Do You Need a New WakeBoard or Ski Rope?
Choosing a wakeboard or ski rope is not as simple as you may think, the tow rope you purchase has a lot to do with your skill level, and the amount of money you are budgeted to.
If you choose the correct tow rope it will help to increase your skill faster than just the cheapest rope. You want to pay attention to:
The Rope Material
Wakeboard ropes are made out of two different materials:
1) Low stretch: Which is usually made of polyethylene and these types of ropes will usually stretch around one percent.
2) No stretch: Made of spectra material and these ropes are very strong and stretch less than half a percent under pressure. Professionals pretty much always use Spectra, most all wakeboarders will appreciate the predictable feel of a rope that doesn’t stretch.
The no stretch are more expensive, but the feel of the rope is not comparable to the ropes that may stretch. They allow for much better performance.
The Rope Length
Another important factor, most wakeboarding ropes are between 60 to 70 feet long. Rope length is a matter of personal preference, but those just starting out may prefer a shorter rope length because the wake is narrower closer to the boat. The better ropes have adjustment loops that allow for quick adjustment to accommodate any skill level.
If the rope you purchase does not have these loops, you can easily just add loops yourself.
Handles
Handles have evolved to accommodate the demands of wakeboarders. Newer handles are made with grips that are now more comfortable due to enhanced materials. Wakeboarding handles are 13-15 inches wide, which is wider than the 11-12 inch wide water ski handles. Wider handles make it easier to perform tricks that require the boarder to pass the handle behind his back. To make a spin or wrap tricks easier, some ropes feature a second handle attached to the rope near the rider.
If you are new to wakeboarding, you will have to try many different ropes to find the one that best fits your needs. I personally do not use the ropes with the second grips, but would like to get one to see if it is any better.
The key to advancing is trying new things and if the type of rope helps just a little then I am gaining performance.
-Brian-
Many of us, are looking to purchase a new Wakeboard but do not know what size board is correct for our wieght. Here is a guide that can help you.
Wakeboard Sizing Chart
(Weights are MAXIMUM)
Weight in lbs—> Board Length
Up to 85 lbs ——-> 119cm
Up to 105 lbs——> 121cm
Up to 130 lbs—-> 130 - 131cm
Up to 160 lbs——> 132- 133cm
Up to 180 lbs——> 134-135
Up to 200 lbs——> 136-139
200 lbs and up—-> 140cm & up
Enjoy your new Wakeboard!!!
-Brian-
Let The WakeBoard Season Begin
For the second consecutive year, Correct Craft be sponsoring the Air Nautique Wake Games which will officially open the professional wakeboard season. It will be held at the Orlando Watersports Complex from April 24-27.
Correct Craft’s Super Air Nautique 210 and 230 models will be the towboats used for this event. What seperates this competition from most others is that the Air Nautique Wake Games allows for pro and amateur riders alike are able to compete individually and they can also come together to form teams for a cash prize.
This will be especially exciting for the new junior riders who be able to compete alongside the pro riders and also contribute to their teams’ successes. This will be a great learning opportunity for many new riders.
Air Nautique 210
Air Nautique 230
Second Consecutive Wake Games
Team Murray, led by Nautique pro rider Shaun Murray, won the team competition and Murray took third overall.
This year, team
riders J.D. Webb, Shaun Murray and Danny Harf will represent Nautique as captains during the team competition at the Wake Games. These three along with many other Nautique athletes will compete against each other along with top riders from around the world.
For The Spectators
They will be giving away many free prizes including music cards, t-shirts, autographed wakeboards and iPods.
So, if you like wakeboarding, wake skating, seeing these incredible athletes perform in action or you are just looking for a great excuse to come to Florida, this is your chance to for a fun filled weekend.
2008 Wake Season
Everyone is getting excited for the 2008 season to start, as there is expected to be many more new tricks, outstanding competitions and new and up coming rider.
I can’t wait to see how it turns out. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!
-Brian-
Perfect Training During The Off-Season
The Indo Board is perfect for helping you train in the off-season and even during the season for wakeboarding. It helps increase your balance and leg strength. It is a great way to get in shape for all sports that use a board such as, wakeboarding, snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing.
The Indo Board can be used indoors and are perfect for beginners but are also used by pros. There is always room to improve.
What is the Indo Board?
If you do not already know, it is a cylynder and a wooden board that you lay on top. It is like a skate board with out wheels, and you put this flat board ontop of the cylinder. The board has grip tape on top so you get better grip to the board, so it doesn’t fly out from under your feet. The object is to first be able to balance on the board.
At first it is very difficult but after you get the hang of it, it becomes easy. Try starting on thick carpet, to make it easier, then move to a harder floor.
After you learn how to balance then you can work on spinning the board and working on other tricks that you can then try with wakeboarding and other board sports you do.
