10 Tips Every Beginner Wakeboarder Should Know

These are the beginner wakeboarding tips you wish you'd known before strapping in for the first time..

You want some beginner wakeboarding tips because you're learning to wakeboard.

Learning a new sport is difficult. You will frequently fall flat on your face. You'll use muscles you had no idea you had. But, in the end, it's all worth it because learning a new sport is so much fun.

10 Tips Every Beginner Wakeboarder Should Know

We have some of the best beginner wakeboarding tips from those who have been there, from avoiding the face plant to determining whether you are regular or goofy footed. Make sure to read our beginners wakeboarding guide as well.

1. You'll land on your face.

Every new wakeboarder knows there will be times when they fall flat on their face and have no idea why.

You're riding along fine, hollering to your buddies. The next thing you know, you're drinking lake water.

The wakeboard instructor will most likely know what went wrong. Pay close attention; they have sound advice that you should probably take.

2. It's Exhausting on Your Arms

During my first beginner wakeboarding lesson, I noticed how taxing this sport is on your arms. You'll be fine pulling up on the rope, but your arms will ache within minutes.

They will feel as if they are going to fall off after five minutes. This is completely normal. You'll get stronger and used to it, believe me.

3. It Is Simple To Work Out Whether You Are A Regular Or A Goofy Footer

If you enjoy surfing, snowboarding, or skateboarding, you probably already know whether you have regular or goofy feet. A good indicator is which foot you naturally kick a football with - that foot will be your back foot.

As the boat pulls you out of the water for the first time, you'll probably just feel which foot feels better pointing forwards.

4. Slamming On Water Hurts

Water is a soft landing, right? Wrong. When you’re skipping along the surface of the water, catch an edge and take a tumble, you will realise water isn’t soft at all. It actually kinda hurts when you are going at high speed.

Think back to when you were a kid and belly-flopped into the pool; that sensation is very similar to slamming while wakeboarding.

5. When you first begin, use a shorter rope.

When using a shorter rope, it is often easier for beginners to stand up. A shorter rope indicates that the wakeboarder is in a more restricted section of the wake. You can also hear the advice being yelled by the instructor in the boat clearer.

Longer ropes enable more advanced riders to achieve greater speed and air for tricks. Discover Boating recommends that beginners use a rope between 30 and 50 feet long.

6. Do Not Pull On The Rope

When learning to wakeboard for the first time, it's natural for beginners to pull on the rope. Do not attempt it.

Wakeboarding is about letting the boat pull you to your feet rather than pulling yourself up. If you pull on the rope, the nose of your board will most likely dig into the water, requiring you to repeat Step 1. Maintain a straight line with your arms.

7. Hold the handle close to your hip.

This is sound counsel. Keep the handle as low and as close to your hip as possible.

Beginners frequently attempt to hold the handle high and perpendicular to the water, as waterskiers do. This will result in another face plant.

Before you take it to the water, try practicing your handle grip on land.

8. Maintain a straight face

Looking straight ahead was one of the best beginner wakeboarding tips I received. Even if it's tempting to look at your wakeboard bindings as your board skims across the water, don't.

By looking at your feet, you are likely to put too much pressure on that front foot, causing Step Number 1 to occur again. Maintain a straight face.

9. Begin with a Rental Board.

It's pointless to spend a lot of money on a wakeboard if you're not sure if you'll enjoy the sport.

Even though they have some great deck designs and you'll obviously look super rad carting it around your local lake, you should wait until you've mastered the basics before investing in a brand new wakeboard.

Keep an eye out for eBay as well. There are some great deals to be had, but be careful not to end up with a 20-year-old board. Since then, technology has advanced dramatically. On an old board, progress will be more difficult. For the time being, stick with the rental board. When you're ready, check out our guide to buying your first wakeboard.

10. You'll be performing tricks in no time.

The beauty of wakeboarding is the steep learning curve. Unlike surfing and snowboarding, wakeboarding can be learned quickly and you can be jumping the wake after only a few hours of instruction. You'll be ripping down some of these insanely cool wakeboarding lakes in no time. Isn't it true that practice makes perfect?