You love the water and want to stand on the board? But the waves are not enough for you? Then wakeboarding is just the thing for you! Various obstacles and curves challenge you. Let yourself be inspired by this cool trend sport and find out more from us!
1. THE BEST WAKEBOARD FACILITIES IN GERMANY
1. Weissenhäuser Strand, WaWaCo Wakeboard, Wasserski & Co, 23758 Weissenhäuser Strand
2. Hamburg Harburg Wasserski und Wakeboard Lift, 21079 Hamburg
3. Rastede Nethen Beachclub am Nethener See, 26180 Rastede
4. Zossen Wasserski Park, 15806 Zossen OT Horstfelde
5. TwinCable Beckum Wakeboard und Wasserski Anlage, 59269 Beckum
6. Langenfeld Rheinland Wasserski, 40764 Langenfeld
7. Thulba Wake Park, 97723 Thulba
8. Raunheim Waldsee Wakeport Frankfurt Rhein-Main, 65479 Raunheim
9. Schwandorf Steinberg Wild Wake & Ski, 92449 Steinberg am See
10. Wörth Isar Wakelake Wakeboard Anlage, 84109 Wörth an der Isar
11. Thannhausen Turncable, 86470 Thannhausen
12. Aschheim Wasserski Park, 85609 Aschheim
13. Freiburg Tunisee Wasserskilift, 79108 Freiburg
14. Pfullendorf Wasserskipark, 88630 Pfullendorf
15. Wassersport und Wakeboard Lift Kiefersfelden, 83088 Kiefersfelden
Tip: An interactive map with more than 80 wakeboard spots in Germany and Austria is available at www.cablemekka.com. The spots are briefly described and there are highlights so that you can assess whether a visit is worthwhile for you. Cable Mekka is maintained by the wakeboard magazine "The Cable".
2. WAKEBOARDING
2.1 WHICH FOOT IS IN FRONT? THE CORRECT POSTURE
With a very simple test you can find out for yourself which foot should be in front.
Slide test: Take a running start and try to slide on damp ground. The foot that you automatically put forward during the slide test should also be your front foot when wakeboarding. Is your right foot in front? Then this is called goofy. All boarders who have their left foot in front are called regular. As your wakeboard can be ridden in both directions, it doesn't really matter which foot is in front and which is behind, unlike a streamlined surfboard. Of course, you will find it much easier to learn wakeboarding if you don't "resist" your natural stance in the beginning. Go with the flow!
2.2 Equipment
In order to explore the lake on a wakeboard, a certain basic equipment for wakeboarding - besides the wakeboard itself - is mandatory. This definitely includes a helmet - beginners in particular often lose their balance and fall into the water. A wakeboard helmet is indispensable for optimal protection of the head.
The impact protection waistcoat should also be part of your wakeboard equipment. Like the helmet, the wakeboard waistcoat also protects you from impacts on the water.
Especially in the low season, the air and therefore also the water in the wakeboard facilities of the water parks are still very cold; if you still don't want to miss out on wakeboarding, you should definitely take a wetsuit. (Neoprene suit shopping guide) This will protect you from getting chilled. Often, boarders wear a thin wetsuit in the summer; this protects you from cool water, but also from sunburn.
2.3 Wakeboarding - boat or lift?
Basically, you can choose for yourself whether you prefer to be pulled by a boat or by a lift. But if you go to a wakeboard facility near you, it may be that it only offers one of the two options. Boarding on a lift is usually cheaper and you have several attempts in a shorter time.
2.4 WAKEBOARD SIT START ON CABLE
The sit start with the wakeboard is a technically simple procedure that you can practise very well. When surfing from a start bench, you should keep the handle (barbell) low and bend your knees. Keep the wakeboard tip pointing in the direction of travel and lift slightly. As soon as the line starts to pull, you should tense your whole body and try to keep this body tension. This will help you to be pulled onto the water by the line. During the wakeboard ride, your gaze should always be in the direction of travel; it is also ideal if you distribute your weight on your legs and thus balance your body well. Make sure that your arms are always slightly bent.