Pros
- one of the best ways to learn balance
- excellent for learning footwork on a board - Helps increase skill for any board sport
- Great Training for almost any sport
Cons
- Hurts when the board hits you in the shins or legs, but it helps the incentive to learn quicker so you stop hurting yourself.
Description
- 30 inch long board with 6 inch diameter roller.
- The Original Indo is the easiest to learn on of any of the Indo Boards.
- It’s fun and easy to learn on - and versatile enough for experienced riders to still use.
- Available in different colors.
- Excellent for training for surfing, skateboarding, wakeboarding, snowboarding.
- Also excellent for helping in any other sport where balance is important - which is most sports!
- Has a training DVD
- The Indo Board website is full of info to help you on your way.
- Winner of the prestigious ISPO Innovation Products of 2004!
Does it Really Work?
Many of the Pro-Riders are using it such as… Parks Bonifay, Darin Shapiro, Philip Soven,, Chad Sharpe, Daniel Harf, Shaun Murray, Scott Byerly, Brett Eisenhauer, J.D. Webb, Shane Bonifay, Rickey Gonzales, Erik Ruck, Gerry Nunn, Trevor Hansen, Maeghan Major, Dallas Friday + Kelly Slater, Layne Beachley, Laird Hamilton, Andy MacDonald, Biker Sherlock, Travis Pastrana & many more… So I don’t think they would be wasting thier time if it didn’t work.
Other Strength Training Uses
Try going into a push-up position and placing your hands where you’d normally place your feet on the board. Doing push ups while balancing your upper body will certainly increase your upper body strength (and abs) and get some of those smaller muscles you’d miss doing weights.
There are different Styles and size boards.
The easiest to start with is the original, but after you master that one, try some others.
The mini pro is the one that is specially designed for wakeboarders.
- Original (30)
- Mini Pro (39)
- Surf Pro (42)
- Indo Kicktail
- Indo Mini Kicktail (32)
The Indo Board is perfect for learning balance - it’s the best training tool I’ve seen. It’s well worth the investment!
-Brian-
(photos from IndoBoard.com)
Emily Clothier, the 14-year-old daughter of the Western Malibu Boats Sales Manager, Steve Clothier, died Thursday after a snow skiing accident in Lake Tahoe.
Emily was a competitive ski racer and was practicing with her coach when she veered off the trail and hit a tree. She was wearing a helmet and was treated at the scene and then flown to Barton Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Emily was a freshman at South Tahoe High and was a member of the school’s ski team. She helped the team to a second-place finish at the NIAA State Skiing Championships earlier this month at Mount Rose. She also was a key runner on the freshman cross-country team, helping the Vikings to a ninth-place finish at the Woodbridge Invitational last September.
Emily has grown up in the Malibu Boats Family. She began attending photo shoots and other Malibu events with her parents as toddler and continued that involvement through her fourteen years of life. You will recognize Emily from her countless appearances in the Malibu Boats brochure and the DVD. Emily and her younger sister Mikaela braved the ultra early, cold mornings of Malibu photo shoots year after year. These Malibu projects were always better thanks to their participation.
Emily is survived by her parents, Steve and Patti, and her sister, 10-year-old Mikaela. Emily’s Memorial was held Friday, March 28th at 6:00 pm at Sierra Community Church in S.L. Tahoe.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family. She was such a young girl, with such a big future.
-Brian-
(main article from malibuboats.com)
I have been down in Mexico for the last week on spring break, but I haven’t been in Cancun or Acapulco, thats for another trip. But I was down visiting a friend down there and was wakeboarding all week. It was awsome since back home in New Jersey it is still 40 degrees. It was 90-95 down there.
These are some shots of me in Tequesquitengo, Mexico. It is just the beginning of the season, so my muscles haven’t been broken in much and I was just getting back into the swing of things, but there were some nice photos.
This was what I woke up to everyday, it was paradise to me, a lake house and tons of wakeboarders. Back home I wakeboard in the bay which is nice, but not like this. Very few people wakeboard near me, so this trip was a real treat.
Sunrise, perfectly flat lake
Air Nautique… sick boat
Warming up a little…
Getting used to the board and the new boat
Now I’m getting up there
Just messing around a little
Working on the some flips
Waterskiing.. no hands!!!!
Minor cuts and bruises from a fall right into one of my skies
I had a great time down there wakeboarding. Boats were awesome.. Even though I’ve been in the gym a lot lately, there was nothing like the first tow of the year and the next morning aches. But they were a great feeling. Can’t wait until next month when we can start up here.. I got my new boat and new board and I’ll be ready to go.
Send me photos of you wakeboarding and some descriptions and I’ll post em.
Memorial Day Weekend only 52 Days!!!!!!!!
-Brian-
Save Money WakeBoarding
Before you go out and buy some Boot Goo or slime to get in your wakeboard bindings, Check this out.
