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wakeboarding

Wakeboard videos may be a pleasant surprise to you, as you may have never expected yourself to be captured while wakeboarding. These videos can really help you to recapitulate those days, when you were new to this sport and struggling to make each move. These are invaluable memories of your wakeboarding experience because after some years even if you want to see how were in your initial days, you won't be able to recapitulate unless you have a wakeboard video done.

As more and more people opt for these exciting sports, the value for wakeboard videos has also grown manifold. In fact, these videos can be a very good thing to present someone on a particular occasion. If you own a video camera, you can easily 'zero in' on a particular person and take the videos, when he/she is wakeboarding. You can also sell them to the person and keeping in mind the tremendous popularity of wakeboard videos, it can really be a lucrative business. People would be overwhelmed to see themselves in those videos, which shows how they have managed to gather the skill. It would be a very good memento as wakeboard rider would be able to see his/her own sacrifice to learn the sport.

Types of Wakeboard DVDs

There are mainly three categories of wakeboard DVDs, named as instructional wakeboard DVD, the ones centered on the lifestyle of a wakeboard rider and another type which are almost exclusively riding footage behind the boat. The instructional wakeboard DVDs are the best to learn different tricks of wakeboarding. The tricks are filmed by professionals and are broken down to make it easy for learning. This particular type of DVDs also contains valuable tips by various expert wakeboard riders.

The second categories of DVDs are the ones centered on the lifestyle of a wakeboard rider. Along with some solid riding, the DVDs also have the life of a pro wakeboard rider featured outside the world of wakeboarding. These are extremely popular as they reflect wakeboarding as an art and not just a sport with few exciting tricks.

The third category can be an inspiring DVD wake surf  for any aspiring wakeboard rider as it mostly contains riding footage behind the boat. They contain some of the newest tricks and variations and get someone really excited and interested about wakeboarding.

The wakeboard videos can really be a useful way to learn. All you need to do is watch the moves shown in the video very minutely and practice those. If you are a beginner, try to watch the videos of a beginner only as it will help you to learn and show you the way about how to get started. Moreover, it will also make you aware of the mistakes that a beginner generally commits. Practice various moves seen in the video by following the instructions given. If you face seasonal constraints, you can practice on a skateboard, surfboard or a snowboard. However, try to attach the fun factor to it because if you enjoy the experience then you will be able to learn it fast. Thus, wakeboard videos can really help you as both a memento as well as a learning tutorial.

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wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is a great sport. There is nothing like flying through the air on a glassy lake on a nice summer morning with your friends in your new MasterCraft (well maybe not everyone has one but just getting out there on the water is a blast!). The question we want to address is what do you do with your wakeboard after you aren't riding?

Wakeboards are rather bulky items that need to be stored in specially designed racks and bags. There are three main places where your wakeboard needs to be stored.

•Boat Storage •Home Storage •Transport/ Traveling - Between Home and the Lake

Wakeboard boat storage has been pretty well covered and is well known in the industry. When you are out on the boat there it limited space already and the last thing you need is a couple wakeboards laying in the center aisle. Wakeboard Tower racks are the best option for boat storage. They now make all kinds of tower racks for wakeboard boat with a lot wake surf of great features like swiveling arms and no rattle mounts. If you do not have a boat tower some boat has ski locker large enough for wakeboards to fit in.

Wakeboard storage at home is something that is not usually considered. If you are like most wakeboarder's your probably leave your board in the boat or bring it out of the boat and throw it in a corner at home. This is not ideal for the wakeboard or your living space. A proper wakeboard wall rack is key to maintaining your board and keeping it looking like new for years to come. Having a dedicated rack at home is a great way to store and display your wakeboard when you are not riding and let's face it, for most of us that is a majority of the time. A wakeboard wall rack is also a great way to organize your house.

A rack specifically made for a wakeboard will safely store your wakeboard until the next time you are ready to get a set in. It will also protect your board from those unwanted chips, scratches, and dings that happen when you just put the board somewhere around the house. We know wakeboards are not cheap, so why not protect your investment.

