I'm wakeboarding for the first time, any tips?

Question

i heard you need alot of upper body strength, which unfortunately i don't have much of

i'm 5'1" 115 lbs do you think i'll have trouble?

Answer 1

start slow wear a life vest please hang on tight. have fun good luck

Answer 2

Don't fall.

Answer 3

get a boat operator you trust that will go the recommended speeds and drive towards your needs

Answer 4

stay in the middle of the board and  dont drowned

Answer 5

You'll want to start out in the water with the board strapped to your feet - whether you strap it on reg or goofy depends on which feels more comfortable to you, just know that the bindings will have to be adjusted to face the right direction as well, you can't just flip it over -

Grip the handle of the rope with one hand over and one hand under the bar (like one palm up and the other down) this will give you a better grip on the rope once the boat starts to move.

Once you have the rope, you'll want to start in a position similar to that of sitting in a chair. In the water, bend your knees and turn your body(and with it, the board) sideways a little so that you are facing the boat but at an angle to it. The key is that you aren't pulling yourself up straight towards the boat but rather, out toward the wake. This will give you the maximum amount of surface area on the board to push against the water when the boat starts to move. Make sure that the front tip of the wakeboard is out of the water so that when the boat moves you will stay above water!

Before the driver of the boat pulls you up you'll want them to move SLOWLY forward to tighten up the rope before they gun it - that way you don't get the rope ripped out of your hand because you'll already have adjusted your grip a little better to accomodate the tension.

When the rope is tense and you feel steady, tell the drive to go. When you feel the pull from the boat intensify push down against the water with your feet(and the board) like you are standing up from your "chair". Pull the rope towards your body at the same time and you should be able to stand right up.

To turn, lean in the direction that you want to go, the board will lean and the pressure from the water will turn it in that directions. Make sure to keep your knees slightly "loose" so that you can give a little with the small wakes in the water and not feel so jolted. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

Remember  to have fun, Wakeboarding is a very good source of exercise AND its a blast! No one is perfect their first time so don't quit!