Wakeboarding for amateurs began to develop in Moscow relatively recently. The sport itself is part of the Water Skiing Federation, but only companies and stores that sell equipment and clothing for summer extreme sports are interested in its development. The main stations in Moscow are supported by the manufacturer of wetsuits and boardshorts Quiksilver and the supplier of other sports brands - the Traektoria store.

Types of wake clubs

All wake clubs are divided into two types: in the first, visitors ride behind a boat, in the second, a person rides behind a winch installed on support towers. Since towers must be located on the ground, and it is quite difficult to find a shallow body of water and obtain permission for it, there are only a few similar clubs in Moscow. The practice of creating artificial reservoirs for sports clubs, popular in Germany, for example, has not yet taken root in Moscow. It’s easier to open a wake club with boats, but it also has its own problems. Due to the Moscow River lock system, which requires permission to pass through, evening wake clubs are located either in the north of Moscow or outside the city. As a rule, boat owners want to make money on them and offer boating services. It is better to study at bases equipped with locker rooms with a large selection of equipment, and on boats that can maintain the same speed for a long time.

Prices

Prices for winch and boat rides vary. Boat riding is more expensive, but you shouldn’t be afraid of the price of 6,000 rubles per hour, since a beginner can actually ride once or twice for eight minutes and then take a break from physical activity for a whole week. When riding behind a boat, only the time you are in the water is counted. If you ride behind a winch, then the time you wait in line also counts. As a rule, beginners cannot immediately get on the board. Having flopped from the board into the water, they swim to the shore, stand in line - and so on several times until the time runs out. According to instructors, 90% of people get on the board during the first lesson.

Types of boards

There are three types of boards for riding: wakeboard, wakesurf and wakeskate. You ride on a wakeboard, which is attached to your feet, behind a boat or winch. Wakesurfing involves riding an endless wave, which is created by the boat by releasing the rope after acceleration. A wakeskate is a short board that is not attached to the legs; it is not a very popular equipment, since it is difficult to ride and do tricks on it.

Moscow Wake School

+7 (916) 844–76–85 Website

Moscow Wake School is a new wake club that opened this summer on the beach in Strogin. Changing rooms, showers and a restaurant were on the beach before, but now there are two boats here. The owner of the boats, together with a friend, instructs and takes visitors on wakeboards and wakesurfs. The club is supported by Quiksilver, so the price of the ride includes the rental of new wetsuits and board shorts. The club organizers plan to bring famous athletes here who will give master classes. Activities on the beach, in addition to boarding, include yoga, the Brazilian martial arts capoeira, football, volleyball and trampolining.

"Trajectory Park" in Myakinin

+7 (925) 367–00–96, +7 (926) 601–66–52 Website

The wake club in Myakinin began supporting the Trajectory store this year, which is why five figures for the water park were moved here from Strogin and several new ones were ordered. Due to all these changes, the club experienced a large influx of people wanting to ride, and the winch couldn't stand it. The circular winch in Myakinin - the first such structure in Moscow - was built 12 years ago with the expectation that it would be handled by the Water Ski Federation. The owners of the club promise to fix the installation in the near future and ask you to follow the news on Facebook. On ordinary days Visitors here ride wakeboards, wakesurfs and wakeskates. The club has a large café with a veranda serving grilled food and milkshakes with fresh fruit. There is no alcohol on the menu.

WakePeople

Malibu

Wake Home

+7 (926) 413–27–63 Facebook

The Wake Home club on Myakininskoe Highway is more than four years old. There is a winch here, on which you can ride from side to side, and two boats. The water park is modest, with only one figure. The infrastructure on the shore includes a relaxation area with poufs and Wi-Fi, showers and changing rooms. There are so many wetsuits and boards of different sizes for rent that it gives the impression of a full-fledged store. Not far from the wake club there is a summer restaurant and Rublevsky beach with slides for children.

"Vo-club" in Strogin

+7 (915) 199–89–28 Website

The Vo-Club has two winches: a reversible one, which rolls visitors from side to side, and a circular one, which, accordingly, allows visitors to ride in a circle. Since winches are most often used by athletes to perfect their tricks, the Vo Club has seven jumping figures in the park. Infrastructure includes a locker room, a bathhouse, a cafe and a buffet with ice cream and tea. You can ride a wakeboard, wakeskate, monoski and water ski. Competitions are often held here: championships of Moscow and Russia.

All-Russian Exhibition Center

+7 (495) 544–34–00 Website

A few weeks ago, a winch and one figure for skating were installed in the dammed area of ​​the All-Russian Exhibition Center. The total distance of the water route is 170 meters. They rent two types of boards, a wakeboard or wakeskate, a wetsuit, a life jacket and a helmet. Experienced wakeboarders are skeptical about the new place, but this is one of the few bases for riding in Moscow that is convenient to get to on your own.