When you are traveling/transporting your wakeboard you also need to have it properly stored. This is usually best done in a padded wakeboard bag. If you are flying somewhere, if you are lucky Orlando, it is important to add additional cushioning inside your wakeboard bag because we all know airport baggage is not really handles gently. If you are just taking your boat down to your favorite spot, I would still recommend a wakeboard bag but there might be a cushioned place in your boat or car for a short ride. I know I have had a wakeboard chipped going down the highway and hitting a bump.

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wakeboarding

What allows you to feel the extreme adrenaline rush, on a bed of water, at speeds of over 20 mph, atop of an extraordinarily engineered piece of foam, honeycomb, resin, fiberglass and metal? It's known as the wakeboard.

Urbanized from other sports like: snow surfing, water skiing and surfing techniques, the wakeboard is a unique piece of sporting equipment geared toward giving you the ultimate thrill ride, extreme exhilaration and the maximum in intense fun! Originally referred to as "skurfing", wakeboarding is not just a fad sport, but a well thought-out activity organized through the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF). In fact, the IWWF has organized national wakeboarding championships all over the world. Though, for the best in maximum enjoyment, the paramount way to experience your wakeboard is on a lake. Wakeboarding on inter-coastal waterways are also becoming pretty popular. Wakeboarding is quickly becoming one of the most popular water sports in the United States and abroad. Here are some ways to help you get the most out of your wakeboard.

The Wakeboard

The wakeboard is a sort of short, broad water ski. The design and position of the fins and bindings will differ based on your choice and the different types of tricks performed on the wakeboard. You should be able to change the type of fins you use for different types of tricks you want to perform. Many newer board models contain small molded fins on the board which allows you to use smaller centre fins and also to create less drag.

Once you determine your positioning on the board, your feet should be secured to the board with wakeboard bindings, similar to a snowboard but designed for use in the water. Always ask for assistance when positioning yourself on your wakeboard. This will alleviate any room for error and keep you safe.

Associated Equipment

There are many designs and numerous brands to consider when purchasing your wakeboard. Some of the top, well-known brands include: CWB, Hyperlite, Liquid Force, Ronix, Slingshot and O'Brien. These brands are considered to be of good quality and the top of the line. Take advantage of your wakeboard store representative's knowledge of equipment. Be sure to talk about how you'll be using your wakeboard and the type of activities and tricks you'd like to perform. The type of fin design on your wakeboard will determine what you'll be able to accomplish, so be sure to ask lots of questions.

Riding The Waves

There are a few different ways to experience wake surf  your wakeboard. The most common way is boat wakeboarding. You are towed behind a boat on a stretch of calm water. Be sure that your boat is equipped to handle wakeboarding. Your boat should have an aluminum or stainless steel wakeboard tower. The boat should be rigged to tow your wakeboard. Also, most modern wakeboarding boats are equipped with a variable ballast system which enables for water to be pumped into and out of ballast bags from the surrounding water. Most boats tugging a wakeboard usually maintain a V-drive propulsion.

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wake surf

Wakeboarding is a great boarding sport. Many have even dazzled by this sport - spectators and players alike. Many hotspots and specialized locations around the world have sprung up which cater not only to wakeboarding and wakeboarders but also other sports, offering vacation packages as well.

Below is a list of top-quality locations ideal for wakeboarding and other sports.

Costa Rica

AquaSki Adventures in Costa Rica - A ski paradise. However, their vacation consists of much more than just year round world-class water-skiing (behind a Ski Nautique Boat). It hosts quite a few people who are first time skiers and boarders (slalom and wakeboarders) and just as many who don't even ski at all! You can combine skiing, wakeboarding, barefooting, hiking, biking, rafting, language learning, taste testing, horseback riding, ATV riding, river floating and other tourist activities.

Mexico

Cancun Water-ski and Wakeboard - Offering water-ski and wakeboard instruction for all levels from beginner to pro. Slalom course and package deals available.

Canada

Bush's Sports Centre - Water-skiing, wakeboarding courses and clinics, equipment sales and rentals in Bala, Ontario, Canada.

