeboarding, don't waste your money on a Jetski. Yes, they can pull a boarder, but that's about it. For the cost of a new Jetski, you could get a pretty decent used boat. Obviously the boats made specifically for wakeboarding are a lot more $$$, but even an I/O runabout (like mine) is much, MUCH better for wakeboarding than a Jetski ever would be.

25Lsv · Posted: Oct 03, 2006 6:33 am Post subject:

I would agree with the above comments. Investing in a PWC is like putting your finger over a firehose. Eventually, your going to need a better solution to improve in wakeboarding. PWC will manage the basic surface tricks and board management, but that's all.

Take the PWC money and put it toward a good I/O boat. There is a lot you can do behind these boats to advance in the sport. Tons of add ons to the boat to increase the wakeboarding experience.

Some of the older 1970/80's Hulls are great Wake Throwers... You can pick these up for $2k.

Good luck....

DC_wakeboarder1 · Newbie Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 1 City: Eastman

ok i really want to know how many tricks u need in ur bag and wat kind to qualify for like a 15 and 16 year old class? i really want to get into wakeboarding alot!

HHI Dave · Posted: Dec 19, 2006 1:42 am Post subject: Re: wat do u need to be able to do?

Rhawn · Posted: Dec 19, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

I'm still working on this one, then I'm IN! (I really do suck)

"Buttslide - hold for 1 second min."

ripperchick · Outlaw Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 158 City: Atlanta

you don't need a lot of power for a jet ski to pull you up, 2 stroke is fine. You can't do any wake to wake ticks (unless maybe you get the sea doo wake edition) but you can work on your surface tricks, switch riding (which will greatly help you behind a boat) and hitting rails. If you don't want to put the money into a boat, a jet ski is a geat alternative, the gas is a lot cheaper than having to fill a boat as well.