Loading... Please wait...

Top 5 Basic Wakeboarding Tricks

Posted


When it comes to summer fun, not many activities compare to wakeboarding at the lake. Whether you are just getting started, or have been going since you were a kid, everyone wants to get better at this awesome sport each time they go out. If you are looking for a challenge the next time you strap the board on, give some of these tricks a shot. From beginner level to more advanced and technical maneuvers, these are five tricks each wakeboarder should have in their repertoire.

1. How To Cross the Wake

One of the more basic tricks any wakeboarder should know is crossing the wake. The no air wake crossing begins by the rider getting themselves outside of the wake and crossing them both at a slight angle. A key to this is to let the board glide over the surface of the water as much as possible to let the board and the water work together to allow you to cross the wake as smoothly as possible. Absorb the wake with your knees as you go over each one and be sure to stay on an edge the entire way through riding the wake.


2. Ollie

Once you’ve mastered crossing the wake, you’ll be ready to kick things up a notch and get a little air time. The ollie is one of the most basic jump tricks, but it is still a good challenge and a lot of fun. From the angle your board should be at, to weight distribution, to when to pop your board up in the air off of the wake, there are many tips and techniques you’ll need to learn to master the ollie. In an article from thewakeboardcoach.com, the authors give some great advice and walk through each step in the process of mastering the ollie. You can read the full article here to learn how to nail this trick.


3. Surface Spins

Getting yourself in the air is one thing. Adding some variations to it is another. If you’re starting to venture out into the trick world of wakeboarding, the surface 180 is a great one to add to your arsenal. Balance, stability, weight distribution, control standing sideways, and controlling the handle with one hand; all of these techniques are crucial to mastering surface spins. From thewakeboardcoach.com, the authors provide some great advice on different spin variations and how to master each one in an article you can find here.


4. Tail Grab

If you are looking for a more advanced trick to add to your arsenal, a tail grab is a great first step after you have mastered the ollie and are getting a good amount of air. In an article from wakeboardingmag.com, the author gives a great rundown on approaching the wake and prepping for the jump, how and where to grab the board, how long to hold the board, even tips on taking your grab up a notch for added flair. Everything you need to know on tail grabs can be found in that article here.


5. Jumping the Wake

Once you feel you have mastered all the beginners tricks, you’re probably ready to jump the wake. Getting some air is what every great wakeboarder aspires for and in an article from watersports.answers.com, the author gives you all the tips you need to properly jump the wake in the safest and funnest way possible. Don’t mistake this trick for an ollie, as this will require much more air than the simple ollie will and should only be attempted when you feel you have completely mastered all other basic tricks. If you think you’re ready to take the next step, the full article can be found here.

Back to Basics: Winter Prep for your Boat and Boards

No matter where you live sooner or later your have to put the boat and your gear away for the winter. Now for some of you that amount of storage time is shorter than other and yes we are all jealous of you, but come March we will be back on the water and over it.Until then it’s [...]

Read More »


Hottest New Wake Boat Features for 2015

Wake ControlTigé has this feature on lockdown with all new Surf X System featuring Surf Link. We have all seen adjustable wakes before but the new Surf Link feature on the 2015 Tige boats allows you to control every aspect of the wake while in the pocket.The rider uses a remote control device that allows them [...]

Read More »


​Back to Basics: Stance and Boat Set Up

Properly weighting the boat The most important aspect of surfing is setting up a killer wake . In order to do that, you have to correctly weight the boat. If you expect to wakesurf and stay on the wake after tossing in the rope, there are three things to keep in mind: Your boat needs around 1,800 pounds of extra weight on [...]

Read More »


2014 Best of Summer Photo Contest Winner

In case you missed it, we just announced the winner of the 2014 "Best of Summer" photo contest. A big congratulations to Jon Currier! Jon's picture of a Malibu Boat (two blue LIFEFORM 9s installed) cruising into the sunset obviously captured the hearts of all the romantics out there ;)By The Numbers...Photo submissions: 15Total Photo Views: 2,475Total Votes: [...]

Read More »


21 Bass Fishing Experts Reveal Their Best Tips For More Fish

How do you catch bass like the pros? There are a lot of aspiring bass anglers out in the world today. A great deal of them pour their heart, soul, money and backs into this endeavor without a trophy fish to show for it.  At the same time, there are a select few that have made a [...]

Read More »


Best Underwater Boat Lights | Five Features That Matter Most To Boaters

In 2013, the US recreational boating industry was valued at $121.5B, its highest value since the NMMA began collecting data in 1990. Retail expenditures on boating accessories (including underwater boat lights) and services accounted for roughly 30% of the industry value. As the boating industry continues its post-recession rebound, boat accessory sales continue to increase at a rate of 7-10% a year.  The [...]

Read More »


2013 Boating Industry Recap - Boat Sales, Expert Predictions and More..

Five years ago, in the midst of a financial crisis boat sales and water sport participation were at all-time lows. Top industry brands struggled to stay afloat (no pun intended), while experts voiced fears of worrying times ahead.  Since 2009, the US boating industry has seen a post-recession rebound with increased sales across all industry segments, [...]

Read More »


LED Lights: Why they are better for your boat

We have many boaters call and ask us about the advantages of using LEDs for boat lighting. There are many features that make LED lights superior for underwater led boat and dock lighting. We have put together a list of the top advantages below:Longevity:This is one of the biggest reasons boaters around the world are [...]

Read More »


"LED boat lights:" Are they good for fishing?

The best LED boat lights for fishing?Over the past 3-5 years LED boat lighting has experienced a surge of interest within the fishing industry. In fact, we are beginning to see an influx of calls from fisherman asking about the benefits of LED lights for their fishing vessels. We made a list of the most frequently asked questions.What [...]

Read More »


Sign up for our LIFEFORM LED newsletter