Wakeboard: Finding Your First Ready-to-Ride Pack

I- What's Your Use and What Do You Want to Do?

Wakeboarding is defined by 3 distinct categories: Jib, Kicker, and Airtricks. For boat riding (boat for the bilingual), the only category is wake-to-wake, which is why we will mainly discuss cable park wakeboarding in this article.

Furthermore, 100% boat-dedicated wakeboards are rare today. As you can see below, Slingshot's range is primarily focused on boat/cable park or cable park only.

• JIBBING

The most popular and widely practiced style today is JIB, made easily accessible by the opening of numerous wakeparks filled with features like those in Nozay or St Viaud.

This involves using the features and obstacles present in the wakepark where you ride to perform different trick combinations (presses, front lip, back lip, hardway, etc.).

While it may not be the most impressive, it's where most riders, young and old, thrive, as falls are generally less painful than with air tricks or kickers.

Moreover, jibbing allows everyone to develop their own style and progress at their own pace.

If we had to find a sport that jibbing truly resembles, it would be park snowboarding or even skateboarding, except that in wakeboarding, your feet are fixed to the board.

The reference board for riding features in the Slingshot range this year is the Bearden, reinforced between the feet while maintaining a flex equivalent to that of the Terrain on the tips. It retains impressive pop and remains very playful on features. If you're concerned about the large size of this board, the Coalition with its continuous flex has slightly less powerful pop but is very forgiving and will save you many falls when exiting features!

• Kicker

 
Next up are the kickers. 

So you might be asking, what exactly is a KICKER? 

A kicker is simply a jump, also known by the uninitiated as: launch ramps, jumps, etc.

In short, kickers are quite “simple” because the possibilities are reduced compared to the range of combinations possible in JIB. The goal here is to perform tricks with rotations on the horizontal axis (upside down) and on the vertical axis (flat rotations).

Using kickers (jumps) will allow you to perform the same tricks as boat wakeboarders on wake-to-wake.

Even though the possibilities are fewer, the trick names are no simpler: Crow Mob, Stalefish, Pete Rose, Tantrum, Whirlybird ...

• Air Tricks

And the last category, which has been around since the beginning of wakeboarding, long before we were able to build obstacles strong enough to use as jumps or sliders: Air Tricks.

A bit harder to imagine but true nonetheless, the goal is to use the tension of the cable park like an elastic band to launch yourself as high and as far as possible into the air.

This category is quite similar to kitesurf Wakestyle. In fact, the name Wakestyle was not chosen by chance…

• JIB, Kickers, and Air Tricks

There you have it, you now know all the possibilities and different uses to consider when wakeboarding at a cable park.

Don't panic, though; wakeboarding may be a young sport, but brands have been developing their boards for a while now, thanks to technological advancements and feedback from riders and retailers.

So, if you enjoy or are considering Air tricks, kicker, and JIB, there are highly versatile boards that will allow you to have fun in all three categories.

II- Choosing Your Gear

While brands have developed allround wakeboards, if you choose to focus on one category, there are boards that will offer more advanced performance in one area or another.

1. The Board

To select your wakeboard, you'll first need to define your use, choose between the three categories presented above, and then find the wake gear that best suits you.

Depending on your use, boards with varying flex, rocker, and with or without channels will suit your use. Finally, you'll need to choose your board size based on your build and preferences.

• Flex and Rocker

A board's flex can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

When you're a beginner, there's no need to look for a board that's too flexible, as you'll lose stability whether on the water during your edging, on features, during landings, etc.

For more experienced riders, the challenge of flexible boards will be compensated by their ease on the water, allowing them to truly enjoy JIB and enhance their style.

CAUTION: Flexible wakeboards with a pronounced rocker are truly playful boards; however, they tend to make kicker landings more complicated and edging less incisive, which will put you at a disadvantage, especially for kicker and air tricks.

• Channels 

What is a channel?

A channel is a molded groove in the board that increases the grip of your wakeboard.

Channels allow you to make stronger, more pronounced edges with less effort.

Thanks to the channels, the number of dreaded “zip-outs” will be cut in half during your sessions, which is a significant improvement!

They are designed to replace fins, which are prohibited in most wakeparks because they tend to damage the features.

• Size

Is bigger or smaller better?

Yes, this question comes up often. It's true that for the past few years, the trend has been to ride big.

If you are a beginner, it's best to rely on the brand's recommendations to choose your board size, otherwise, the size of your wakeboard might hinder your progress.

For more experienced riders, large boards have advantages and disadvantages, just like small wakeboards:

Advantages and disadvantages of large boards:

Advantages: + stability, simpler landings, + playful for JIB

Disadvantages: - maneuverable, + heavier, + more physically demanding to ride

⇒ In conclusion, if you're looking to focus your riding on JIB, a large board will suit you

However, if your riding is more focused on kicker and/or air tricks, a smaller board with a less pronounced rocker will be perfect for you!

• Slingshot wakeboards:

The most versatile boards:COALITION WINDSOR CONTRAST 

Boards made for jib: VOLT TERRAIN SALMON BEARDEN

Boards made for kicker and airtricks:NATIVE  NOMAD  The Solo

2. The boots

There are three types of boots:

• Closed boot

• Closed boot without liner

• Closed boot with liner

Open boots are for riders on a budget, thanks to their reasonable price, and allow you to share your gear with friends. However, the comfort of open boots will be less compared to closed boots.

Closed boots without a liner are suitable for riders of all levels. Some boots go higher on the ankle, providing better support than a low-cut pair. The advantage is a lower risk of injury, but you will lose some mobility.

Closed boots with a liner are for those of you who don't like cold or dirty feet, or who find small pebbles unpleasant.

This is a luxury that some people greatly appreciate; however, there is a slight trade-off: foot support in the boot is slightly less effective.

If you need more information, don't hesitate to contact us by phone or email. We'll be happy to help you find the right gear!

Source et limites

Source : le règlement de la World Wake Association rappelle que le matériel doit être en bon état de fonctionnement et que les équipements peuvent être contrôlés avant la pratique. Consulter le règlement officiel WWA.

Limites : les repères de taille et de flex restent indicatifs. Le choix dépend du poids, du niveau, du type de traction, du bateau ou du câble, des modules utilisés et des préconisations propres à chaque marque. Un essai et le tableau fabricant priment sur une règle générale.