Wakeboard school "Zvezda"

+7 (906) 092–66–00 Website

The Zvezda wakeboarding school is located on the territory of the Crocus City yacht club, not far from the Myakinino metro station. There is currently only one driver-instructor and a boat that can accommodate seven people. They ride in the Stroginskaya and Pavshinskaya floodplains. It is recommended to register for classes in advance, since there are always a lot of people in the evenings on weekdays and on weekends, and come in groups of no more than three or four person to make learning more comfortable. You can pay for skating after training or buy a subscription in advance for a certain number of minutes and spend them throughout the season. You can relax after skiing in the Crocus City Mall cafe or in the Novikov Shore House.

Naturally, you should not primarily focus exclusively on popular brands, hoping that such a purchase will solve all problems at once. The well-known brand of a wakeboard manufacturer does not at all guarantee that the equipment it produces is ideal for you.

Firstly, it's important to know types of wakeboards. There are only three of them: freestyle(ideal for performing various tricks), freeride and universal models ( allaround). Once you decide on your riding style, you can choose the type of wakeboard that is most suitable for you.

Secondly, choosing a wakeboard is best done according to one of the most important criteria - board bend (rocker). More flex makes it easier to land, and less flex makes it easier to ride the wakeboard at high speed. A straight wakeboard has continuous rocker, allowing you to jump further and provide soft landings. A board with a three-stage rocker moves better through the water, but in this case hard landings are guaranteed, so this is not the best option for beginners mastering wakeboarding. There are various combinations that allow you to choose a wakeboard with the rocker characteristics that best suit your specific needs.

Choosing board length for wakeboarding depends on the weight of who will ride it. Therefore, it is worth focusing on the established restrictions, choosing an option that fits the average value of the recommended minimum and maximum weight restrictions. For example, with a weight of 70-80 kg, the optimal wakeboard length is 135-140 cm. It is worth remembering that the wider the nose and tail of the board, the higher it goes above the water, and in this case it is easier to transition from wave to wave .

When choosing wakeboard weight It is important to remember that there is a directly proportional relationship here. The lighter the board, the more comfortable it is to ride and the easier it is to perform various tricks. The cost increases accordingly. Wakeboards are most often made from polyurethane or balsa wood (the core of the board).

Another important nuance that should be taken into account when choosing a wakeboard is fastenings, on which the safety of the rider largely depends when engaging in this water sport. The wrong choice of fastenings can be one of the causes of injuries in such a fairly safe water.

The attachments can be made in the form of sandals or boots. The former can be easily adjusted to any size of the wakeboarder’s feet, while the latter are selected exactly for a specific size and provide better support for the legs.

Concerning wakeboard cost, then for a beginner it is better to buy a board at average prices and learn how to ride it well, and then switch to a more expensive model that allows you to perform complex tricks. The best time to buy a wakeboard is in the off-season, when many brands offer significant discounts on their models. Professional wakeboarders have several boards for riding, but beginners only need one to join this exciting and entertaining experience.

As the season approaches, more and more people get out on the water and wakeboard. And no wonder. Riding both on a winch and behind a boat will bring a lot of vivid impressions and will not leave anyone indifferent. We decided to take a thorough approach to the issue of choosing a wakeboard and tell you in detail what you should pay attention to.

First of all, you need to decide riding style. There are two main areas in which all boards differ: riding behind a winch and behind a boat.

They have a smoother surface and an additional wear-resistant layer on the sliding surface. They are designed for figure skating, which means they do not have built-in fins and the main emphasis is on better gliding.

in turn, they should be more stable and stable, and therefore have built-in and removable fins and deep channels on the slide in order to better absorb the shock during jumps and perform tricks.

Park wakes often have a natural wood slatt core for responsiveness (click) and durability, while boat wakes often have a foam or hybrid core for greater stiffness or lightness.

Of course, there are also hybrid models designed for both fleet and boat use. But such a choice is not always advisable.

Once you have decided on the style, you should pay attention to the length of the wakeboard. Length is considered one of the most important indicators and, depending on the weight of the rider, the length of the board will vary. The heavier the rider, the longer the wakeboard should be. Let's look at the main advantages of long and short boards:

Long wakeboards

• More stable and good for beginners
• Due to the larger surface of contact with water, they are more stable when cutting and develop greater speed.
• More area for balance and easier landing

Short wakeboards

• Smaller surface area makes it easier to perform tricks and flips
• Overall a more maneuverable wakeboard, but less stable
• When landing, the nose of the board may bury itself in the water and, in general, landings are more difficult
• Slower than long wakeboards. Overclocking requires more effort.

