Wakeboarding is one of the most enjoyable and exciting activities you can do out on the water, so before you hit the lake let's go over some of the essential equipment you need to get started!
A Boat or Cable Park
Basically, all we need is something to pull us across the water. Don’t think that because you don’t have a boat built specifically for wakeboarding you won’t be able to ride behind it, any vessel with enough horsepower to pull you out of the water will do. As long as you have a driver, spotter, and a good attitude, you can wakeboard behind just about anything! Don’t have access to a boat? No problem, you can do a quick internet search to see if there are any cable parks nearby. A cable park is a great place to learn to wakeboard, and you can even go by yourself. No driver or spotter needed!
A Wakeboard
Ah, yes, being towed without the board we wouldn’t get very far, and would probably end up with a mouthful of water. A board and boot combination that is sized specifically for you will work best. When in doubt, a slightly bigger board is better, especially for learning, as the added surface area will make getting up significantly easier. Whether you're riding behind a boat or at the cable park, you will also want to make sure that you get a board appropriate for where you will be riding (click here to learn about the differences between boat and cable boards). Once you figure that out you can begin looking at some boards. Be sure to pay attention to both the wakeboard's size chart and boot size to get gear that will accomodate you.
A Rope and Handle
If you are riding behind a boat, these will be necessary pieces of equipment. Ideally, a wakeboard specific rope and handle will work best and be the most comfortable. There are quite a few options when it comes to wakeboard handles and ropes, but any wakeboard specific setup will do. Nicer ropes have a coating on them that will help prevent them from getting tangled, and nicer handles will be lighter and more comfortable to hold onto.
A Life Jacket (and Helmet).
Not only will a life jacket keep you safe and afloat for when you fall, it will also make getting up out of the water much easier when you are starting out. If you are making your way to the cable park make sure to remember your helmet as well, as they are required in addition to a life jacket to ride.
*Never wakeboard without wearing a properly fitted life jacket
A Swimsuit, and a Positive Attitude
The age old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, can apply to learning anything new, especially wakeboarding. It takes almost every new rider several tries to get up, so don’t get discouraged. Remember to keep your knees bent, arms straight, and let the boat do the work, you'll be wakeboarding in no time!
Well, that’s about it. If you have everything on the list above, you are ready to go and “shred the gnar” as the kids say. They still say that...right?