Wakeboard Choices

Details:

Rocker:
Refers to the curvature or bend in the board between the tips. To compare rocker between boards turn the boards upside down on a flat surface,without bindings mounted and measure or compare the clearance between boards and the flat surface. Generally, the more rocker the board has the greater the pop or lift the board generates off the wake. The payback is that the board will be slower to accelerate due to the increased drag resulting from sitting deeper in the water. Less rocker in a board gives you a faster board with greater edge holding. This board relies on greater speed onto the wake to generate lift. Apart from rocker size there are two distinct rocker lines you can choose from.

Three Stage Rockers:
Boards with this style of rocker give a snappy, bucking style of pop off the wake and usually tend to boot the rider higher into the air. They also tend to sit a little deeper in the water creating more drag.

Continuous Rocker:
The smoothest most consistent type of pop there is. This rocker line gives you consistent pop so you know exactly how the board will react off the wake every time. These boards generally sit a little higher in the water giving you a faster ride.

Channels:
Are the grooves on the bottom of the board that guide water along the board's base and help the board track. The better a board tracks, the more it goes where it is pointing which aids in turning the board.Deeper or more effective channels that improve tracking are less forgiving on landings, especially if a rotation has not been fully finished or a rider is slightly off balance. Shallower channels give the board a slippery feel and are a lot more forgiving on landings.These boards however rely far more on edge control to turn and hold direction.

Width:
A wider board has more surface area and creates more lift. This lift is evident in starts, normal riding and getting air off the wakes. It also creates a slippery feel to the board relying more on channels and edging to control direction. A narrow board will track straighter and generate more speed.

Tip and Tail Shapes:
There are four main shapes of tips and tails. There are, round, square, diamond and swallow. Most boards have a tip/tail that resembles a mix of two or more of these shapes. A round end will give soft landings but with less pop, whilst a square end provides greater pop but harsher landings. The diamond and swallow shapes give a board the feel of a longer board but the performance of a shorter board.