There is fun to be had on just about any body of water as long as you have a wakeboard under your feet. Over the past few years, wakeboard brands have competed against each other to see who can come up with the most innovative designs for the season – the wakeboard market has never been more exciting.
Whether you are looking for the best model to clean the wake behind a boat or to prepare for a day in a cable wake park, we have selected the best wakeboards for all budgets and all skill levels.
What to consider
Size and shape
Size is one of the most important factors when choosing the right wakeboard. Most wakeboard brands publish a size chart that correlates a rider’s weight to the most suitable height. “If you’re taller and heavier, you’ll want a bigger board (150 to 153 centimeters),†says professional wakeboarder Liam Peacock. “If you’re a little kid learning, you’ll want something like a 48 to 132cm board. A rider who weighs between 130 and 180 pounds should look at a 135 to 139 cm wakeboard. When in doubt, wander the larger size of the ladder.
The bottom curve of the board, called a rocker, influences how a wakeboard will roll. Wakeboards tend to come in two types of rocker: continuous and three-stage. A continuous rocker connects edge to edge in a smooth arc. A three-stage rocker has a flat base with upturned edges. Continuous rockers are generally more predictable to carve, follow well, and are easier to land. Three-stage rockers are great for getting extra height when getting out of the wake and can have a more playful feel on the water.
Like on a snowboard, the bindings fix your boots to your wakeboard. Some wakeboard boards come in a package with boots included, but others are only sold as a board. Be sure to budget for the extra cost and buy boots in the size range of your running shoes.
Boat Against Cable Park Board
Gone are the days when you needed a boat to wakeboard. As cable wake parks become more and more popular, wakeboard brands are adapting their boards to different terrains. Boat wakeboards tend to be stiffer and have molded fins that help the rider follow a wake. Cable panels tend to have a flexible wood core and reinforced grinding bases for durability on boxes and rails.
Competence level
Professional wakeboarder Harley Clifford advises wakeboarders to choose a board with characteristics that match their skill level: “Do you want a board that feels fast on the water, do you want a board that easily follows edges, or do you want you have a forgiving board? â€Answering these questions will point you in the right direction. Beginner wakeboards tend to be stable and easy to maneuver. Intermediate to advanced boards allow more flexibility in riding style, holding counts tips and jumps, although they are not the most forgiving if you land at a bad angle or encounter choppy water.
How we selected
I have been wakeboarding for over twenty years and have tested over fifteen wakeboards. I spent the summers of my childhood wakeboarding on any lake my dad could launch his boat in, with Bass Lake in California as my base. Later, I co-founded my college wakeboard team as a pretext to test new boards and ride as often as possible. These board choices reflect my years of expertise and experience, award-winning models used by the pros, top-selling models from trusted brands, as well as wakeboards that have received high marks from outlets such as Alliance Wake. I also checked the wakeboard forums to make sure I had considered all of the high end models. In my review, I took into account durability, brand reputation, value for money, and how accurately each wakeboard performed in its type.
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