Thailand

Phuketwake - Phuket wakeboard, wake surf  Discount cable-ski package in Thailand

California

Seattle Watersports - The largest wakeboard and water-ski pros hop in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn2Wakeboard - San Francisco Bay Area wakeboard and water-ski instruction program. Group trips or lessons for singles

Willi's Water Ski Center - Lessons from beginner to professional in slalom, jump, trick, barefoot and wakeboard. Near Napa Valley. Lake Berryessa, CA.

Mission Bay Aquatic Center - Water-skiing, wakeboarding, other water sports. Courses and equipment rentals. San Diego, CA.

California Delta Waterway - Good water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, and camping spots in this 1,000 mile waterway. Marina and launch ramp listings.

Canyon Lakes - A community with water-ski and wakeboard clubs and events. Canyon Lake, CA.

California Skier - Salom and wakeboard instruction for all skill levels. Pro shop, boat sales. Lake Elsinore, CA.

Bay Area Water Ski Club - The Bay Area Water Ski, wakeboarding and foilboarding club is a nonprofit, non-competitive, recreational based club. The club features fun water sport events throughout the year including weekend camping, single day water skiing, houseboat trips, and instructional how-to events.

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wake surf

Every person who has grown to love wakeboarding is aware how important the wakeboard rope is in the sports mainly because it connects the wakeboarder to the motorboat. The beauty of wakeboarding is not just the fact that a person gets to walk and even run through the waters using a wakeboard while being pulled by a wakeboard rope attached to a motorboat.

Wakeboarding is a fun activity for both the young and the older generation. Anyone can go wakeboarding provided he has the balancing skills necessary to prop himself over the air and high waters. The instructions in basic wakeboarding seem simple enough but try to execute them yourself and you may even end up with the wakeboard rope tied around your neck.

A wakeboard rope comes in varying lengths from 60 feet up but most wakeboard rope measures up to 70 feet. A wakeboard rope can be a whole rope or a rope which has adjustments for its length. They also come in different elasticity depending on the choice of the wakerboarder but a tighter wakeboard rope is better for those doing tricks or air stunts.

For those who are just starting to learn wakeboarding skills, a wakeboard rope with shorter length may be more useful and practical. A wakeboard rope with shorter length can get the wakeboarder at a closer range to the motorboat

A wakeboard rope can be fixed onto the motorboat but wakeboarders prefer mounting the rope on a tower as it provides more stability and can give leverage to a wakeboarder performing his air stunts. These towers can cost form a thousand dollars up depending on the quality and of course the manufacturer.

Wakeboarding may seem to be sports that require little equipment like a wakeboard, wakeboard rope and a motorboat. However, various accessories are used by wakeboarders to add spice and excitement to the sports. The tower can be attached to light and speakers that can add pizzazz to an already exciting game.

While wakeboarding is generally enjoyed by beach lovers in broad daylight, there are wakeboarders who enjoy the sport during nighttime. The light attachments can be very useful during these times. Wakeboarders should not forget that while these accessories can make the sport more enjoyable they should not forget to wear helmets to protect themselves from any injury.

Wakeboarding may look like a harmless sport as experts fly into the air for their air tricks. However, this is a sport already included in the X Games not for sheer excitement but for the dangerous streak identified with the sports as well. But like all other sports every wakeboarder should be cautious and conscious of their safety whether they are wakeboarding for fun or for competition.

The first thing to learn really is to perfect your balancing skills while standing on the wakeboard. Wakeboarding may be easier for those who have experience with skiing or surfing because both sports are based on balance.

But wakeboarding is not just a matter of standing on a piece of board and then holding on to a rope tied onto a motorboat. A person who wants to learn how to wakeboard should also learn how to keep himself afloat while lying on his back on the water. As the beginner masters this skill he can have a rope attached to your arms and have the motorboat pull you slight into position

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ballast bags

Wakeboard towers have replaced the traditional wakeboard extended pylon because wakeboard towers provide a handy and yet sturdy support for wakeboarders and their wakeboard boats. Aside from this, wakeboard towers allow easy movement and are very pleasing to the eyes. Hence, more and more types of wakeboard have come out in the market, giving wakeboard enthusiasts a variety of wakeboard towers to choose from.

