Wakeboarding

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A person wakeboarding in Zug, Switzerland CH.ZG.Zug Boardstock 2008-07-27 Wakeboarder 27 16x9-R 4K.jpg
A person wakeboarding in Zug, Switzerland

Wakeboarding is a water sport in which the rider, standing on a wakeboard (a board with foot bindings), is towed behind a motorboat across its wake and especially up off the crest in order to perform aerial maneuvers. [1] A hallmark of wakeboarding is the attempted performance of midair tricks. Wakeboarding was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing techniques.

Contents

The rider is usually towed by a rope behind a boat, but can also be towed by cable systems and winches, and be pulled by other motorized vehicles like personal watercraft, cars, trucks, and all-terrain vehicles. The gear and wakeboard boat used are often personalized to each rider's liking.

Though natural watercourses such as rivers, lakes and areas of open water are generally used in wakeboarding, it is possible to wakeboard in unconventional locations, such as flooded roads and car parks, using a car as the towing vehicle. [2] [3] [4]

Wakeboarding is done for pleasure and competition, ranging from freestyle wakeboarding and wakeboard parks to wakeboard competitions at the X Games, WWA Wakeboard World Championships, or similar events. [5] Though it had an obscure start, it is now the world's fastest-growing water sport. [6]

History

Mono Water Ski

The sport that would later become wake boarding began as water-skiing with mono water skis (single water skis) in the USA around 1950. The main difference between mono water skis and contemporary wake boards is the shape of the board and the stance.

Surfboards as Mono ski

Wake surfing - using surfboards as mono water skis - began picking up traction around 1964, where it was seen as an "exciting new sport that's soon going to sweep the waterways." [7] Although surfboards were originally used, boards without straps or bindings were first seen in New Zealand with boards called "skurfboards".[ citation needed ] Eventually, wake boards with bindings or straps were sold in Australia under the name "McSkis". Later, another company called "Skurfer" was founded by Tony Finn in 1985, [8] named as such due to the board being a cross of a surfboard and a water ski. [9] The first board made in the early 1990's was the Hyper lite board by the O’Brien company, [10] a water ski manufacturer who marketed the board as a “compression-molded neutral-buoyancy wake board.” [11] This was followed by a variety of boards that are curvier and more compact, creating a smoother ride. [11]

The wake board rope has advanced over the years with improvements in the material makeup. When wakeboarding first started, wakeboarders used ski rope, which was made with stretchy cloth or plastic ropes. The latter soon grew in popularity, and a braided rope made out of polypropylene was eventually introduced. A few years later[ when? ], a rope that was less stretchy was invented that gave the rider a more consistent pull on the rope, though they were heavier and larger in diameter. Modern ropes are coated with Spectra and Dyneema, which decrease the stretch and drag of the rope.

Equipment

Wakeboarding in Tokyo, 2018

When wakeboarding, a wide variety of safety equipment is used. These include life vests or other buoyancy aids which prevent water-related injuries and deaths, as they keep the wearer buoyant until they are picked up. These vests especially help in situations where the rider is knocked unconscious or cannot tread water. [12] Furthermore, wakeboarders use water-resistant helmets that are able to ventilate water so that the helmets do not fill up with water. [12] Even the length of a wakeboarder's rope is important in providing safety; if the rope is too long, a wakeboarder will land on the flat part of the wake instead of the downside, and their knees will buckle.

Wakeboards themselves are also important to consider when preparing to ride. Four of the most common wakeboard styles include the continuous rocker, the three-stage rocker, the five-stage rocker, and the hybrid rocker. [13] Rocker refers to the curve of the board from head to tail and each type of board has a different placement and amount of curve that works best for different types of rides. The presence or absence of fins on the bottom of a board can also make a drastic difference in how it rides. Beginning riders are usually better off with deeper fins. Wakeboards can also vary in the amount of fins they have which can be up to 5. Fins will make it easier to turn and stay level for beginners but should be removed for tricks and spins since they can make it easier to catch an edge on a jump or during a spin. Another part of the wakeboard itself to consider is the size of the board and the material, which are usually a wood or foam core with a fiber glass or carbon fiber coating. [14]

At the same time, the length of a wakeboarding rope will vary based on the rider's preferences. Beginner ropes usually go from about 50’ to 75’ in total length, while more advanced riders will want a rope that goes from 65’ to 85’. [15] A longer rope may allow for more preparation and momentum before performing tricks, [16] whereas a shorter rope may require less speed and height to travel between wakes. [16] In addition to this, the material of the rope being used can make a significant difference in ride experience. The less stretch in the rope, the better it is for the rider to learn how to ride and do various tricks. Some of the best rope materials include Dyneema, Poly E, and Spectra. Each of these is known for its abrasion resistance, affordability and absorption, and durability respectively. [17]

Tricks

When wakeboarding, a variety of tricks may be attempted. Most of these stem from the wakeboarder adjusting their posture, edge, and distribution of weight so as to fly into the air upon hitting the wake. [18] Various tricks include the toeside edge, [18] the heelside edge, [19] the ride switch, [20] and the 180° spin. [21]

