A question we get asked all the time is, what size wakeboard do I need? There are many variables worth considering when determining the right size wakeboard to best suit your needs. Check out our wakeboard buyers guide to get all the tips and tricks that will have you shredding on your new board in no time!
Overview:
- Factors to consider when choosing wakeboard size
What size wakeboard do I need? - a buyers guide
1. Your height and weight
The most important factor in choosing the appropriate wakeboard size is your height & weight. Your wakeboard boots should be fitted symmetrically and positioned slightly wider than your shoulder width. If you are tall, your stance will be wider and therefore you will require a longer board. If you are short, your stance will be narrower and your boots will be mounted closer together so a shorter board will be better suited so it doesn’t increase your swing weight (the distance between the outside of your boots and the tip/tail of the board).
You also need to consider your weight as this will push you through the water depending on the type of wakeboard. The heavier the person, the longer the board will need to be to prevent the board from sinking too deep into the water. It is harder to get up out of the water initially if you are riding a board that is too small and you may need to ride at a much faster speed to keep the board more buoyant. This will require serious upper body strength and overwork your arms and shoulders unnecessarily.
Below is a wakeboard size chart to assist you in choosing the right wakeboard size for your weight. The size of the wakeboard is measured from the centre of the tip to the centre of the tail of the board.
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Wakeboard Size Chart |
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Weight |
Board Size |
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15-30kgs |
109 cm-120cm |
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20-40 kgs |
125cm-135cm |
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30-50 kgs |
119cm-130cm |
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35-60 kgs |
130cm-138cm |
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45-70 kgs |
134cm-142cm |
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70-100 kgs |
138cm-146cm |
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80-130kgs |
140cm-150cm |
2. Your skill level
When you are learning to wakeboard, you will want to make it as easy as possible- after all, it’s meant to be fun! We recommend finding a wakeboard with plenty of surface area, which will offer more stability and channels on the bottom of the board as well as 6 x fins for better control.
As you progress you will likely want to be able to cut into the wake harder and jump higher. At this point, we recommend you move on to a wakeboard with only 4 x fins (no centre fin). We also suggest a slightly longer board to provide you with more lift off the wake and help cushion your landings as you begin to get more pop. This can also help prevent injury particularly if you are riding behind a heavy boat with a big wake.
Advanced wakeboarders will consider many different factors when choosing a board- the size, shape, fin positioning, construction of the board and the rocker. By the time you reach this level of wakeboarding, you will have already experienced riding many different types of boards and will have a better understanding as to which size is appropriate for you and your riding style.
3. Your riding style
Some riders prefer to jump as high as possible, do lots of grab tricks and land way out in the flats. For that riding style, an oversized board is the best option as it will provide you with plenty of pop and softer landings.
Alternatively, some riders prefer to ride wake-to-wake and want to learn more technical tricks. These riders may prefer to ride a shorter wakeboard with some blunter fins that release easily off the wake and will be easy to manoeuvre.
Perhaps you’re not interested in doing jumps at all and you just like to carve around in which case a board with a nice sharp edge, decent-sized outside fins and a smaller board size would be better.
Some folks love to slide around out on the flat water and therefore they want something with little or no fins, a very slippery underside (no channels), and an increased surface area to sit higher on the water.
4. The shape of the wakeboard
The shape of a wakeboard will determine how a board performs. It comes down to personal preference because board shapes are not necessarily good or bad, it just depends on your weight and riding style.
The tip and tail of a wakeboard can make such a difference to how a board responds to the water. A wide tail will sit the board higher on the water and allow for more pop off the wake, however, it will be more cumbersome to manoeuvre. A narrow tail will be more agile but may require more effort and skill to get pop off the wake.
Some wakeboards have a very wide profile from the tip through to the tail which increases the overall surface area resulting in a more balanced and stable ride.
5. The rocker
The rocker of a wakeboard is a deciding factor on what board people would buy. It used to be simple as there were only ever 3 rocker types, continuous, 3-stage and hybrid. A broader range of rocker styles is now available with many top brands offering ‘abrupt continuous’, ‘5-stage’ and ‘camber’ rocker designs.
Typically, a continuous rocker is great for beginner riders as it gives them a comfortable fluid feel on the water. It also helps when they are doing jumps as it gives a more controlled release off the wake, provides greater length on jumps to enable them a better chance of clearing the wake and softens landings.
A 3-stage wakeboard rocker has a more aggressive feel and is designed to give you extra pop off the wake enabling more vertical height when jumping. If you are unsure as to which rocker style will suit your needs, it might be worth considering a hybrid rocker which is a blend of continuous and 3-stage rockers.
6. Where/How you will be using your wakeboard
Depending on whether you are riding your wakeboard behind a boat or in a cable park will determine what construction of wakeboard you should invest in. Wakeboard ropes and boat boards are stiffer and usually made of lighter materials with sharper edges designed for harder edging, more speed and greater pop off the wake. They commonly feature either moulded fins, removable fins or a combination of both.
A cable park board will be constructed with more flex and durable materials designed to withstand impacts with jumps and rails in the cable park course. Many cable boards feature reinforced sidewalls to strengthen the board and reduce damage potentially caused by the park’s obstacles and will have a smooth finless ‘grind’ base better for hitting sliders and rails. The speed at which a cable will tow you at is slower than what you ride behind a boat so many wakeboard manufacturers recommend riding a slightly longer board.
Find the perfect wakeboard at Elite Ski Boats
There you have it! We hope this helped you answer your question of ‘What size wakeboard do I need?’ and help you with your buying decision. Now that you are clued up it is time to find the perfect wakeboard and there is no better place to do that than Elite Ski Boats and Watersports. We have a comprehensive range of wakeboard packs, wetsuits, wakesurfers, wakeskates and much more! Check out our great range of women’s, men’s and kids’ wakeboards online or if you would like some additional assistance why not visit our expert staff in store.
FAQs
Is a bigger or smaller wakeboard better?
A bigger wakeboard is better if you want more stability and control, it will also give you a little more height on jumps. A smaller wakeboard will be better suited if you want a more manoeuvrable board and want to learn spin tricks.
What happens if the wakeboard is too big?
If your wakeboard is too big, you may find it too hard to manoeuvre and it could restrict your ability to carve, cut and control the waves.
What is a good wakeboard for beginners?
A good wakeboard for beginners will feature nice deep fins, some channels on the bottom of the board and a wider shape that offers stability and control.