Top 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Wakeboard & Equipment

Which Wakeboard to Buy? Top Deals and Starter Tips

Author: Mark

Mark is always on the water. He teaches SUP, is out with friends wingfoiling, windsurfing and wakeboarding. Or he's doing quality tests in the factories.

That should be right: Board length, type of board and the right bindings

Board length

✓ See table and check your weight and height. Plus 5 cm (better straight ahead) or minus 5 cm (more manoeuvrable) is okay.
✓ Board length 139cm is best sold (people between 60kg and 85kg covered), gender does not matter.
✓ Kids/juniors up to 12 years plus 10kg count (next years covered)

Type of board

Boat wakeboards (link) as of CHF 249.- Behind a boat on a tow rope. Best-selling. The boards have fins to ride a straight line at higher speeds. Best surf deal: Stardupp Reload 139. Nice beginner board at a very favourable price.

Wakesurfboards (Link) as of CHF 449.-. Behind a boat in the wave. Would you like to surf into the wave behind the boat without a leash and without bindings? Best surf deals: Raddix an inflatable beginner board. BossHoss, ab CHF 542.- for beginners to pros.

foil-Wakeboards (Link) as of CHF 569.-. Behind the boat on foil. Works with any board on which a hydrofoil can be mounted. The board should be smaller than 165 cm. The front wing of the foil should be smaller than 1600 cm². Offers for wake hydrofoils (Link)
Best surf deals: shaka an inflatable board for hydrofoiling for beginners with wakefoiling.

Crossover wakeboards (Link) as of CHF 369.- Combination park/boat wakeboard. Thanks to good rails and/or very small fins, they are suitable for both areas of use. Best surf deals: Stardupp The Ride 141. Crossover boat/ cable- board with a larger, wider outline that offers more pop and smoother landings.

Kids and junior wakeboards (link) as of CHF 291.- Kids have smaller boards. Best surf deals: Supergrom 125-135cm. All-Terrain- board for park and boat.

Cable Park Wakeboards (Link) as of CHF 369.- These must be ridden without fins or with very small fins in order to be manoeuvrable and ride over kickers. Thanks to the rails under the board they can still go straight. Best surf deals: Stardupp The Ride 141. Crossover-Boot/Cable- board with a bigger, wider outline that offers more pop, smoother landings.

The right bindings

✓ Open bindings (Link) as of CHF 159.- (also called "open-toe") make it easy to get on and off and can be customised for different foot sizes. They are ideal for beginners, recreational skiers and for situations where several people want to ski the same board. They are also slightly cheaper. Best Surfdeal: Stardupp wakeboard bindings. Comfort and convenience Experience carefree watersports enjoyment

✓ wakeboard Boots (similar to snowboard boots) and offer advanced wakeboarders an even more intense feeling and better grip on the board, especially when performing tricks and jumps.

Related products

FIT OCEAN Life Jacket universal Blue

If you go with your Stand Up Paddling surfboard outside the shore zone (300 metres) from the shore, you must carry a life jacket according to VKS Switzerland!ISO/CE-N50 approved waistcoatSuper comfortable fit with extra stretchSpecial kayak/SUP shape for free movementShort torso shape for use in the boatNon-itchy materials, even if you sweatSuper light, only 800 gr.Easy access with front zip and 1 buckleFront pocket with zip3 sizes. XS-S (<50kg) and M-L (50-70kg ) and XL-XXL (>70kg)Strong nylon and PE foam combined in a lightweight universal waistcoat. A lightweight, certified 50N swim waistcoat made with knowledge of the characteristic structure of FIT OCEAN. The stretchy sides allow this waistcoat to adapt to different sizes and body shapes. The extra wide opening in the armpit provides more comfort during sports. The strong YKK zip and the secure ITW buckles with safety lock ensure a good fit. Have a good ride! (1) Strap with stretch at the top(2) Easy access front zipper(3) Front zipped pocket(4) Stretch sides(5) ITW buckle with safety closure

CHF 49.00* CHF 80.00* (38.75% saved)

