Wakeboarding has always been something that amuses and interests me. But like many others, I had no idea where to begin the learning process from. This brought me to reveal some of the best wakeboarding beginner tricks, and today I would like to pass them on. So, if you are a wakeboarding enthusiast just like me, get ready to learn it even faster!

But before delving into the topic, I would like to mention that my passion and pulling attraction towards wakeboarding didn’t let me sit idly on the sidelines seeing others doing fun tricks on their wakeboards. This passion compelled me to start watching YouTube videos and study beginner guides on waterboarding as a starting point.

Some Must-Know Facts for Beginners

Regardless of being a novice, beginner, or an intermediary at wakeboarding, there is always something that you must remember about this water sport. You can never fully reach the pinnacle with wakeboarding learning. There is always something new to discover and learn.

Keeping that aside, here are some of the best wakeboarding tricks I learned as a beginner to master the art of wakeboarding. These tips helped me stand on my feet, quite literally.

Get started by:

• Practicing floating, keeping the board in front of you, on the surface on your back, and keeping your hands on the towrope in front of you
• Bend your knee and put one arm on the outside region of one knee
• Keep the board in front of you with your feet strapped on it
• Initially, let the board rest on the side before you pick momentum and begin to float on the water
• Once you are ready, give the board driver a sign to move
• Don’t panic as the boat starts to speed up props you in a standing position
• Keep your calm and try to keep your body flexible without locking your knees

Nobody said wakeboarding is an easy-to-learn sport. It wasn’t for me. But slowly and gradually, you will learn to get a grip on it.

I must also add the much-needed disclaimer at this point. Prepare for your body to ache in places it has never before. You will be traveling in excess of 20 mph and when you hit the water it will contort your body and you will feel it.

It might take you time and practice to get better at this sport. But practice can make you gain strength in no time to enjoy wakeboarding without any body aches.

Wakeboarding Beginner Tricks

Once you have gotten the grip and are comfortable enough to stand on the board, these tricks may be of great help to you in learning wakeboarding:

Surfing the Wake

The first trick I learned as a beginner in wakeboarding was ‘surfing the wake’. See the mushy foamy water coming out of a boat while wakeboarding? There’s the wake and we’re going to get all in there.

This trick is best carried out by grabbing the handle with your inside hands. Put all your body weight on your heels and backward and lean back in full force for the wakeboard to lean forward and create a big splash.

Cross the Wake

This is another beginner’s trick you can pull off easily if you have learned to control and surf the wake with balance. Start by pulling the towrope while leaning into your toe edges and heel.

Glide the rest of the water by bending your knees, keeping the rope and handle stiff and only moving your lower body. Make sure you slowly turn your shoulder and chest in the direction you’re heading. This helps you gradually make your board spin.

Tail Grab

Tail grab is another trick that I learned early in my wakeboarding lessons. It is a beginner’s trick but surely requires some work to execute it properly. In order to perform this trick, while you are in the water, wakeboarding, launch up in the air and bend your knees as much as bringing your board up to your waist. Then use your backhand to grab the tail of the board while in the air. Don’t forget to release the tail as soon as you approach back to the water.

Edging

In my opinion, edging is the most basic yet the most necessary trick you must learn as a beginner to claw your paws in the fundamentals of wakeboarding. This trick involved surfing toeside and heelside inside a wake.

Edging is carried out while putting full pressure on your front toes or heels to push the board in your preferred direction. In order to move to the toeside, it is advised to pressure your toes. Whereas in order to move heelside, you must put pressure your heel. Amidst it all, leave your arms relaxed.

Riding Switch

I personally love this trick where you ride by putting forward your non-natural foot. It includes switching the wake gradually and then trying to cross the wake.

While at first, trying to switch rides may appear to be difficult. But with practice, you will get more comfortable at it. Direct your board using your front foot and remember to always leave your arms relaxed.

Jump the Wake- Ollie

Ollie is the most beginner or intermediate trick as I have learned it. This is the first brick to build a solid foundation and learn more complex tricks. This wakeboarding trick is completed by jumping across a buoy.

In this trick, as you reach a buoy, bend the knees and put all your body weight onto the heels. Then as you have reached the buoy, lift both your legs simultaneously and pop. Once you land, bend your knees, so your body doesn’t lose balance and let go of the handle while in the air as well.

Surfing 180

Surfing 180 is another beginner’s trick at wakeboarding. This is where your wakeboard rotates 180 degrees while on the water surface. This is a relatively more straightforward trick because it does not entail bouncing off the water into the air. In fact, all it takes is the beginner to navigate the board appropriately to master this trick.

When implementing this trick, make sure you bend your knees, lock the elbows, and rotate the wakeboard by sliding left and right or by rotating your hips 180 degrees. Once you have turned your board sideward, you can ride backward or even ride on your side for a while.

Conclusion

Sure, this might sound like an exercise in itself to you, but this is why wakeboarding is so popular as well. I find this sport to be highly exhilarating.

Moving to intermediate and then professional level from beginner wakeboarding helps you discover new tips and tricks to own the wakeboarding styles.

Don’t worry about stamina; as you start practicing, your body will gradually gain the stamina to fight the water.