Several Facts About Wakeboarding You Should Know

Combining elements of water skiing, surfing, and snow boarding, the surface water sport called wakeboarding is a great way to improve one’s fitness and well being. The following are facts about wakeboarding that support this claim.

Wakeboarding Boards

Wakeboarding boards are usually made of foam or resin mixed with honeycomb and coated with fiberglass. The configuration, as well as the positioning, of fins and bindings depend on the preference of the wakeboarder. Wakeboarders adjust these configurations to cater to their needs, usually providing efficiency to the different tricks a wakeboarder does. More advanced wakeboarders usually have sophisticated configurations customized specifically to enhance their skills and abilities on the water. Some configurations are set up so wakeboarders can develop new skills that exercise different parts of their bodies.

Wakeboarding Maneuvers

Depending on the wakeboarders strengths and skills, wakeboarding maneuvers can range from easy tricks to sophisticated movements. Wakeboarding maneuvers are usually just combinations of jumps, flips and spins. Some of the most popular maneuvers include the Beer Spin, the Tsunami Flip, the Fashion Air, the Raley, the Fakie, the 911, the Batwing, the Butter Slide, the Surface 360, the Tantrum, the Backroll, the Frontroll, the Boarslide, the Tootsie Roll, the Blind Judge, the Scarecrow and the Helly. Depending on a wakeboarders’ skills, they can either conclude these moves by landing heelside or toeside. Beginners usually land heelside because that’s the more natural move one can make in landing from a jump. More advanced wakeboarders who have developed strength and control on their landings can easily land toeside as well as heelside.

Burning Calories

Wakeboarding and any activity that involves being in the water are great ways to burn calories. Resistance from waves and the water itself facilitate burning of more calories. Doing flips, jumps and spins with a wakeboard not only burns calories, it also develops muscles, making them leaner and stronger. It may not burn calories as much as sprinting does, but wakeboarding at least once a week will usually help keep your muscles lean and your body strong. People who want to lose weight through fun activities should try out wakeboarding.

Learning to Wakeboard

The key to learning how to wakeboard lies in balance. Once you get the right balance between your body, the wakeboard, the water and the rope that connects you to the boat, you are ready to wakeboard. However, it may take some practice and body conditioning to learn a few tricks. Building strength in your arms, legs and core body muscles will help you do tricks successfully and safely. This can take some time, though, because you need a lot of exercise and a good nutrition plan to keep your body in condition for wakeboarding.

Wakeboarding Locations

Most wakeboarding activities are usually done in lakes, but more and more wakeboarding locations are also popping up along the coasts. Wakeboarding in the ocean is a more challenging activity because of the amount and strength of waves. This requires more balance, control, and physical conditioning on the wakeboarder’s part to tame the waters.

References

Weight Loss Journal: Surfing and Wakeboarding for Weight Loss

Gold-Coast-Australia-Holidays.com: Wakeboarding on the Gold Coast