Boot goo helps to get your feet in the bindings without struggling too much, Many stores sell stuff like slime and boot goo for $10 and up. Which is relatively expensive for stuff that may not last that long if your always out wakeboarding.
I found that hair condition, yes regualr conditioner that you might use for your hair is an excellent alternative. It is very slippery and helps your feet get in much easier.
The only difference is, boot goo is supposed to dissolve in water the conditioner takes a little longer to get out. As long as you use a very minimal amount you wont even notice the difference.
Conditionner is Much Cheaper
If you get it on sale, you can get a bottle for about $0.79 which is a much better price. You don’t need to get an expensive condition because you aren’t using it for your hair just to slip your feet in real quick. so get the cheapest stuff.
All you need to do is put a small drop on the heal of your foot and small drop on the top of your foot and you’ll slide right in.
Or you can put a drop on your hand and rub a small amount around on the inside heal of the binding and were the top of your foot would rub. It is a good idea to have someone else rub the conditioner around because it might be a little slippery while holding on the the tow rope.
If you use a small amount you can efficiently switch to a much cheaper alternative.
Switch to conditioner and save your money for extra gas or new boards.
-Brian-
Want to Win FREE Board Shorts?
Liquid Force recently launched a new apparel line aimed at wakeboarders, and in an attempt to get the word out, they want to hook you up with some new boardshorts. They are offering a lifetime supply of Liquid Force boardshorts.
All you need to do is fill out some basic info, there will be 3 winners whom will be drawn randomly from all entries that are received by May 1, 2008. The lucky winners will be announced at www.liquidforce.com on May 5th, 2008 and sent a pair of their favorite LF board shorts. So get on it if you want a chance at free boardshorts for life.
FREE Board Shorts For Life
All that you need to do to win 2 free pairs per year is submit a design that you’d like to see on your very own boardshorts. Even if you are not a designer, they want to see your design. If your design is picked, they will use your design in their 2009 product line. It’s very simple. All entries must be submitted by May 1st, 2008. The winning design will be announced on May 16th, 2008. Check out the site for further details at LiquidForce.com
Best of Luck!!!
-Brian-
Have You Ever Though About KiteBoarding?
KiteBoarding is less than 10 years old and is one of the fastest growing extreme sports.
What is KiteBoarding?
It is a mix between wakeboarding and skydiving. You have a specially designed kite, and you use a special kiteboard or you can even use your wakeboard.
KiteBoarding
Do you want to know if it’s right for you? First ask yourself, are you into extreme sports? Do you want to do really cool tricks on your wakeboard that you can’t do behind a boat? If you answered yes, you are already behind in the action, but you can catch up quickly. All your going to need is a kite, and a wakeboard/ kiteboard if you don’t already have one.
You can launch yourself 30 feet in the air and you have a parachute to slow your landing, so you don’t get hurt, and most importantly you can bang out as many tricks as possible before landing.
The best part is, it is just like wakeboarding, but you get to control and decide which way you are going. You get complete control, and you don’t need to rely on finding a good driver that you can trust.
If you are concerned about falling, it is not a problem; the kites are designed to float. Getting back up is not difficult after you learn how to do it.
How Difficult is it to Learn?
You will learn this sport much faster than you think. The first couple of lessons may be a little more difficult than wind surfing lessons, but after that you learn extremely quick. You can go from beginner to pro in 6 months.
(more…)
Do you want to go as “Big” as possible when out on the water?
Well there is a little trick you can use when you are at home to help improve you tricks.
You can use something many people have in their backyards.
A Trampoline
A trampoline offers a nice place to practice everything from jumping high to doing 360’s, and even tantrum back flips. It is soft enough and cushions your landings so you don’t need to worry about getting hurt when you don’t land properly.
Gymnasts often put trampolines to use for this same reason.
Another real benefit is there is no wait time after you fall for the boat to come back around a restart your run. This may be boring for the passengers in the boat if you keep falling time after time. It also has a costly fuel bill, from all the restarting.
A trick you can use to really simulate wakeboarding is, try tying a rope with a wakeboard handle to a nearby tree, pole or another object that can act like your boat.
This will keep you on the trampoline better, and give you the feeling of the rope being in your hand. It may look funny, but it helps a lot.
Dangers of Trampoline Training
Just remember that you are on land and if you fall off the trampoline you can get seriously injured. Try to stay within your skill level and don’t try a trick you are not yet advanced to.
If you are new to trampoline use, practice jumping small on the trampoline, learn how it will make you bounce. Get used to the response of the trampoline.
Remember to look in front of you, and not at the ground. Pretend there is a boat in front of you. You do not want to be concentrating on the ground because you need to train yourself to be looking ahead for any obstacles on the water you may come across.
After your training on the trampoline, bring your tricks to the water, your friends will be amazed at how fast you have advanced. It really works.
-Brian-
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