Wakeboarding Facts for Kids

Wakeboarding is an exciting water sport where you ride a special board, called a wakeboard, across the water. You are usually pulled by a motorboat. This sport started in the 1980s. It was inspired by other cool sports like surfing, water skiing, and snowboarding.

To go wakeboarding, you need a boat, a rope, and a board. If you want to do bigger jumps or cool tricks, the boat often has a tall tower. The waves made by the boat act like a ramp, helping you launch into the air!

How Wakeboarding Started
- Early Days: The Skurfer
- Growing the Sport
What Equipment Do You Need?
- The Boat
- The Boots
- The Rope
- The Board
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How Wakeboarding Started

Wakeboarding has an interesting history, mixing ideas from different board sports.

Early Days: The Skurfer

In 1985, a surfer named Tony Finn created something new called the "Skurfer." It was a board that looked like a mix of a surfboard and a water ski. The Skurfer was thick and had a fin at the back to help steer.

Growing the Sport

In 1987, the "Skurfer" was introduced in France.
In 1989, Jimmy Redmond started the World Wakeboard Association (WWA). This group helps organize the sport.
In 1990, the first official wakeboarding competition happened in Orlando, Florida, United States. This was also when the first wakeboard was sold!
In 1993, the WWA held the first world wakeboard championship in the United States.
In 1994, some riders in France created their own group, the ANW (Association Nationale de Wakeboard).
In 1995, a new type of board called "twin tips" appeared. These boards are still used today. They have fins at both the front and back.
In 2001, wakeboarding became an official sport at the World Games in Akita, Japan.
In 2004, the first magazine just for wakeboarding, Unleashed Wakeboard Magazine, was published in France.

What Equipment Do You Need?

To enjoy wakeboarding, you need a few key pieces of equipment.

Wakeboarding

The Boat

The boat is very important because it pulls you! For wakeboarding, the boat usually goes between 28 and 35 kilometers per hour.

The Boots

Your boots connect you to the board. They are super important for controlling the board and doing tricks. They also need to be comfortable!

The Rope

The rope connects you to the boat. The best length for a wakeboarding rope is usually between 16 and 24 meters.

The Board

There are two main types of wakeboards: the "surf" board and the "twin tips" board.

The "surf" board is shaped differently on each side. It's often good for beginners.
The "twin tips" board is more popular. It's the same shape at both ends, which makes it easier to do more difficult jumps and tricks. Most wakeboards are about 130-147 cm long and 45 cm wide.