How to Choose a Wakeboard


guy riding a hyperlite wakeboard

Choosing the right wakeboard is essential for maximizing your enjoyment on the water. With various boards tailored to different riding styles and skill levels, finding the perfect board will ensure you start off on the right foot. Our Wakeboard Experts outline essential features to consider when choosing a wakeboard, including board length, materials and construction, wakeboard rocker, types of fins, and wakeboard ropes.

Wakeboard Size Chart

The most important part of choosing the right wakeboard is selecting the proper length based on your weight. Below is a generic wakeboard size chart to give you an idea of how long your wakeboard should be. Always reference a wakeboard’s brand or product-specific size chart before making a purchase.

Wakeboard LengthRider Weight
130-134 cm100-160 lbs.
135-139 cm130-190 lbs.
140-144 cm160-220 lbs.
144+ cm180+ lbs.

*Find size charts for each specific wakeboard on its product page.

Wakeboard Length

Now that you have an understanding of the wakeboard length that will work best for you, it’s important to understand the pros and cons that can come along with longer and shorter boards.

Longer Wakeboards

Pros:

Cons:

  • Heavier swing weight, making aerial tricks more challenging

Shorter Wakeboards

Pros:

  • Great for experienced riders
  • Allows for easier aerial tricks with less swing weight

Cons:

  • Slower ride
  • Requires more energy to push through the water
  • Harder landings that may cause the nose of the board to dig in
woman wakeboarding on a hyperlite board

Wakeboard Materials & Construction

Wakeboards typically consist of a foam core wrapped in layers of fiberglass and sealed with resin for durability and flexibility. Manufacturers can customize elements such as side walls and base shapes to enhance performance.

Side Walls

Side walls, made of urethane, run along the entire exterior edge of the board, and they significantly affect durability and performance. Different side walls cater to various riding styles:

  • Sharp Edge: Ideal for aggressive riding, allowing deeper cuts into the water and higher speeds.
  • Round Edge: Heaters & Accessories.
  • Variable Edge: Combines the benefits of both sharp and round edges.

Base Shapes

Wakeboards can be completely smooth on the bottom, or they can include features like channels to change the ride.

  • Featureless: Have no molded channels. The ride is affected by the overall shape of the board, rocker, and the fins.
  • Channeled: Channels on the board work as long, extruded fins that help to break surface tension upon landing. They help to direct the water flow under the board for an overall smoother ride.
  • V-Shape: Similar to channeled, V-shaped spines soften the landings and make it easier to roll from one edge of the board to another.
man wakeboarding on a hyperlite board

Wakeboard Rocker

The wakeboard rocker refers to the curve or bend profile of the board. There are three main types to consider:

Continuous Rocker

  • Smooth, fluid curved shape
  • Provides a smoother, faster ride with softer landings and easy carving
  • Commonly preferred by beginners and cable park riders

3-Stage Rocker

  • Features three separate planes on the bottom of the board
  • Plows through the water
  • Provides more pop (height) when hitting the wake
  • Ideal for aggressive riding and extra pop off the wake

Hybrid Rocker

  • A blend of the first two types
  • Smoother curve in the middle and more cut-out tip and tail
  • Offers a consistent feel with the pop off the wake of the 3-stage profile
  • Great for both riding in the park and Brands We Love
boy wakeboarding on a ronix board

Wakeboard Accessories

When buying a new wakeboard, you also need to make sure you have all the proper wakeboard accessories. Finding the right wakeboard rope, wakeboard boots and bindings, and life jacket is important to maximize your wakeboarding experience on the water.

By considering these features, you can confidently choose the wakeboard that best suits your style and riding level. Get ready to hit the water and enjoy the thrill of wakeboarding!

Have questions regarding choosing the right wakeboard for you? Contact your nearest ERLEBNISWELT-FLIEGENFISCHEN store to speak with a Wakeboarding Expert today.

molly & brian huber

Molly & Brian Huber

Wakeboarding Experts, Molly and Brian Huber, love wakeboarding as a family. Here's what they have to say: "Wakeboarding is something that almost everyone can do, which is why we enjoy it. The whole family can join in! It is also an enjoyable way to build strength and work on balance."