More advanced tricks call for what is known as inversion or “inverts”. An invert is considered any action where the board is above the head of the rider. This does not necessarily mean the rider is fully upside down, as evidenced by the Raley, a trick where the rider extends their body parallel to the water bending at the knees to achieve inversion. [22] The heel side backflip, otherwise known as a tantrum, is often regarded as the first and easiest invert to learn as an intermediate level rider. This is because the shape of the wake or the “kicker” (a type of floating ramp, used primarily at cable parks, that mimics the shape of a wake) naturally initiates the sequence of motions that are necessary to complete the trick. [23]

Community

There are many different ways that people are engaged in this sport. Popular brands like Byerly, Hyperlight, O'Brien and Ronix provide ever evolving technology and equipment as well as quality advice for new and seasoned riders alike. Some of these brands also have active social media presence to reach more people and get them into the sport. [24]

Relationship to Kitesurfing

Many movements and tricks in wakeboarding bear close resemblance to moves also found in kitesurfing. This is reflected in close similarities between wakeboards and twin-tip kitesurf-boards. Wakeboarding in wake and waterski parks is thus often considered a more approachable wind condition independent alternative to kitesurfing and has seen a surge in popularity in parallel to kitesurfing, especially in densely populated areas in Europe, such as Germany.

See also

Related Research Articles

Boardsports are active outdoor sports that are played with any sort of board as the primary equipment. These sports take place on a variety of terrains, from paved flat-ground and snow-covered hills to water and air. Most boardsports are considered action sports or extreme sports, and thus often appeal to youth. Some board sports were marginalized in the past. However, many board sports are gaining mainstream recognition, and with this recognition, they have gotten wider broadcasting, sponsorship and inclusion in institutional sporting events, including the Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water skiing</span> Surface water sport

Water skiing is a surface water sport in which an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation over a body of water, skimming the surface on two skis or one ski. The sport requires sufficient area on a stretch of water, one or two skis, a tow boat with tow rope, two or three people, and a personal flotation device. In addition, the skier must have adequate upper and lower body strength, muscular endurance, and good balance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiteboarding</span> Extreme sport

Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is a sport that involves using wind power with a large power kite to pull a rider across a water, land, snow, sand, or other surface. It combines the aspects of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and wakeboarding. Kiteboarding is among the less expensive and more convenient sailing sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakeskating</span>

Wakeskating is a water sport and an adaptation of wakeboarding that employs a similar design of board manufactured from maple or fibreglass. Unlike wakeboarding, the rider is not bound to the board in any way, similar to the skateboard, from which the name derives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barefoot skiing</span>

Barefoot skiing is water skiing behind a motorboat without the use of water skis, commonly referred to as "barefooting". Barefooting requires the skier to travel at higher speeds (30–45 mph/48–72 km/h) than conventional water skiing. The necessary speed required to keep the skier upright varies by the weight of the barefooter and can be approximated by the following formula: + 20, where W is the skier's weight in pounds and the result is in miles per hour. It is an act performed in show skiing, and on its own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foilboard</span> Surfboard with a downward-extending hydrofoil

A foilboard, also known as a hydrofoil board or foil surfboard, is a type of board used in water sports; it is distinct from surfboards in that it has a hydrofoil rather than fins mounted underneath. This hydrofoil design allows the surfboard and its rider to rise above the water’s surface, allowing for fast speeds and increased maneuverability in a wide range of surf conditions. Foilboards are becoming increasingly popular across many water sports, including surfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, and wakeboarding. Foilboards have also been used in competitions, with riders reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h while performing acrobatic maneuvers such as flips and twists.

Hyperlite Wake Mfg. is a manufacturing company that was established in 1991 in Redmond, Washington. The company manufactures a variety of water sports equipment including wakeboards, wakesurfs, vest, paddleboards and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darin Shapiro</span>

Darin Fane Shapiro, nicknamed "The Scud" is an American professional wakeboarder from Orlando, Florida and the most successful rider in the history of the sport. Shapiro is well known for landing the first ever double-flip on a wakeboard, which he named the "Speedball" as well as many other tricks which laid the foundation for what wakeboarding is today. After a 10-year retirement from wakeboarding, Shapiro returned to competition at age 40, at the 2014 Wake Games contest at Orlando Watersports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kite landboarding</span>

Kite landboarding, also known as land kiteboarding or flyboarding, is based on the sport of kitesurfing, where a rider on a surf-style board is pulled over water by a kite. Kite landboarding involves the use of a mountain board or landboard, which is essentially an oversized skateboard with large pneumatic wheels and foot-straps. Kite landboarding is a growing sport, and there are several competitions. Kite landboarding is attracting growing publicity although it is not yet as popular or as well known as kitesurfing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cable skiing</span>

Cable skiing is a way to water ski, in which the skier's rope and handle are pulled by an electrically driven cable, whereas traditionally a waterskier is pulled by a motorboat. The mechanism consists of two cables running parallel to one another with carriers between them every 80 metres. The carriers are metal tubes that can hook up tow ropes with riders. Tow ropes are detached and attached at the same time without slowing the system down, which is a main reason for its high efficiency. With a main cable of 800 metres long, 10 riders can waterski or wakeboard at the same time. The speed of the main cable can be up to 38 mph (61 km/h), and slalom skiers can reach much higher speeds. The most common speed is 19 mph (31 km/h), which suits wakeboarders best.

