3 Mistakes First-Time Wakeboarders Make (and How to Dodge Them)

By Chris O'Shea and Anna Nikstad, Welcome Board Store, Mornington

Every summer we watch it happen at the boat ramp. Someone brand new climbs off the swim platform, makes ten attempts at getting up and climbs back in thinking wakeboarding isn't for them. Nine times out of ten it isn't the rider. It's the gear. We've been riding (and coaching mates and family) for a long time, and the same three mistakes come up again and again.

1. Sizing the board by your height

Wakeboards are sized by weight, not height. A heavier rider needs more board under them to get up and stay up. If you're between two sizes and still learning, take the longer one. It comes up out of the water more easily and is kinder when a landing goes wrong. Grabbing a mate's board because "it looks about right" is how a lot of first sessions go sideways.

2. Buying a board to grow into

It's tempting to buy the stiff, aggressive board the pros ride so you won't have to upgrade. In reality, an advanced board makes learning slower, not faster. The same goes for soft, finless cable park boards behind a boat: they don't track well on a boat wake. Start on a forgiving boat board with decent fins. Leave those fins in until you can hold an edge with confidence.

3. Boots that are too loose

If your heel lifts when you lean forward, you've lost control before you've even started. Boots should feel snug, with your heel held firmly down. For most beginners, a soft open-toe boot is the easy answer. It covers a range of sizes, it's easy to get on and off on a moving boat, and the whole family can share it.

One more thing, and it isn't optional: in Victoria, anyone being towed has to wear a lifejacket the whole time.

Get the whole first setup right

Our full beginner wakeboard guide covers boat vs cable, the size charts, rocker and fins explained, packages vs separates, kids' boards and the boards we'd put first-timers on.

Want a second opinion? Drop into the shop at 207 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington. Tell us your weight, where you'll ride and who else will use the board, and we'll help you sort it.