How to Choose a Wakeskate - Guide & Size Chart
The sport of wakeskating combines wakeboarding with skateboarding. Wakeskaters ride behind a boat on wood or composite wakeskates just like wakeboarding. You do not need to be attached to your wakeskate similar to a skateboard. Wakeskates have a lot of similar features to wakeboards. Here's what you need to know about types of rocker, materials, edges, and shapes of decks.
Wakeskate Size ChartIn deciding what size wakeskate to get, your weight is most important. Below you can find a list of general wakeskates length guidelines. The individual product details pages of each wakeskates have specific sizing charts.
|
Wakeskate Size (inches) |
Rider Weight (lbs) |
|
39 - 41 |
90 - 170 |
|
42 - 43 |
150 - 200 |
|
44 - 46 |
180+ |
Wakeskates are more maneuverable the shorter they are. It is easier to do skateboard-like flip tricks with shorter wakeskates. Wakeskates with more length allow you to travel at a slower speed. You should go with a size based on the heaviest rider if you plan to use your wakeskate by more than one rider of different sizes. Wakeskates that are a little longer will be better than ones that are too short.
Wakeskate Rocker Types
Continuous Rocker
From one end to the other, a continuous rocker board follows a simple curve. In comparison with 3-stage rocker, which pops more vertically, this creates a softer board that rides more consistently and travels farther horizontally. A continuous rocker provides a fast, smooth ride and makes it easier to hook up turns. On a continuous rocker wakeskate, you can generate a lot of speed. When you hit the wake, you will experience a very predictable pop (height) when you reach this speed. Wakeskates with continuous rockers offer excellent carving potential, especially on smooth water.
3-Stage Rocker
Three distinct planes can be seen on the bottom of a wake skate with a 3-stage rocker. The three-stage rocker will make your wakeskate respond with more height (pop) when you hit a wake. With a dramatic rocker, you'll experience less grip and more slide on the water. It becomes more difficult to use your fins effectively and you have to adjust more to the edges. Boards with three-stage rockers have a flat spot, which causes the impact of landings to be intense and gives the rider a “smack” feeling.Hybrid Rocker
A hybrid rocker combines continuous and three-stage rockers. The benefits of wakeskates with variable edges are that they have rounder rails in the middle and sharper rails on the edges. This allows for greater ease on rails and lip tricks, while working as a powerful cutting tool on the wake.
Wakeskate Deck Shapes
Concave Wakeskate Decks
A concave deck is curved or rounded like the inside of a bowl, but to a lesser degree. Wake skates with concave surfaces allow you to do more tricks as well as have better control.
Bi-Level Wakeskate Decks
Bi-level wakeskate consists of two parts, just as most things involving the prefix "bi," do. The bottom deck has the same shape and construction as most other wakeskates; only, it's attached to a separate top deck. This top portion, which resembles a skateboard deck instead of following the shape of the bottom deck, is only in contact with the bottom deck at the attachment points.
A bi-level skate creates a smoother, faster swing weight than a traditional single-level skate, while still maintaining stability for those just taking a drop. Due to the separation of the top deck and the water line, a skater who is off-axis has an enhanced chance of recovery because the two decks are independent from one another.
Wakeskate Materials
Wood
The most common material used to make wakeskates is wood. Using marine-grade epoxy, wood wakeskates are transformed into a skateboard-like experience. Due to the way the wood is affected by the water, water can shorten the lifespan of wood wakeskates. The manufacturers of wood wakeskates often do not offer warranties.
Composite
Wakeskates made from composite material feel more like wakeboards. In addition to lasting longer than wooden wakeskates, composite wakeskates are also significantly lighter. Composites, in general, are more expensive than wood construction.
Fins
The wakeskate's fins allow it to track smoothly through the water. Depending on their length and height, fins affect how your wakeskate performs in the water. In addition to providing a stable ride, taller and longer fins reduce the ability to break the board free for tricks which is better for beginners. You can also remove fins if you want a looser ride.
Wakeskate Deck Surface
Grip Tape vs. Foam
You can choose to cover the top of a wakeskate with grip tape just like used on skateboards or with a soft, high-traction EVA pad. Foam is the best option for barefoot riding. Wearing wakeboarding shoes offers a stable platform that offers ultimate control, similar to skateboarding.