Among these many wakeboard towers, the most popular and highly patronized by wakeboardists is the Swoop wakeboard towers. Swoop wakeboard towers are designed in a rearward fashion which aligns well with the rounded shaped wakeboard boats. Swoop wakeboard towers are not only stylish but their performance is very reliable, and the durability is very dependable.

Most Swoop wakeboard towers are made of aircraft aluminum and have large diameter tube which makes it a durable wakeboard tower. But perhaps the best characteristics of Swoop wakeboard towers which makes it a hit among wakeboardists is its collapsibility. Swoop wakeboard towers can be collapsed fully or partially. This makes it a very handy accessory for storing or transporting.

Because of the popularity it gained when it was first introduced in the market, many varieties of Swoop wakeboard towers have swamped the market. These variations come with largest tubes, increased stability, colorful colors, and different materials.

Another important factor to highlight about Swoop wakeboard towers is the fact that it is universally designed to fit almost all kinds of wakeboard towers. Thus, you can order ready made Swoop wakeboard towers and have installed by professional technicians in your wakeboard towers. In an instant, you'll have fully functional and aesthetically beautiful towers for your wakeboard boats.

If you don't want to order pre-made swoop wakeboard towers, you can have industry professional build a custom made wake surf  swoop wakeboard towers for your boats. By opting to do this way, you can suggest your preferences and other personal preferences while your wakeboard tower is being built.

Another option, or perhaps the best and safest option would be to purchase those swoop wakeboard towers which are of OEM (original equipment manufacturers) or those swoop wakeboard towers which were produced by wakeboard companies who are tied up with wakeboard boat manufacturers. If the brand of your wakeboard boats carries an OEM swoop wakeboard towers, it would be better to purchase those towers instead of buying another brand. And besides when buying this wakeboard towers, dealers offer the services of safely installing the towers to your newly purchased wakeboard boats. Lastly, tower manufacturers which create OEM wakeboard towers for wakeboard boats are industry trusted and their products passed certain standards set not only by the boat manufacturers themselves but by governing bodies of the wakeboard business industries.

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ballast bags

A wakeboard rope links you to the motorboat that tows the wakeboard. The importance of the wakeboard rope is vital for safely enjoying the core of a thrilling water sport like wakeboarding. However, the first thing you need for enjoying this exciting and tricky sport is the balance to stand steady on the board while it is being pulled through the wake at a frightening pace.

Unless you have skiing and surfing experiences, you need to learn balancing skills for wakeboarding, without which you may end up with the wakeboard rope strangling you in mid-water! Hence, before you begin wakeboarding as a regular, you must garner the skill of lying afloat on your back on the water surface. From this state, your trainer can bring you up to the right position by tying your arms with a wakeboard rope attached to a boat.

Before buying a wakeboard rope, you need a detailed knowledge of all its characteristics. You should never substitute a wakeboard rope with a water ski rope or an old towrope. Remember that your wakeboard rope needs to withstand stretches so that you do not face recoils while being airborne. Along with sufficient stiffness, a wakeboard rope must be endowed with adequate length.

You may come across a wakeboard rope in a range of lengths, measuring from 60 feet to 70 feet. Designed according to the convenience of riders, these ropes can be available as either whole forms or those with adjustable lengths. The elasticity of a wakeboard rope may also vary based on its quality. Polyethylene ropes tend to stretch more than Spectra ropes. If you want to perform spectacular stunts in the 'hangtime', you should opt for tighter ropes.

However, if you were still picking up wakeboarding skills, a shorter wakeboard rope measuring 45-50 feet would be more useful and practically helpful by keeping you at a closer range to the motorboat. If you still feel that the length of the wakeboard rope is preventing you from jumping onto the air, consider shortening it further until you feel comfortable. Again, if you feel too close to the wash of the wake, lengthen the rope gaining the width of the wake.