FIT OCEAN Life Jacket universal Pink

If you are outside the shore zone (300 metres) from the shore with your Stand Up Paddling surfboard, you must have a life jacket with you according to VKS Switzerland!Perfect for Stand Up Paddling thanks to large cut-out for arm/shoulder when paddling. ISO/CE-N50 standardised. Complies with Swiss law (waistcoat compulsory, distance >300 metres to shore)ISO/CE-N50 certified waistcoatVery comfortable fit due to high stretch contentNo scratchingSpecial fit that allows great freedom of movement for kayak and sup Short cut, can also be used for other water sports (e.g. in boats)Very light (800g)Easy to put on with a buckle and the zip in the frontSmall pocket with zip on the chestSizes available: XS-S (30-50kg) and M-L (50-70kg ) and XL-XXL (>70kg)Lightweight universal waistcoat made of strong nylon and PE foam. The stretch part makes the waistcoat easy to adjust to different sizes and body shapes. The extra wide armpit opening provides more comfort with every movement. The strong YKK zip and the secure ITW buckles with safety release ensure a good fit. Off into the water!Body weight 30- 50 Kg=XS-SBody weight 50 - 70 Kg=M-LBody weight >70 Kg=XL-XXL

CHF 49.00* CHF 80.00* (38.75% saved)

BASE HELMET�MIDNIGHT BLUE

CHF 107.64*

Stardupp Flex neoprene waistcoat

The Stardupp Flex neoprene waistcoat is ideal for wakeboarding, kneeboarding or on a funtube. Stay protected during your favourite water sports activity. This Stardupp waistcoat not only protects you from impacts on the water, but also helps you to swim. A front zip makes this impact waistcoat easy to put on and take off.This impact waistcoat is made of high-quality neoprene with a good stretch ratio, filled with clash foam, which provides good impact absorption in the event of a hard impact. The zip is fitted with a 'zipper lock', which ensures that the zip cannot simply spring open unexpectedly.If you are looking for a high-quality impact waistcoat at a good price, the Stardupp Flex is the waistcoat for you!

CHF 49.00*

Stardupp Flex neoprene waistcoat

CHF 49.00*

Stardupp funtube Rope/Line

This 15.2 metre long Stardupp funtube line makes it possible to tow funtubes. The line is clearly visible in the water and is made of buoyant poly E material, which gives the rope little but still some stretch. This is ideal for funtubes, as it is slightly more forgiving and reduces the impact on the funtubes attachment.The line is also equipped with an additional foam float, which ensures that the line does not get caught in the propeller of a boat engine. With a breaking strength of 1077 kg, this line is suitable for both 1- and 2-person funtubes. The line comes with a free rope holder so you never have to untangle your line again when you take it out of storage.Floating main lineLength: 50ft | 15.2mMaximum strength: 2375 lbs | 1077 kg16-strand ropeRope clip included

CHF 39.00*

Stardupp Tow Demon

Enhance your water sports experience behind motorboats with the Tow Demon, designed to simplify towing funtubes, wakeboards, or water skis without the need for a tow bar, ski pole, or tower. Featuring carabiners, the Tow Demon easily attaches to the eyes of the boat on either side of the motor, providing versatility in setup. A reinforced pulley ensures even weight distribution on both sides of the boat, keeping lines taut during side-to-side movements.Capable of carrying up to 150 kg, the Tow Demon's robust pulley and carabiners guarantee durability and reliability. The Quick connector facilitates seamless attachment and detachment of lines, ensuring you're ready to go within seconds. With 3.7 meters of floating Poly E material, the included rope minimizes the risk of interference with the propeller, providing a safe and worry-free towing experience. Upgrade your water adventures with the versatile and reliable Tow Demon!

