Wakeboarding can be a challenging watersport for most beginners. Having the correct wakeboard can help while juggling all the different skills you need to learn. There are different brands of wakeboards that offer various beginner designs.
The best wakeboard for a beginner is the Ronix Vault. The Hyperlite State 2.0 and the Liquid Force Trip are other great wakeboards for beginners. These boards are designed with the correct lengths, fins, shapes, and rocker styles to accommodate new wakeboard learners.
Buying a good quality wakeboard that is designed for beginner riders is really important when starting to learn this sport. The board will help with safety aspects and help enhance the skills you will learn. The best wakeboards also include slightly different designs for juniors and women.
The Best Wakeboard For A Beginner
A good wakeboard can make a huge difference in your wakeboard learning journey. When choosing the best wakeboard for a beginner, there are several factors to consider.
1. Ronix Vault Wakeboard
One of the most popular and well-known wakeboards considered the best for beginners is the Ronix Vault. There is a range of wakeboards in this brand, including boards for juniors, both boys and girls, as well as a women’s design.
It has been the entry-level board for many beginners for over a decade. It has a three-stage rocker design with two fins, which helps to give you a boost when launching off the wake. Some of its features include a big center fin and channels that create more stability when wakeboarding for the first few times.
The shape of the Ronix Vault is designed specially to give beginners more space and freedom on the heelside and allows you to lock you in toeside. This also helps you to learn your first wake jumps. The Ronix Vault also has an asymmetrical rail line, making cutting and carving easier for beginner riders. The asymmetrical design means that the toeside edge is thinner than the heelside edge.
2. Hyperlite State 2.0 Wakeboard
The Hyperlite State 2.0 is another great wakeboard for beginners and is quite comparable to the Ronix Vault. It also has a big center fin for stability and an asymmetrical shape. This particular shape helps riders to learn how to ride toeside and toeside turn initiation more easily.
The Hyperlite State 2.0 has a continuous rocker type with two fins. This type of rocker means that you have more predictability. With the continuous rocker, you won’t have to worry about losing any power you get from riding heelside due to the asymmetrical design.
Also, as the name suggests, this wakeboard is really lightweight. Ultimately a lightweight board makes it easier for beginners to learn to surf the wake, edge, and do various tricks.
3. Liquid Force Trip Wakeboard
This wakeboard is a classic, which has been re-designed and improved for beginners. The improvements include mostly giving riders more speed and fewer toeside edge catches. The tip shape has been designed to suit a fuller shape.
The edges on the rails are variable, which makes for a smooth-feel ride. If you want more control, smoothness, and predictability in your landings, you can use the D-I-S-C (double-inside-single-concave) hull with longer molded fins. However, if you want to learn more transitions and tricks, you can remove the center fin for more maneuverability.
The continuous rocker design of the Liquid Force Trip also helps the board be forgiving, which is great for beginner riders. The great thing about this wakeboard is that you can use it all the way to more advanced levels.
Tips For Choosing A Beginner Wakeboard
Although some highly recommended wakeboards are suitable for beginners, there are some things that you can also look out for when purchasing your first board. Firstly, most boards have labels – beginner, intermediate or advanced.
Check the label, as this usually shows you what features accompany each level. For instance, the materials, fins, and rocker may be different, and you’ll want the features that make wakeboarding easier in the beginning.
Size is an important factor, as the size needs to suit your height and weight. For instance, if the board is too big for you, then the board will feel clumsy and bulky, making certain moves difficult. Professionals will be able to help you choose the right size, consulting a size chart that shows different lengths of the wakeboard.
However, if the board is too small for you, it causes the board to sink, and the boat will have to go faster. If you’re still unsure about the perfect size, go for a slightly longer board that will offer a little more stability and control.
You may have noticed that some wakeboards have different rocker styles – either three-stage or continuous. The rocker-style determines how much bend you get in the wakeboard. As a beginner, you may opt for some more smoothness and predictability, and then you should go for the continuous rocker. However, if you plan on getting more lifts off the wake, then the three-stage rocker may be for you.
The fins of the wakeboard are responsible for keeping the board going in the same direction and not turning freely. There are many different features of fins – deep, shallow, removable, molded-in – so ideally, it would be best to try some boards with different fins to see what you like. Usually, beginners enjoy boards with deeper fins for a more stable ride.
Perhaps the best tip is to try different boards before you commit to one. Although one type may be the best for one person, it is not necessarily the best for you. However, if you cannot find an opportunity to try some boards, you won’t go wrong with the suggested best boards for beginners.
Conclusion
There are main wakeboards that are the best for beginners, including the Ronix Vault, the Hyperlite State 2.0, and the Liquid Force Trip. These boards have the best designs overall for stability, smoothness, and predictability for beginner riders.