Remember! Shorter ropes will let you catch less air while jumping and restrict the height you reach up in the air. A wakeboard rope can be tied right down to the back of the boat or to wakeboard towers to prop you up in air and give you a chance to perform tricks and stunts. Just like the rope, the wakeboard towers also are available in a range of qualities and prices.

If you are looking forward to add a zing ballast bags  to the excitement and fun of wakeboarding, just a few wakeboard accessories are not going to help you. You can have special light and sound fitting to your wakeboard towers to help you relax and increase visibility while wakeboarding at night. At the same time, you must equip yourself with wakeboard gear and helmet to stay away from injury.

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ballast bags

Being acquainted to wakeboarding brings awareness in the mind of the wakeboarding lovers about the significance of a wakeboard line. The significance of the wakeboard line lies in the fact that it connects the rider to the wakeboarding boat.

Usually a wakeboard line is fixed into the wakeboard boat but often the riders prefer to mount up the line on the wakeboard tower to obtain more stability and this in turn provides better leverage to the rider on his attempts to perform stunts high up in the air.

The wakeboard rope has some basic distinctive features. In the first place, the stretchable quality of the rope is taken into key consideration. Usually non-stretchable lines are needed for wakeboarding because stretchable lines recoil at the time when the rider is air borne and it lessens the possibility of reaching heights for performing tricks. In addition, stiffer non-stretchable lines help in better controlling. In the next place, the length of the rope influences the rider's performances behind the boat largely.

The perfect size of the line suitable for a beginner in wakeboarding is around 40 to 50 feet. The line selected by the rider must make him comfortable while steering the wakeboard. A rider can shorten the rope while wakeboarding if he finds difficulties in clearing the wakes because a shorter rope helps in placing the rider at the narrower portion of the wake, as that portion lies closer to the boat. Furthermore, the greater the distance from the boat greater is the wake.

The length of the line of the wakeboard is an issue of personal preference. In general, the length of the wakeboard line is 60 feet to 70 feet. The better quality lines have adjustment loops that pave the way for swift adjustment to accommodate any skill level. In addition to this, the wakeboard lines are available in variable elasticity so opting the correct one is preferred by the rider. A tighter wakeboard line is better ballast bags  suited for the airborne performance of tricks. The rope length also depends upon the speed of the boat - a longer rope can be accommodated by a faster moving boat.

The wakeboard line differs from ski board ropes in terms of stretch ability. For skiing, a rope with elasticity is preferred whereas it is the other way round for wakeboard lines.

When it comes to choosing a perfect wakeboard line, you must never compromise under any circumstance. Opting for the correct wakeboard line can render help to a person in advancement of skills behind the boat. To check out for the minimum elasticity of the wakeboard line the material of the wakeboard is to be taken into prime consideration.

In tune with other equipments of wakeboarding like the wakeboard helmets, wakeboard bindings and wakeboard boats, wakeboard lines also play a very important role in making wakeboarding experience real fun.

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wakesurfing

Because wakeboarding relies so heavily upon some of the traditional techniques of surfing, it's perhaps no wonder that wakeboarding and surfing are sometimes confused. Unlike surfing, however, wakeboarding involves being pulled by a motorboat or other type of powered water craft. In actual fact, wakeboarding merges the techniques of surfing with those of snowboarding and water skiing.

Although it's a water sport, wakeboarding originated from the newfound popularity of snowboarding during the early 1980s, when enthusiastic snowboarders decided to take their skills to the water in a sport that became known as skurfing. Skurfing was created and developed primarily in New Zealand and Australia, where enthusiasts created hand-shaped skurfing boards that resembled surf boards without bindings.

Early Wakeboards

During the early 1980s, a 22-year-old Australian entrepreneur named Bruce McKee, along with his partner Mitchell Ross, created the "Mcski," the first wakeboard destined for mass production. In the U.S., the Mcski was introduced in 1983 as the "Surfski." This early wakeboard model had adjustable rubber foot straps and a keel fin. McKee later added two side fins for better control and manageability.