CHF 49.00*

Stardupp wakeboard / kneeboard Rope

This Stardupp line can be used for both wakeboarding and kneeboarding. The main line consists of 4 sections and can be adjusted to your ideal length. This 4-section line of 21.3 metres is highly visible in the water and made of floating Poly E material, which means the rope has little, but still some stretch. This is ideal for kneeboarders and novice wakeboarders, as it is a bit more forgiving.This line is equipped with a tow hook handle which is a must for an easy start when kneeboarding behind the boat. You hook this extra handle behind the hook holder on your board. This set has a comfortable 30mm ø handle with EVA foam for extra comfort and grip. The line comes with a free rope keeper so you never have to untangle your line again when taking it out of storage.EVA Foam handle, 30mm diameterHandle 38,1 cm, 15 inch wideHandle fitted with 2 floatsExtra tow hook for kneeboardingFloating lineLength: 70ft | 21.3mMaximum force: 1600 lbs | 725 kg4-section line, handle part 5ft, mainline 55ft, adjustable 5ft + 5ftIncludes rope keeper

CHF 59.00*

Stardupp Water Ski Rope/Line Set

This 18.2 metre long Stardupp water ski line is highly visible in the water and consists of a floating rope. This set has a comfortable 30 mm diameter handle and eva foam for extra comfort and grip. Eva-Foam handle, 30 mm diameterHandle 26 cm, 10.3 inches wideFloating lineLength: 60 feet | 18.2 mMaximum force: 1600 lbs | 725 kg1-piece lineRope holder included

CHF 59.00*

For one person (you can buy closed Shoes) or multiple people (better get open-toe boots)
In the cable park (no fins) or behind the boat (fins) or both (very short fins)
The right wakeboard length, see the graph

What does Rocker mean

Details: the rocker. This is a fancy word for the way the board is bend upwards (so the nose doesnt catch the water and you dont get catapulted). Simply put there are 4 types. A graduate continuous bend / or rocker which is the easiest to learn to wakeboard on It gives a fluent fast ride and soft landings.
Or the so called-3 staged rocker which is more for advanced riders looking for more aggressive jumps and moves. These rockers bring more lift , or also called ''pop''. It is also a bit slower and causes heavier drag and with that pressure on the legs as it drags through the water with its shape, that is less fluid.
A Camber rocker, which gives a good natural stance but requires keeping the nose out of the water actively. More for the advanced.
The hybrid rocker. This is a mix of the continous and 3-stage and is also suitable for beginners.

What else do I need to wakeboard safely?

When wakeboarding, it is important that, both behind the boat and on the cable car, you wear a wakeboard helmet. Our advice is to choose a helmet with earpads. These protect the ears and reduce the risk of eardrum damage. To be extra visible in the water, it is recommended to choose a striking color. NOTE: often wearing a helmet is mandatory on cable cars, behind the boat this requirement does not apply.
In addition to a good helmet, it is super important to use a life jacket or impact shield. Behind the boat, a life jacket is most common. This is because of its buoyancy and 50N certification. If you choose an impact shield then you have a little more protection around the body because these vests are super tight around your body. On the other hand, impact shields have less buoyancy. Impact shields are therefore sold primarily for use on cable courses.
Get a wakeboard rope with a handle that floats. As a beginner you dont need a super low-strech rope. A bit of strech is forgiving while learning.

8 Tips to learn Wakeboarding fast and safe

Relax, lie back, let the board float up in front of you, Arms straight, Knees, ankles bend. Handle floats on water while grip with hands wide, Arms straight!
Once the rope is straight, tell the boat driver to hit it and he does half speed
Golden tip = + let the boat do the work !
Don't try to stand up Arms straight ! ( dont pull yourself up). Knees will now fully bend (dont resist, relax!). In this position you can glide behind the boat all day long.
Now more speed comes. You can keep this position, but now it is time to SLOWLY stand up by moving 1 hip forward.
Troubleshooting: pulled sideways? let go of the back hand - that will auto-adjust you go straigt Try moving back and forth.
Try get over the wake If you fall, let go of the handle. Boat speed up is thumbs up. Down is thumbs down. Stop (hand cuts throat), back to harbour (tap the top of your head with your flat hand)
Golden tip 2: practice on land