Wakeboarding

What is wakeboarding?

It is like snowboarding, but done on water. Both feet are strapped onto one wakeboard, and the wakeboarder is pulled behind a boat and performs tricks.

How to wakeboard

The wakeboarder is pulled by a speed boat and performs moves that are judged for points. The rider with the most points wins. The rider uses the waves, called “wakes” made by the boat to help create hs/her moves. Loud music is often played during the ride to “pump up” the wakeboarder and give him/her energy during the run. When not on the water, wakeboarders use a trampoline to practice high flying moves.

How to win

The wakeboarder is judged on the performance of, and the difficulty and artistry of, his/her tricks or moves.

Equipment

Board – the rider rides on a board
Boot – each board has two boots that keep the rider’s feet on the board
Lifejacket – riders wear a life jacket to keep them safe if they fall into the water
Boat – the rider is pulled along by a boat
Handle and rope – the rider hangs onto the handle, which is attached to the boat by a rope

Wakeboarding moves

Spins – the rider is facing the back of the boat and spins or twirls around once, still holding onto the handle, and ends facing the back of the boat again
Flips – the rider jumps up off a wake and does a complete somersault in the air, landing with the wakeboard on the water, the rider holding the handle at all times
Rolls – the rider does a flip, but spins around twice and reaches down to grab the middle of the board halfway through the jump
Raley – the rider jumps high off a wake, stretches the arms and legs out and hangs in the air for a few seconds before landing with the wakeboard back on the water

Sport lingo

Pumping the wake – the rider gains more speed to jump high off a wake by shifting his/her body weight down towards the board while riding the wakes, giving the rider more speed so he/she can jump higher for their moves

Big air – a high jump

Explode – fast, high-energy moves or jumps by the rider