4 Best Wakeboards for Beginners

Wakeboarding has been a popular watersport for more than three decades. It combines elements of three popular activities – snowboarding, water skiing, and surfing – making it an excellent choice for those who are just discovering watersports. Getting started is all about choosing the right equipment, from wakeboards to life jackets. WakeScout’s list of the four best wakeboards for beginners below can help you make more informed choices.

How to Choose the Best Wakeboard for Beginners

When choosing the best wakeboard for beginners, there are four key things to consider.

• Your size and height. Wakeboards come in several different lengths and widths to accommodate different people. A 250-pound man would likely not use the same beginner wakeboard as a 110-pound young woman.
• Three-stage rocker boards are best. They offer the most stability in the water, especially after jumps.
• Deeper fins are better for beginners. The fins under the board help to provide even more stability. The deeper (longer) the fins, the more stable the board.
• Choose a wider board. Wider boards cover more of the water’s surface area for added stability.

Wakeboard Binding for Beginners

Your wakeboard binding setup will also play an important role in your experience as a beginner. When you purchase a wakeboard, you’ll notice several pre-drilled holes. These allow you to attach the bindings, which are the boot-like apparatus that holds your feet to the board. Binding setup can vary depending on individual preference, experience level, and if you plan to try jumps or tricks.

As a beginner, it is best to focus on the basics before attempting any tricks or jumps. As such, the recreational stance is generally the best binding setup for a beginner. It ensures that most of the weight is focused on the back of the board, which makes it much easier to maneuver in the water. The back foot should be positioned at zero degrees or vertically, and the front foot should be positioned about three holes back from the center.

4 Good Beginner Wakeboards

There are hundreds of wakeboards on the market, but some are better than others for beginners.

Full Throttle Aqua Extreme Kit

The Aqua Extreme wakeboard kit by Full Throttle is a great choice for a beginner wakeboarder. The kit includes universally-sized boots that fit men’s shoe sizes ranging from 7 to 13. The boots feature a quick lace-up system that makes it easy to get the board into the water.

The Aqua Extreme also features a continuous rocker, which is helpful for beginners who need to practice lifting off the wake and navigating turns. The wakeboard features multiple channels for stability and edge control as well as two removable fins. It’s 140 centimeters (or about 55 inches) long, making it ideal for those who are brand new to the sport.

RAVE Sports Freestyle Wakeboard Kit

The freestyle wakeboard kit from RAVE Sports is another good wakeboard for beginners. It also features a continuous rocker which adds a great deal of stability, and it has a fun four-point design to make edging a breeze. The Freestyle wakeboard is a phenomenal choice for boarders who are learning fundamentals or basic tricks and jumps.

The kit comes with the company’s branded Striker Boots bindings, which feature an adjustable lace-up system. The boots are easy to adjust for the perfect fit, but they’re also simple to put on and take off. The board is suitable for anyone 125 pounds and up, which makes it a great choice for teens and young adults. It is just under 55 inches long and about 17” wide, which are perfect dimensions for a beginner.

Hyperlite 134 Motive Wakeboard Kit

The Hyperlite 134 Motive wakeboard kit is by far one of the best wakeboards for beginners thanks to its flexibility. The 134 is suitable for riders between 80 and 160 pounds, which makes it ideal for kids and many young adults. This board has been specifically designed to make turns mellow and provide a smooth lift off the wake, which can help beginners gain the confidence they need to develop key skills. It features molded-in fins, a continuous rocker, and a six-degree edge bevel that doesn’t catch quite as easily as other boards.

The kit comes with Hyperlite’s popular Frequency boots, which fit sizes from 6 to 12. They lace quickly and easily, and they hold the feet snugly without discomfort. The Motive series comes in two other sizes, as well. The 119cm size is perfect for riders between 30 and 100 pounds, while the 140cm size is suitable for riders between 120 and 230 pounds.

Liquid Force Classic Wakeboard (Mens)

The classic wakeboard from Liquid Force is one of the very best wakeboards for beginners thanks to its simple design. It offers a three-stage rocker for stability and confidence off the wake, and the unique spiral V design along the center of the board was designed to displace just the right amount of water to make landing soft and fun. It is suitable for riders 130 to 200 pounds, and it is just over 55 inches long and 17.5 inches wide.

This board boasts a lifted variable edge and tip channels, which makes it extremely responsive and keeps beginner riders in control. Beginners who are interested in learning tricks will find that this board is one of the most forgiving on the market. Though it is not a complete kit, it does offer a solid foundation and gives beginners the opportunity to build the set of gear that best suits their needs.

What’s Next in the Wakeboarding Adventure?

Choosing the best wakeboard for beginners may feel overwhelming, but understanding the basics can help make the process simpler. WakeScout’s recommendations are based on years of experience with beginner, intermediate, and expert riders alike. After choosing your board, visit our website where you can view a global directory of the best places to wakeboard. You will find cable wake parks, watersports resorts, watersport clubs, and even wakeboarding schools located all over the world to help you learn and hone new skills.