Wakeboarding is a hybrid of three favorite water sports: water skiing, surfing and snowboarding. Like water skiers, wakeboarders are pulled across the water by tow ropes. Like surfers, wakeboarders ride the waves. Like snowboarders, wakeboarders leap, spin, do tricks and fly through the air off ramps. If you’re going to go wakeboarding, you’re going to need a board, tow rope, helmet and life vest.
Shop this article: Driftsun Throwdown Wakesurf Board, Zup You Got This Wakeboard, Wakeskate and Wakesurf Board Combo and Rave Sports Impact Wakeboard with Charger Boots
They look like the snowboards you see the pros ride when they do all those incredible tricks at the Olympics and in the X Games. Wakeboards are rectangles about 4 feet long and 2 feet wide. Both ends have the same shape, so you can ski leading with either foot.
If you’re using it like a surfboard, wakeboards are welcome at most beaches. Wakeboards are welcome anywhere in public areas where people are water skiing. To ski behind a rope, you’ll need a boat.
Not every wakeboarder has a boat or access to one, which is where water sports parks come in. These recreational areas are small lakes, usually artificial, with systems of overhead wires, pulleys and motors that tow ropes attach to. Wakeboarders and skiers are pulled around an oval track by a tow cable.
Zup You Got This Wakeboard, Wakeskate and Wakesurf Board Combo
The molded-in side rails and cushioned areas let you ride standing, kneeling or on your belly. It’s 57 inches long and comes with its own 60-foot tow rope.
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Driftsun Throwdown Wakesurf Board
This fiberglass board is hand finished and made for people with beginning and intermediate skill levels. It’s 54 inches long, 20 inches wide, has special contours and fins and holds up to 250 pounds.
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Rave Sports Impact Wakeboard with Charger Boots
This lightweight 50-inch board is best for riders weighing less than 125 pounds. You lace up the boots and slide them into the bindings. The side rails run the entire length of the board and the fins are removable.
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If you’re going to be wakeboarding behind a boat, you need a tow rope with a handle, both made from quality materials. You also need to choose a length that matches the speeds you plan on reaching.
Airhead Water Ski Rope with Radius Handle
This 16-strand rope is rated with a 1,600-pound break strength and comes in three sections. You can use the 45-foot section for wakeboarding, the 60-foot section for knee boarding and the 75-foot section for skiing.
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Rave Sports Elite Wakeboard/Kneeboard Rope
The wide 15-inch handle has a diamond grip that is made for doing tricks. The 75-foot bright green five-sixteenths-inch rope is easy to see in the water and has three removable sections.
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DockMoor Wakeboard Rope and Self-Centering Tow Harness
The 12-inch handle attaches to a 5-foot bridle that connects to a 2,200-pound tensile strength tow rope. The 75-foot rope can be configured for different lengths and the stainless steel pulley keeps the tow rope centered with the back of the boat.
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Every active water sport has risks and some element of danger. Wakeboard riders need safety equipment that protects them and keeps them afloat.
Wakeboarders are pulled along by tow ropes, most at speeds of 10 to 40 miles an hour. As any water skier knows, when the boat turns and you crack the whip, you’re going lots faster and are at increased risk of a wipeout, so your head must be protected. Choose a helmet for safety reasons, but take comfort and visibility into consideration, too.
The high density injection-molded polystyrene shell has a precise fitting system, waterproof liner and 15 open vents for ventilation and drainage. The cupping ear guards protect your eardrum while channeling water away.
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Vihir Adult Water Sports Helmet with Ears
The hard plastic shell has 11 vents that channel air in the front and water out the back. You use the fan-shaped buckle to fasten the chin strap firmly, then turn the regulator knob to adjust for a proper fit.
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Triple Eight Gotham Water Helmet
The halo liner is made of three layers of foam wrapped in plush fabric and is easily removable for washing. This 1.5-pound helmet comes in five sizes.
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Life vests are flotation devices people wear out on the water. They’re called vests because they’re shaped to enclose only the torso, leaving the arms free to move through their full range of motion without restriction. Make sure your life vest fits snugly in all the right places and latches securely.
Airhead Camo Cool Kwik-Dry Neolite Flex Life Jacket
This personal flotation device dries quickly and meets all U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements. The side-release buttons open and close quickly and the zipper ensures safety on the water. The kids version has a crotch strap for added safety.
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Hyperlite Indy CGA Women's Wakeboard Vest
This vest is approved by both the Coast Guard and Transport Canada. The segmented foam flotation panels are firmly anchored, drain quickly and the whole thing attaches with plastic buckles and secure belt loops.
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Hardcore Water Sports Life Jackets for the Entire Family
From kids weighing less than 50 pounds to super large adults with 60-inch chests, these Coast Guard-approved jackets are designed to provide a stable face-up position for the swimmer’s head.
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