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WATERSKI MagazineDid you hear the one about the guy who bought the wrong wakeboard? Of course you didn't, because it never happens. No one ever buys the wrong wakeboard. In all our testing, every tester found it was possible to have fun on every board. It's just that some boards are better for certain types of riding than others.
There are three aspects to consider when buying a board: your style, your ability, and the water conditions you encounter. For riding style, you can choose a board that will accentuate the positive aspects of your riding. If you like to charge the wake and go big, you choose a board that's built for speed and go even bigger. Or, you can eliminate the negative aspects of your riding. If you are known for only busting out into the flats, go for a short/wide poppy board which will turn you into a spinner.
As for water conditions, understand that wakeboards are developed by pro riders testing boards in glassy waters. Most high-level riding is done in water so smooth you can see your face on the downside of a tantrum. If this sounds like where you ride, you are lucky, because all the boards work when it's smooth. If your water conditions look like the water in the middle of a jet-ski race, the single most important thing you can do is choose a board that will perform despite the conditions.
Big Guy
Your football coach loved you. You're an aggressive rider, though – cutting hard and holding on no matter what. You need a board that has enough surface area to pop you out of the water and keep you afloat without having to ride at slalom speeds. While length is probably most important for a big rider's confidence, width is more important for actual performance. You need a board wide enough so your toes don't drag on frontside cuts.
Surf Style
You're the kind of guy who likes to smack the lip, pull hard carves, butter slide and s-turn across the lake. So, what you want in a board is maneuverability on the surface of the water, not in the air. Pick one that's a little narrower in the tip and tail widths – they generally surf better. Also, look for edges that are thicker (less apt to catch) and possibly less sharp. The goal of a surf-style rider should be to get a board that won't catch a rail while maneuvering.
Inverts
While you may like to do everything possible on your board, you pride yourself on your slew of inverts. So, look for a board that has good speed into the wake, good pop off the wake and a light feel in the air. Obviously, you need speed and pop to get the distance and height for your moves and a light swing weight in the tip and tail to make the board easy to “throw around” in the air.
Spinner
You're the guy who can throw every rotational move in the book: frontside, backside, wrapped and blind. The boards that work best for your style of riding are short and wide. They launch you up more than out, giving you the time and control to throw a spin. Also, boards with slightly more forgiving edges are easier to land on spin moves.
Recreational
You are looking for a board that suits you as well as your boat full of buddies. You need an all-around board – one that is easy to learn and progress on and one that surfs well, jumps easily and spins. Softer rails, bigger fins and a continuous rocker make the board more forgiving for beginners.
Big-air rider
You might only be able to do two or three tricks, but no one on the lake goes bigger than you do. You crank on the line and end up way in the flats. You need a board with supreme edging and major lift. Look for a combination of long rail line (to give good edge control) and a wide tail for pop. Go for the crispest, sharpest rails you can find because they will help you generate speed.
Women & small riders
The good news this year is that there are more small boards than ever before. Those you'll do best on will be lighter in weight, have softer flex patterns and have inserts to accommodate narrower stances. Many of the pro signature models are available in smaller sizes, so look around.
Rough water
The word butter isn't in your vocabulary, and if you saw a lake that looked like a mirror you'd think you were dreaming. The board you're looking for should ride low and have a smooth, continuous rocker. The more length, the better, the less width, the better, and surprisingly, a little extra (board) weight doesn't hurt at all. Also, use bigger fins for more control.
