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How much power do you need for wakeboarding? |
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An offspring of the waterskiing sports, wakeboarding requires less power but nonetheless gives the same excitement and fun on the water. Wakeboards are relatively easy to use, they don't need much power to tow, yet they offer exhilarating challenge for both experts and novice.
Wakeboarding is like waterskiing on a small surf board with foot straps. It is a cross between mono-skiing and surfing with the wakeboarder almost always standing sideways.
Started in the mid-eighties, wakeboarding is probably the fastest growing water sports in the world. Newbies and water skiers alike have been going for wakeboarding because it requires less expensive boats and slower speeds. Wakeboard buffs also claim to have more fun with wakeboarding than water skiing and they say it leaves them less exhausted.
Modern wakeboards are thin, light and usually surf-shaped. To meet the growing popularity of wakeboarding, specialist wakeboard companies have appeared or existing firms have adapted some of their product lines for the market.
Wakeboard bindings (footstraps or boots) are built on plates that are interchangeable on most quality wakeboards. This allows the rider to choose from many foot bindings independently to the choice of board.
To enjoy wakeboarding, you need a good-powered wakeboard or dedicated ski boat to pull you slowly and consistently. V8 engines with 250 horsepower will be a good choice. A boat that does not have enough power to pull a mono-skier from a deepwater start will probably be able to pull a wakeboard deepwater start. Since a wakeboard start is quite slow and progressive, there is no need for the boat to accelerate fast.
As stated, pulling a wakeboard requires less power than pulling a waterskier on a mono-ski. Unlike waterski, the wakeboard doesn't dig in because it has wider surface area and it planes much slower.
Wakeboarders should maintain a speed of about 18 miles per hour, but this is even too slow for many speedboats. For bigger jumps and wake clearing air that requir more speed, the wakeboarder can go as much as 20-22 mph.
Experimenting with the rope length will help wakeboarders find the speed and power combination most ideal for his skills level. Generally, shorter ropes yield slower speeds. Skiing at 20-22 mph would probably require approximately 60 feet of rope while only 45 feet of rope is needed when skiing at 15-18 mph.
Aside from the wakeboard boat, it is very important to pay attention to the wake itself.
The wakeboard should be thin so you can use its edge to carve turns. It should also be light weight to make jumps and air moves easier. More importantly, it needs to be durable so it does not break. For beginners, it is best to first work on larger surf-shaped board to help with starting and balance. When you already know the tricks, you can go for the twin tip wakeboard.
Aside from the boat and board, other important tools when wakeboarding include a good quality rope of the right length; and a mounting. It is also advisable to wearing ski vest, wetsuit, ski gloves and personal flotation device.
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