Using the proper wakeboard gear is extremely important to making a difference in wakeboarding. While proficiency and mastery of the basics in terms of the sport are the major factors in becoming a competitive and expert wakeboarder, still the ideal piece of gear absolutely impacts one’s performance. If you ask skilled wakeboarders, they will definitely tell you that the simplest way to influence your skills and wakeboard performance is to have the correct gear, specifically, a good board. Now the real question is, how do you pick the best board? Is there any particular size, shape, or board maker that can be regarded as the ‘right’ one? Or does the suitable board mean one that entirely satisfies your feel and skills?

To offer you the answer, here are some tips from the experts in picking the best board.

• Look at the label - Nearly all boards have labels showing three general skill levels which are beginner, intermediate and advanced. Each of these types has specific board properties and they can vary in relation to materials, rocker, fins, and all other board features. To be able to find the appropriate board, test first your skill level and depending on that, one should be able to identify the suitable board that will fit your skills. A vital thing to make note of is that, should you be just new to this sport and you are just trying to learn it, you don’t need a competition-level board. Most of the time, you will end up spending much on pricey boards that feel too fast or too loose.

Boards for starters are a bit slower and more forgiving thus making the training curve a lot easier. Advanced boards are designed for more hostile stunts and made with the most solid materials while intermediate boards are generally older versions of advanced boards that have been re-designed for all-around use.

• Choose the right size - It is important to pick a board that suits your weight and height. A board that is too small will sink and will enable the boat to tug you at uncontrollably fast speeds. Then again, a board that is too big can be large and hard to spin. Furthermore, this can pop off the wake. To select the right size, be sure to check the manufacturer’s sizing charts. This reveals the right weight with regards to length as well as the height to length ratios. When you are unsure about this, pick the longer board because it can offer more harmony in starts and turns. In addition, you can modify with a longer board as your level of skill gets better.

• Find out the materials used in the board - Nearly all boards are produced from fiberglass enveloped either on a foam core or a wood core. Foam-based boards are less costly, lighter and have far better durability. However, wood-based boards flex better. While foam deem to be the most typical in the market, but nothing can beat the performance that wood provides because it gives better snap on the wake. Other material used in board making is graphite. This claims to lighten the board and gives added stiffness.

• Look at the fin - Fins are what allows for direction to your board, avoiding it from uncontrollably spinning in the water. There are different varieties of fin - fat, thin, deep, shallow, and molded in. For starters, fins are deeper while for more advanced, fins are shallower. The performance of the fins greatly relies on its size and style. The simplest way to know which one fits is by trying it.