How to choose your wakesurf
How to choose your wakesurf
How to choose your wakesurf? Choosing your wakesurf board is important. I’ve seen a lot of stupidity on the web lately and I think it’s time to do a quick article about it.
– 1st point: you must already determine whether you want to ride a “skim” or a “surf” board.
Skimboards have only one small fin at the back in the middle of the wakesurf board and they measure around 1.8 cm thick (Black Revolt Dagger skim for example). These are a priori the “easiest” boards to ride but not necessarily for all types of people. In fact, some riders, even beginners, prefer to start on “surf style” boards because they feel more comfortable on it.
“Surf” boards are larger and are generally equipped with 2 side fins (twin fins) or possibly 4 (quad fins) for the most motivated. Especially not 3 fins (thruster) which is the classic setup for real surfing but which doesn’t work great in wakesurfing. No “pro” rider uses 3 fins on their board, the majority use the twin fin configuration. Surfboards are thicker than skims and are approximately between 4.5cm and 5cm thick. Choosing one or another type of board is really a question of feeling, each rider is different, positions themselves differently on the wakesurf board and the best way to find which type suits you best is all simply to try the 2 types of boards.
I therefore advise you to try different types and models of boards before investing in your first board and above all to be advised by real professionals who know what they are talking about. Get information from several people such as experienced riders, instructors and manufacturers and/or sellers of wakesurf boards. And above all, be wary of those who know everything and absolutely want to sell you the board they have in stock.
Choosing the size of your wakesurf board
Finally, some advice for the size of your board. The size of your wakesurf board will depend on several parameters :
- Your skill level.
- The type of boat you are riding (an Axis A20 loaded with 600 kg does not have the same wave as a Nautique G23 loaded with 2000 kg) as well as its ballast capacity
- The hardness and push of the wave are also very important and will depend on the type, size, year, ballast capacity and setting. Of the boat.
This is why I systematically ask my clients which boat they ride most often because there are big differences from one wake to another.
For an average boat wave for example (Nautique G21 1300kg of ballast), I recommend for a beginner rider weighing 75kg a board skim like the Dagger skim between 52″ and 55″ (130cm and 140cm). As a style surfboard size, I recommend for the same weight to ride a board like the Hatchet between 4’5” and 4’7” (134 cm and 140cm).
Do not hesitate to contact me for any information regarding your future wakesurf board, I will advise you as best as possible.