2.5 The launch with the boat
- Always start and finish a ride in deep water as you can injure yourself more quickly in shallow water.
- Lie on your back on the water; your feet should already be in the wakeboard bindings and the foot with which you made the first instinctive step is in front (regular or goofy).
- Your board should be perpendicular to the water.
- Your board should be perpendicular to the water.
- Take the rope and stretch your arms, making sure your arms are slightly bent.
- Now pull your knees towards your chest.
- When the boat starts to move, the wakeboard will slowly rise out of the water. Now you should slowly stand up.
- Now bring the tip of the board with momentum towards the boat and shift your weight to the back foot.
- Try to continue in the perfect wakeboarding position: bent knees, hips over the front foot, shoulders over the back foot.
2.6 What are the requirements for wakeboarding?
Basically, anyone can start wakeboarding, there are no special requirements that have to be met here. Nevertheless, a certain basic fitness is absolutely advantageous. Wakeboarding requires strength, stamina, a good sense of balance and body tension. And of course it is also important that you are a good swimmer, because especially at the beginning you will often be knocked off your board.
2.7 Wakeboard dry runs
Before you start wakeboarding, you can do some dry runs to test whether you are up to it or you can simply prepare yourself a little better.
Stand on one leg and try to stand as still as possible. For added difficulty and balance training, try closing your eyes to keep your balance. Make jerky movements or have a friend give you gentle pushes while you balance on a beam. Try to balance these movements and pushes - a great exercise to keep your balance on the wakeboard.
Check out our online shop and find everything you need for wakeboarding:
- Wakeboards
- Wakeboard bindings
- Wakeboard accessories
Be sure to check out wakeboard helmets and wakeboard waistcoats - these are incredibly important to protect you and your body from injuries in case of falls!
3. PURCHASING ADVISOR WAKEBOARDS
You want to buy your own wakeboard because you want to spend every free minute on cable or behind the boat? No problem - we will help you to find the perfect wakeboard for you!
3.1 Wakeboards for beginners
If you are a newcomer to wakeboarding, it is best to choose a longer board.
The reason is very simple: The larger board distributes the forces that arise when pulling the rope better over the larger surface of the wakeboard. The board is more stable on the water surface and it is easier for you to successfully master the start.
The edges of the board should be more angular for beginners. These give you more security and a firmer footing on the water as a beginner.
3.2 BOARD SIZE
The individual size of the wakeboard depends on your height and weight. The boards are available in lengths between 110 and 147 centimetres and in widths between 38 and 59 centimetres. On average, wakeboards are about 42 centimetres wide. The narrower a board is, the less buoyancy it has. So if you want to do high jumps, wider boards are best, as they simply have more buoyancy.
Here are some rough guidelines for body weight:
- less than 50 kg ➢ up to 125 cm
- 50-70 kg ➢ 125-131 cm
- 65-80kg ➢ 131-136 cm
- more than 90kg ➢ from 140 cm
Of course, the rule of thumb "board length depends on body height" should not be ignored. If you weigh 66kg but are only 160m tall, then a 130cm long wakeboard is not suitable!
Longer boards are ideal for beginners as they are easier to ride. They will also save you a mistake or two. You simply have more control in general than with a shorter wakeboard.
This is especially good when you want to learn tricks. Longer wakeboards are also faster because they have a greater buoyancy due to their larger surface area. Short boards are proportionally slower, but they are easier to manoeuvre due to their size.
3.3 BINDINGS
First of all, if you are a beginner and don't want to invest too much in your equipment, save on the board instead of not buying high-quality wakeboard bindings/shoes! You'll be standing in the shoes for hours; if they pinch or are too loose, you could have a hard time on the water.
On the linked page you will find a detailed advice text under the product list.