Around the same time period, Australian skurfer Jeff Darby developed a custom-made skurfing board that was later produced by entrepreneur and marketer Tony Finn under the "Skurfer" brand.

In 1984, the paths of these inventors crossed when Bruce Mckee's Surfski was showcased at a trade show in Chicago. While there, he met Tony Finn, who agreed to represent the Surfski models while also promoting the Skurfer brand boards. As it turned out, the Skurfer ballast bags  became more popular than the Surfski in the U.S., partly due to its expert marketing by Finn, who became known as one of the most recognizable promoters of the still-developing sport.

From Skurfing to Wakeboarding

Skurfing didn't undergo a name change until nearly a decade later, when a Canadian enthusiast named Paul Fraser coined the phrase "wakeboarding" while promoting his own custom board, the "Hyperlite." The Hyperlite is now recognized as the sport's first board produced by compression molding.

Wakeboarding Techniques

Like surfing and water skiing, wakeboarding is a sport that requires considerable balancing skills. Over the decades, wakeboarders have developed certain basic tricks and exercises to help them develop balance while strengthening their muscles for more difficult tricks and jumps.

Typically, beginning wakeboarders first learn to maneuver the wake by digging in with their heels; this position comes more naturally and is easier to manage. As riders progress, however, they can learn how to hit and maneuver the wake with their toes as well. From here, they can progress into a switch stance, which involves riding the board backwards.

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wakesurfing

Wakeboard towers do not only provide aesthetic value to wakeboard boards but it also aid wakeboarders to better launch themselves and their wakeboards on air and to land back on water in a safe and stable way. Aside from this, wakeboard towers are also a must when mounting lighting accessories to enable wakeboarding at night. Wakeboard towers can also be used to mount sound systems and other accessories. Hence, wakeboard towers have become an essential element of wakeboard boats that must be given close attention by wakeboard enthusiasts. To defray the costs of having cool and reliable wakeboard towers, there are available cheap wakeboard towers available on the market that wakeboard enthusiasts can choose from.

Wakeboard towers are usually made of high quality aluminum and usually come in a custom-fit universal design. This universally designed wakeboard towers fit almost all types of wakeboard boats. These towers whether expensive or cheap wakeboard towers are attached on the side of the boats with sturdy mounting foot. For the more aesthetically concerned wakeboarders, they could have their own wakeboard towers tailor-fit for the design of their wakeboard boats. These towers however are a bit pricey compared to cheap wakeboard towers. So, the more prudent wakeboard enthusiasts may opt to buy their boat the cheap wakeboard towers instead.

There is nothing wrong with cheap wakeboard towers for as long as the towers do not sacrifice safety and durability. The most important thing to consider is the mounting mechanism which adheres the cheap wakeboard towers to the boats. The mounting mechanism must be sturdy and well secured enough to prevent detaching accidents while wakeboarding.

Another thing to consider is the weight of the wakeboard towers. It must not be too heavy so as to affect the speed of the wakeboard boats. Cheap wakeboard towers must also not to light so as to be pulled by the weight of the wakeboards and the wakeboarders. The weight of the wakeboard must be enough hold itself steady when a wakeboarder is attached to it and towing the waters, doing aerial stunts and flips.

Lastly, the weight capacity of the ballast bags  wakeboard towers must also be considered when buying cheap wakeboard towers. If wakeboard owners are planning to mount other accessories such as speakers, wakeboard tower lights, top cover to protect from rain among other things, wakeboard towers should be strong enough to hold on to the weight of those accessories. This is to ensure the safety of wakeboarders.

Wakeboarding is an exciting and yet expensive hobby and sports. However, this should not prevent enthusiasts from going into the sports. There are cheaper alternatives to equipment and gears and if planned out properly, these cheaper alternatives could compete well with the more expensive ones. Always remember to try out those wakeboard equipments and gears before purchasing and if possible seek out the opinions of other wakeboarders to assess the reliability of those cheap wakeboard towers.