A common misconception believed by many is that the water skiing and wake boarding sports are similar in nature yet nothing can be farther from the truth.

The most obvious difference between the two sports is in the nature of the ride itself. Water skiing is a relatively straightforward sport while wake boarding is a derivative of several different games. The principle of water skiing is based on being towed around by a speed boat. Wake boarding, though it adopts the same principle also includes skills derived from other sports like surfing, snow boarding and skate boarding.

Water skiing traditionally is just a ride behind a speed boat. It is not concerned with jumping wakes and riding waves. It is more of a smooth sailing ride unlike wake boarding which is a rough riding sport . Wake boarders, like surfers, ride on waves or rather wakes left by the speed boat behind which it is towed and as such a major factor in wake boarding is the size of the wakes.

The different nature of the two sports is reflected in the individual sports gear as well. Water skiers ride the waters on water skis whereas the wakeboarding sport makes use of specially designed boards complete with foot straps and fins to help maintain the balance of the wake boarder. Unless you are slalom skiing, skiers generally use two different skis for both feet whereas wake boarders use a single board.

The boats used to pull these sports riders are also of different makes. A water skier’s tow boat can be any simple boat but the wake boarders need to use specially designed speed boats. The boats used for wakeboards have increased weight at the rear to create higher and steeper waves. One common principle adopted to ensure extra weight at the stern is to place engines at the rear. As the height of the waves is directly proportional to the weight of the stern, the engine is placed backwards at the rear for added weight. Most manufacturers spend a lot on R&D for new knowledge in further weighing down the stern as a means to create higher wakes for wake boarding.

Ropes – a key equipment used for these rides also have contrary features. Ropes used for wake boarding should not be of an elastic nature as this will tend to tip the balance of the wake boarder whereas stretchable ropes are needed in water skiing as the stretch factor helps in maneuvering curves behind a speeding boat.

Now that you know the differences, visit the following website for more information:
Water Ski Equipment
Discount Wakeboards

 

Filed under: Outdoors • Skiing

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