One of the essential things when wakeboarding is safety. In addition, comfort is also key to ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable wakeboarding experience. If you haven’t tried wakeboarding before, you might want to know what you wear for wakeboarding?
The safety equipment you must wear when wakeboarding is a life jacket and helmet. You can also wear goggles and gloves. In addition, you should wear a swimsuit and a rash vest. Other equipment you will need for wakeboarding are boots, a wakeboard, a tow rope, and a boat.
Some equipment mentioned in this list will help keep you safe while wakeboarding, while other equipment and garments make your wakeboarding experience more comfortable. This article discusses everything you need when wakeboarding.
What Should You Wear When Wakeboarding?
As in all sports, there is specific attire and equipment needed. For watersports such as wakeboarding, you need swimwear, of course. However, the type of swimwear and additional equipment you use will determine how comfortable your wakeboarding experience is. So, here is a list of everything you should wear when wakeboarding.
1. Swimsuit
Of course, you will need a swimsuit when wakeboarding. We recommend wearing a comfortable swimsuit with a drawstring tie that allows for freedom of movement. Because you will be dragged through the water a lot, the swimsuit should sit snugly to prevent it from falling down.
Women are recommended to wear a one-piece swimsuit instead of a bikini. It will not only be more comfortable and prevent embarrassing slips but also prevent you from developing a rash. Men and women should wear a swimsuit that doesn’t cause them to develop a rash or pinches on their thighs or under their armpits.
2. Rash Vest
Although a rash vest isn’t required when wakeboarding, it is strongly recommended to wear one. Life jackets often cause chafing, which can lead to a rash and feeling very uncomfortable. Wearing the right swimsuit will help to a certain extent. However, wearing a long-sleeved rash vest will help to ensure you don’t get a rash when wakeboarding.
There are many styles of rash vests to choose from. We recommend getting a vest with a mock-polo neck and long sleeves. These vests offer the best protection against chafing and also help to ensure you don’t get sunburn. However, you can wear any comfortable rash vest.
3. Life Jacket
Life jackets are critical when doing any sort of water sport. They will save your life if you fall into the water, hit your head, or get injured. For example, when wakeboarding, the chances are good that you will fall. In this case, a life jacket can save your life.
There are many life jackets to choose from. Ensure the one you wear is the right size. It should sit comfortably and help you stay afloat. An oversized life jacket might slip off if you fall into the water and therefore isn’t such a good idea. A lightweight, zip-up lifejacket is best. Try to find one that sits comfortably and doesn’t chafe you.
4. Helmet
Another piece of safety equipment you will need when wakeboarding is a helmet. Not everyone wears a helmet while wakeboarding, but it is strongly recommended. A helmet will protect your head when falling and prevent head injuries, lacerations, and concussions.
You can buy any wakeboarding helmet at a dedicated sports shop. Most helmets tie with a clip below your chin. Again, wear a helmet that is your size, and that doesn’t feel like it will chafe you while wakeboarding. Although not everyone wears a helmet, it is always safer to do so.
5. Goggles
Another accessory not everyone wears when wakeboarding is goggles. Some people wear swim goggles when they are wakeboarding, especially in the ocean or other saltwater sources. The goggles will help protect your eyes and prevent them from burning if you fall in salt water.
Goggles are also extremely useful when wearing contact lenses, as the lenses can easily be lost while wakeboarding. While you don’t need to wear goggles, they might be worth trying if you feel like you often get water in your eyes when falling.
6. Wetsuit
Some people go wakeboarding with a wetsuit. While this is not necessary, it can help to keep you warm when you are wakeboarding in cold water. When wearing a wetsuit, put it on over your swimsuit and remember to still wear a life jacket. Wetsuits are great at keeping you warm but might cause chafing and rashes.
Ensure the wetsuit sits comfortably to protect you from getting a wetsuit rash. A wetsuit that is too small is more likely to cause chafing and will make you feel very uncomfortable. In addition, wearing a rash vest under the wetsuit can further help to protect you against chafing.
7. Other Equipment
In addition to the equipment and garments we have spoken about, you will also need a boat or pully system, rope, and wakeboard to go wakeboarding. Different wakeboards are available on the market; some are more beginner-friendly than others.
If you attend wakeboarding classes, they will teach you about the different types of wakeboards and which ones are best for which people. However, regardless of the type of wakeboard, you will surely get along just fine and should have a pleasant wakeboarding experience if you dress appropriately.
Tips For Wakeboarding
Now that we have determined what you will wear when wakeboarding and what equipment you need, we must also discuss some other tips to ensure you have a good time wakeboarding and don’t lose any of your precious belongings. So these are some wakeboarding tips.
- Remove any jewelry, watches, or accessories before wakeboarding. You will likely lose any such accessories when you are dragged through the water.
- Apply waterproof sunscreen to your face, neck, and hands when wakeboarding. Even if the weather is overcast, you can still get a serious sunburn.
- Drink enough water while wakeboarding to prevent dehydration and fatigue. Wakeboarding is a taxing activity, and you will get dehydrated in the process.
- Stretch before wakeboarding to prevent injuries. For example, mussel sprains are extremely common when wakeboarding and can be prevented by stretching.
These tips will help you enjoy your wakeboarding experience and can help you stay safe while doing so.
Conclusion
When wakeboarding, you will need to wear a swimsuit and life jacket. In addition, a rash vest and helmet are strongly recommended. In cold water, you can also wear a wetsuit, and goggles may help protect your eyes against injuries or burning.
Remove any jewelry or watches before wakeboarding, as these will likely get lost. Also, apply sunscreen, drink water, and eat snacks while wakeboarding to prevent fatigue and dehydration. Wakeboarding is an extremely fun water sport, and we hope these tips will help you enjoy your first wakeboarding experience.