Skurfing is a towed water sport in which an individual is pulled behind a boat on a tow rope. The sport uses a skurfboard, which is a floating platform the user balances on, similar to a surfboard but typically much shorter, with two foot-straps that prevent falling off the board and three fins positioned on the bottom that make it easier to maneuver when the board is being towed. The word itself is a portmanteau of skiing and surfing. Skurfing is often considered the precursor to wakeboarding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakesurfing</span> Water sport

Wakesurfing is a water sport in which a rider trails behind a boat, riding the boat's wake without being directly pulled by the boat. After getting up on the wake, typically by use of a tow rope, the wakesurfers will drop the rope, and ride the steep face below the wave's peak in a fashion reminiscent of surfing. Wakesurfers generally use special boards, designed specifically for wakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sit-down hydrofoil</span>

The sit-down hydrofoil, first developed in the late 1980s, is a variation on water skiing, a popular water sport. When towed at speed, by a powerful boat or some other device, the board of the hydrofoil 'flies' above the water surface and generally avoids contact with it, so the ride is largely unaffected by the wake or chop of the water and is relatively smooth. The air board is a modified hydrofoil where the skier stands up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakeboard boat</span>

Wakeboard boats also known as wakeboats, surfboats or tow boats are designed to create a large, specially shaped wake, for a wakeboarder to jump the wakes from side to side doing aerial tricks. They developed from the Runabout type.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flowriding</span> Sport practiced on artificial wave machine

Flowriding is a late 20th century alternative boardsport incorporating elements of surfing, bodyboarding, skateboarding, skimboarding, snowboarding and wakeboarding.

Liquid Force is a manufacturer of wakeboarding, wakesurfing, wake foiling, and other wake related products based in the United States. Liquid Force is one of the leading manufacturers in the wakeboard related products and focused on relentless innovation as its mantra. Besides manufacturing, the Liquid Force sponsors numerous events and athletes to grow and promote the sport. Liquid Force was founded in 1995 by Tony Finn and Jimmy Redmon, both pioneers in the sport of wakeboarding. Its headquarters are located in Carlsbad, California.

Danny Harf is an American professional wakeboarder and sports video producer.

Horse surfing is an extreme sport invented in 2004. It requires two people, a horse, and a board. Horse surfing involves one person riding either kite-board, surfboard, wake-board, or skim-board, while being towed behind a horse, ridden by a second person, through shallow water, at speeds up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). After originating in England the first official horse surfing competition was held in 2006 in La Baule, France, and over the last 14 years the sport has continued to spread internationally. Today there are several competitions with globally established rules and categories.

References

  1. ↑ "Definition of WAKEBOARD". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  2. ↑ "Wakeboarding on a flooded road". BBC News . Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  3. ↑ Watkins, James (2018-08-10). "Canoeing and wakeboarding in Guildford Bedford Road car park". SurreyLive. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  4. ↑ "Locals wakeboard and kayak down flooded Napier streets". TVNZ. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  5. ↑ "Wakeboard Pro Top 5 | FISE Montpellier 2019 | FISE". www.fise.fr. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  6. ↑ "USA Wakeboard". USA Water Ski and Wake Sports. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  7. ↑ Borden, Dick (April 1964). "Make the most of your wake... ride it". Popular Boating. Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  8. ↑ "TONY FINN | Inventor of wakeboarding |". Unleashed Wake Mag. 2016-12-11. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  9. ↑ "The History of Water Sports: Wakeboarding". www.montereyboats.com. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  10. ↑ "History of Wakeboarding: How it all got started". Groove vest. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  11. 1 2 "Wakeboard". www.usawaterski.org. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  12. 1 2 "What Essential Wakeboarding Gear Do I Need?". Mpora. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  13. ↑ "Wakeboarding". Pegasus. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  14. ↑ "What are the common types of wakeboards". Wakesports Unlimited. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  15. ↑ "Waterski Ropes Vs. Wakeboard Ropes". WakeHouse. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  16. 1 2 "Adjusting your wakeboard rope is the best kept secret to crush your trick list". Humanoid Wakeboards. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  17. ↑ "Choosing a Tow Rope for Wakeboarding". Monster Tower. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  18. 1 2 "Learn The Progressive Toeside Edge - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News". www.wakeboarder.com. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  19. ↑ "Learn the Progressive Heelside Edge - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News". www.wakeboarder.com. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  20. ↑ "Learning To Ride Switch - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News". www.wakeboarder.com. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  21. ↑ "Progressive Steps to Learn 180s - Wakeboarder.com Wakeboarding News". www.wakeboarder.com. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  22. ↑ "Wakeboard Trick List". thewakeboardsite.com. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  23. ↑ "Wakeboarder.com Tricks and Tips - Tantrum". www.wakeboarder.com. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  24. ↑ "History of Wakeboarding". www.the-house.com. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
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