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WATERSKI MagazineBefore you even try to be a wakeboarder, you need to modify your boat. Water skiers and wakeboarders have entirely different goals when it comes to wakes. Skiers, of course, want no wakes. Wakeboarders want maximum wakes. You'll be surprised how much better you'll be if you give yourself a good wake.
I know what you're thinking. You see the pros doing rolls and flips off a Sea-Doo wake – off no wake for that matter. That should prove you don't need a big wake to do big moves, right? Wrong. It proves the pros don't need a big wake. You want as big a wake as you can produce.
Weight
Almost any boat can be a good wakeboarding boat, but if you have a good tournament inboard you can make an especially good wakeboard boat. Ski boats have the ultimate power and handling – all you need is “wake-making matter.” Wake-making matter is weight. Most serious wakeboarders use a few giant bags of water that they generically refer to as Fat Sacs (which also happens to be a brand name). Two sacks, one on each side of the engine, is a good starting point. That will add about 600 pounds to your boat and at least a foot to your wake. If you find yourself just skipping across the wake like a stone in a Mayberry pond, you need a bigger wake.
Extended Pylon
The next key to getting air is using an extended pylon. The thing with most standard pylons is that they exist simply to hold your rope. Sure, slalom skiers use the pylon to provide a leverage point for their pulls, but wakeboarders don't need that. They need to go up. Way up. The bigger the air, the better. So if you have the wake and you're still not boosting those giant airs, try an extended pylon.
Most riders refer to these poles as Skylons (also another brand name). While water skiers aren't going to be out busting crow mobe 5's in the first month, if you really want to be a wakeboarder, you can at least get good air on your half-cabs. An extended pylon can do that for you by providing a dramatic upward pull with little to no effort on your part. It'll give you extra float time to really pop that move and the appearance of hang-time you're searching for, as well as an automatic acceptance level on the lake. Big wake plus skylon equal real wakeboarder.
Wakeboard-Specific Boats
If you are going to be a serious wakeboarder, you'll never take the weight out of your boat. It will always have the monster wake. However, there are other options to the jury-rigged wakeboard boat, if you're willing to spend a few bucks. OK, a lot of bucks. Wakeboard-specific boats are designed for just that – wakeboarding. They have wake enhancement systems built in (Tigi TAPS, Malibu Wedge, Correct Craft LCS, MB Sports B-52), and most have extended pylon options. The Correct Craft Air Nautique has a flight control tower that is the largest, most stable extended pylon to date, and MasterCraft X-Stars come equipped with Barefoot International's Fly High. But more important, all these boats have cranking stereo systems for long days on the water with your buddies, and the new '98s have built-in coolers for those much-needed post-session beverages. Wakeboard-specific boats are the Rolls Royces of the wakeboard community. Have one and you're in.
Ropes
The majority of water ski ropes are polyethylene or polypropylene. Both types of ropes have stretch – a no-no in the wakeboard community. First off, there's no reason for it – you don't need that extra give to get you around six-ball anymore. In fact, all a stretchy rope will do is propel you out the front and make you look like a wally. Second, they snap back into the boat frequently after bad falls and can cause serious injury. Wakeboarding ropes made of Spectra, Spectra-Fusion and Tak have zero stretch, look virtually like shoestrings and weigh almost nothing. Most standard ropes come at 60 feet, which is a full 15 feet shorter than a ski rope, but can be custom-ordered to accommodate longer lengths.
Handles
Water-ski handles are like the anemic little brothers of the handle world. They're usually elliptical in design with a slight 8-degree bend, smooth rubber surfaces and fairly small grips for fingertip-holding in tight turns. Put a wakeboard handle next to that and it looks burly.
The most noticeable difference you'll see in a wakeboard handle is the grip. Wakeboarders don't wear gloves so they want the best grip possible – most riders will call it a tractor grip. The handles are considerably wider for ease in handle pass tricks, and in '98 you'll begin to see that the handles won't have braids. Since bigger handles tend to weigh more, they've eliminated all the extra thread. Fortunately, braids serve no purpose in a wakeboard handle anyway.
Boards
Wakeboarders have their own boards. Like lawmen of the Old West had their own guns, you come to the boat prepared – with your own board. Don't settle for the group board. It'll never feel quite like yours, and with the definition in styles today, you'll look like a kook riding your buddy's Mini Squirt if you weigh 100 pounds more. Also, the more you want to be a wakeboarder, the newer the board you should ride. Models get outdated quickly and so will you. New school rules.
Boots
Sharing boots is like sharing boards – not recommended. You wouldn't wear your buddy's Air Jordans would you? And don't think that surf-straps are acceptable 'cause they're adjustable. They are antiquated relics, and unless you're doing tow-ins in Hawaii, you'll look stupid. Real wakeboarders wear boots, preferably high-tech models like the CWB Vert boot and Fulltilt XTC (very futuristic), custom boots like Bad Ass Bindings or Wiley's or top-of-the-line Hyperlite Storm Troopers or Liquid Force Super Suctions.
The Talk
OK, you've bought your wakeboard, your Skylon, your Fat Sac, your Spectra rope and your baggies. You're ready to wakeboard. Only, after 10 minutes on the lake with your newfound buddies, you feel like you've entered the Twilight Zone. The guys are talking about stalefish half-cabs and you're looking around for dead fish. Obviously something's not right.
Most everything else you'll hear is an adjective of sorts. When a rider does a “tweaked” move, he adds a little something different or out of the ordinary to make the move more spectacular. “Late” would be when a rider waits until the last second to actually throw the trick or grab. “Stalled” would be amount of air time held before landing. Stay away from water ski words like “I'm going for a ski” or “Really neat set, bro.” It's not ski; it's ride. It's not neat; it's rad or phat or pimp or killer. It's not heli; it's 360. Basically, if you don't feel comfortable talking the talk right away, keep your mouth shut and just listen. But after a little practice and with an open mind you'll be shouting out props to your buddy's super stylie method roll-to-revert off the double-up before you know it.
