Wakeboard, Wakesurf & Ski

About Wakeboards & Accessories

Over the last 20 years, wakeboarding has slowly taken over the watersports industry with not only youth, but water-sports enthusiasts as a whole. Some people are so passionate about wakeboaring that they'll put a years salary into a boat designed to give them a slighly smoother/larger wake, and some extra lift on jumps. Why has wakeboarding gotten so big? Because it's really, really fun. Our rapidly expanding Wakeboarding category is a great place to come if you're looking for cheap prices on quality wakeboard gear, with a selection of wakeboards and bindings that are made to be used by a variety of riders. If you're new to wakeboarding and don't want to spend a lot of money on your first board, we have wakeboards from recognized brands such as World Industries, Liquid Force, Airhead, Body Glove, and Hydroslide, starting around $120. If you're a serious wakeboarder looking for a board to give you every slight advantage available in modern wakeboard technology, keep your eyes peeled for our pro-line boards from brands such as CWB, Byerly, Ronix, Hyperlite, CWB, Straightline, Slingshot, and more.

Wakeboards & Accessories How-Tos

Tips For Choosing A Wakeboard And Bindings

Not so much into fishing? Do you just want to do as many watersports as you can such as wakeboard-ing? Keep in mind, if it's the first time you've ever looked into buying a wakeboard, it can sometimes be confusing in knowing exactly what you should get. Don't worry we will discuss the steps needed to identify a wakeboard that will fit you and your needs. We will go over the styles of wake-boards, and weight to board size ratio, what type of board you should choose based on your skill level, as well as how to identify the correct bindings.

The first thing to identify is your weight to size ratio. The worst thing to have is a board that is too small or too large. A small wakeboard will cause the board to sink and will affect the amount of control you have on the wakeboard. If it is too large, it's very difficult to get that pop off the wake to get a good jump into the air. Identifying the right size is going to be an essential part in the finding the right wakeboard. Here are the basic guidelines to follow when determining the size:

Rider less than 100 lbs. choose a wakeboard under 130 centimeters.

Rider 90-150 lbs. choose a wakeboard between 130-134 centimeters.

Rider 130-180 lbs. choose a wakeboard between 135-139 centimeters.

Rider 170-250 lbs. choose a wakeboard between 140-144 centimeters.

Rider greater than 250 lbs. choose a wakeboard 145 centimeters or greater.

Now that you know how to determine which size you will need based on weight, we will discuss style and construction. Remember not all wakeboards are made equally. Different styles are made for differ-ent expertise level. Experienced riders are going to want a different board than a beginner rider. Begin-ner riders are going to want one that flexes a little bit. This is helpful when you're in rough or choppy water because you'll have a board that's going to have a little give - this makes it easier for a beginner rider to control the wakeboard.

A higher level rider is going to want a board that is not going to flex. This way the rider can have more pop as it rebounds off the wake. Many boards are rated beginner to advanced so you can get an all-around board to suit your needs.

You will also want to identify the shape of the wakeboard. The more rounded a wakeboard's shape is, the smoother the ride will be on the water. The more square or broad the wakeboard is, the less smooth of a ride, but it's going to snap off the water quicker because of its design. If you want an all-around board, get one that is in between round and square shaped.

Last thing with design is rocker. It deals with the overall shape of the board. A continuous rocker has one smooth arc. There is also a Three-Stage rocker, which is a board that has a flat center with the sides flaring upward. One benefit of a continuous rocker is when you're cutting inside the wake, it is going to be a nice and smooth flow making it a bit easier and offering a consistent feel. When you cut back with a Three-Stage it's going to cut back quicker, but will be less smooth and easy. This is a design where more and more companies are offering a compromise between the two.

Choosing the Best Bindings

Lastly, are the bindings. Easiest way to make sure you get bindings that will work is to get a packaged deal. You don't want to get a high-end board and then low-end bindings. Most bindings are going to accommodate multiple people that are around the same size. The majority of bindings will have a re-lease allowing you to loosen and tighten the bindings easily as well as accommodate various sized rid-ers. The most accurate way to choose a wakeboard is by starting with the sizing guide above and then getting the appropriate bindings.

That's how you choose a wakeboard. Fairly simple, but when it comes to your time on the water, it's better to get something you know you want, and that is best for you. Less time spent shopping and more time on the water equals a great day on the water. That's time that is never wasted. iboats.com offers several types of reputable wakeboards and bindings at a phenomenal price. Visit our watersports page and choose your wakeboard today!

Wakeboarding 101

Wakeboarding is a water sport in which one rides a wakeboard over the surface of a lake, sea or any other body of water. The sport comprises techniques derived from those of surfing, water skiing and snowboarding. For easy wakeboarding and to get best result, wakeboarding is usually done in lakes but people have in recent times begun to do it in intercoastal waterways.

Professional boarder showing his movesPhoto from tumblr.com

When riding a wakeboard , one is towed by a motorboat which is often at speeds of between 17km/h to 25 km/h .The speed is determined by the size of the board, the rider's weight, the speed at which the rider is comfortable, and the type of tricks. The make, model and year of the boat can also influence the speed since some boats that are not specially designed for wakeboarding produce a different size wake, and the rider may not be comfortable with it. But other means such as personal watercrafts, closed-course cable systems and winches can also be used to tow a wakeboader.

Boards

Boards used in wakeboarding are usually buoyant, with their core made up of honeycomb, foam, or wood (usually mixed with resin) and a coating of fiberglass. The bindings and fins are attached by inserting metal screws. Depending with the preference of the rider, the configuration of bindings and fins may vary and can be adjusted as necessary.

A wakeboarder can use different fins for each type of trick. For instance, shallow fins are preferred for surface tricks like flat spins. Most of the recent board models have small molded fins which help reduce drag, and also allow a rider to use smaller fins.

Board hardware is usually set up in such a way that it allows the wakeboarder to ride the "Fakie," or "Switch" with one foot forward. Such setups typically have a symmetrical layout. A new rider can set up their board so that they're comfortable to ride the board while their "natural" foot is put forward. This usually does not allow one to ride Switch without making modifications.

Boats

One of the main differences between a wakeboarding boat and a normal runabout is the presence of wakeboard tower on the former. The tower is usually made up of aluminum- tubing or thick-walled stain steel, placing the "pull point" approximately 2m off the surface of the water. This high tow point helps avoid the rope pulling downward, allowing one to jump and launch into air.

Many newer wakeboarding boats also contain variable ballast systems that allow for pumping of water into and out of the ballast tanks. The addition of ballast helps increase displacement, resulting in enlargement of the wake produced.

Riding techniques

A rider can use edging techniques either to move to the outside of the wake or cut quickly in towards it. A jump is normally done by riding toward and up the wake, then launching into air, though it can also be performed by riding up a jump (kicker). As the rider learns the sport, they can start performing tricks high in the air.

These tricks are performed when riders move toward the wake and against the rope's pull, consequently building pressure against water on the bottom of their boards. The wake's energy will launch the riders airborne as they ride up the wake, and they can attempt to do several tricks while in the air.

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