How to avoid the pitfalls of buying a wakeboard?

Hello legendary animals,

You are currently very active and looking for your wakeboard for 2018. Many of you send me messages to ask my opinion on the boards and if they correspond to them then I answer you in video to help you decide but also to avoid the mistakes of the first purchases. Moreover put me in comment of this video your shoe pack and wake that it gives me an idea of what you ride.

I made 2 videos on how to choose your wakeboard 1 and 2 and if you haven't seen them then I encourage you to go and watch them because this one is complementary to the two others.
Here is the link to the articles if you missed them:

Low-end wakes

First of all let's talk about the most common mistake, the budget. If you are on a budget and you absolutely want a wakeboard package. Don't go for the entry-level packages.
Ces packs sont là pour vous montrer que le wakeboard est accessible et ils sont surtout là pour correspondre à un petit budget d’une personne qui va l’utiliser une fois de temps en temps. C’est des planches à repassées déguisées en wakeboard.

If you want to progress, pay a little more and buy a wakeboard worthy of the name.

Ces boards sont souvent des wake très rigides et vous le comprendrez plus tard dans l’article qu’un wakeboard rigide n’est pas faite pour un débutant qui pratiquent le wakeboard cable. Pour le bateau c’est différent ! Aussi ils ont souvent des ailerons pré-moulés et ils ne seront donc pas adaptés à la pratique sur module MÊME SI LA SURFACE AU DESSOUS LE PERMET ! (Base Grind)

To avoid budget problems you have 2 alternatives:

Previous years' wakeboards:
- Most of the time it's just a matter of changing the decoration. Ask if the board you want has undergone any change but if not, go ahead and buy cheap boards from previous years, you'll find them in every shop!
Used wakeboards : Today there are quite a few used wakeboards on the market but how do you know if the structure is still viable or not? You are afraid to buy used because you never know what you will get. My advice here is to buy in the presence of the board. That way you can get an idea of it. Especially not on a photo if the board has already touched the water. Why not? Simply to check if the structure has no water infiltration. Otherwise it is dead...
Inside the wakeboard there is a wooden core and if this is touched the board will lose its pop and its responsiveness. It will eventually break.

What about large boards?

The current trend is to get a large board size. For me the big wakeboards give you more stability on the modules and at the glide but it is also more difficult to block because it will sink less in the water at the end of the cut and it will require more physical. It will also be more difficult to do your rotations. It is also necessary to consider the weight of this one.

If you are a beginner I advise you to stay in the standard sizes to avoid being ridden by the board. You need to have a certain level of skill to go for big boards. Respect the indications that the brands give you in the descriptions. Here are two examples:

Obrien Indie

Here you will have to respect the weights of 140 and 220 pounds, about 70kg to 110kg to ride an Indie 140cm from Obrien.

Slingshot Coalition

Chez Slingshot vous avez des indications à ne pas dépasser. Pour une Coalition 141cm le poids du rider est recommandé jusqu’à 90kg ou 182 livres.

Finally, which wake for which level?

I told you that I would make a video on the flex and this is what I will talk about. The stiffer you are going to take a wake the more physical it will be to ride. Or you have to be heavy.

If you look at slingshot, they have made a table describing the stiffness of their boards and the boat or cable use of it.

As you can see the SUPER GROM which is the kid's model is super flexible and is as flexible as a valley or terrain. It will forgive mistakes for beginners. The bigger and stiffer the wakeboard, the more precise your movements will be and the less forgiving it will be. The stiffer the board, the more answers you will have under your feet. So for a beginner I would advise you to buy a soft wakeboard rather than a hard one if you want to progress and avoid being ridden by it.

What about the shoes?

How to know your shoe size and be sure at 100% that the size is right.

Measure the size of your foot in centimeters. Remember to measure your foot and don't hesitate to call the shop or to come to your place if you are lucky enough to have a wakeboard store near you. The shoes have a size in centimeters in addition to the usual sizes. This will give you an idea of how much room is left in front of your foot or if you are right for the size in question. Remember to ask the salesperson for this size if you are buying shoes from a distance. It's always annoying to have to send them back through our friends at the post office!

N’hésitez pas à me laisser un petit commentaire si cette article vous a été utile et pensez à vous abonner à la chaine youtube pour plus de vidéos !