The size of the board also depends on the weight of the rider. Below is a table of wakeboard length depending on the rider’s weight

Size chart for easy determination

Rocker or board bend

Probably one of the most important criteria when choosing a wakeboard is the rocker and the shape of the board. There are three types of rockers:

1. Continuous rocker. Smooth curve of the board from bow to stern. Provides stability of movement and good glide. Suitable for beginners.
2. Three stage rocker(Three stage rocker). The wakeboard has two bending points and is therefore divided into three parts: nose, center and tail. Suitable for advanced riders and thrill-seekers, as this board cuts the water better, is more responsive to the rider’s movements, has better elasticity and high speed. A wakeboard with a three-stage rocker is suitable for an aggressive riding style; it is easy to perform tricks and high jumps on it. For even more advanced riders, there is also a five-speed rocker.
3. Hybrid rocker. This is an attempt to combine the benefits of continuous and three-stage rocker. Of course, such a board glides better, is more stable, and at the same time it is easy to perform various tricks and cut through the water. But in most cases, such a wakeboard is selected individually for a specific rider.
4. Progressive rocker Smoothly changing the radius of the bend from the center to the nose and tail, the wakeboard appears to be part of a larger circle when viewed from perspective. The disadvantage of such wakeboards is the high price, because... Making boards with progressive rocker is quite an expensive process. Ideal for flat skiing, it will be a good help for those who are trying to get on the water for the first time.

Shape boards

Wakeboards differ in shape by having a wide or narrow nose and tail. The wide nose and tail provide high stability when moving and ease of rotation. Narrow ones are more maneuverable.

Keels and fins

In general, fins and keels are designed to give the wakeboard greater directional stability when moving on the surface of the water. They can be built-in or removable, so you can quickly and easily adjust the riding comfort. Fins located closer to the nose or tail make the wakeboard more stable when moving in a straight line. If the keels are located closer to the center, then it is easy to make quick turns on such a board, and it is more responsive to the rider’s movements. However, due to greater stability, the mobility of the wakeboard suffers and, as a result, requires more accurate rotations. In the park, fins are practically not used, since they are inconvenient for sliding over figures.

We have looked at the main points that you should pay attention to when choosing a wakeboard and we hope that this article will be useful to you. If you want to choose a wakeboard for yourself and something turns out to be unclear, call us, and our specialists will be happy to help you when choosing a wakeboard.

– this is the moment of paramount importance that literally determines the entire process of skating. To avoid making an annoying mistake, pay attention to the points described below.

Purpose of buying a wakeboard

First of all, you need to decide What type of wakeboarding will you be doing: boat or cable?. In both cases, the board has its own characteristics. However, this does not mean that a wakeboard for boat riding cannot be used for cable riding, and vice versa.

Main difference between a wake designed for riding in a wake park , – the presence of an additional wear-resistant layer on the sliding surface (since tricks are performed using springboards), as well as the absence of fins and a smoother sliding surface (the lower surface of the wake, its base).

Wakeboards designed for boating , on their sliding surface they have deep channels that perform shock-absorbing and stabilizing functions during landing. In addition, such wakes can be supplemented with fins (built-in or removable), which increase the stability of the rider.

Recently, they have become increasingly popular hybrid wakeboards , which are perfect for both the park and for boating. Their special feature is the presence of removable fins, an additional wear-resistant coating on the sliding side and shallow channels.

Wakeboard length

When choosing any board (for snowboarding, surfing), one of the main criteria is its length depending on the rider's body weight.

To determine the board length, pay attention to the wakeboard sizes presented below.

In addition, it is customary to highlight long and short wakeboards.

Long wake has greater stability and is ideal for beginners making their first attempts to stand on the board. Due to the large area of ​​​​contact with water, good contact with the surface is ensured, which generally makes the skating process easier and the landing more stable. This type of wake is easier to control, it is ideal for performing large grabs and flat tricks, and has a high speed of movement.

Short wakeboard good for performing tricks that involve catching air, jumping, it flies out of the wave very well. The speed of movement of such a board is lower, which requires additional effort to pass through the water. The landing is more difficult, since the nose of a short wake can bury itself in the water due to the smaller area of ​​​​contact with the water. Perfect for performing flips, interceptions, and rotations.

Wakeboard weight

Another key characteristic that determines not only the ability to perform tricks, but also the cost of the board is the weight, depending on material of manufacture wakeboard. The lighter, the more expensive.

Wood core boards , made of balsa wood, provide a soft landing due to flexibility. However, this flexibility is perfectly combined with strength: balsa wood, after drying, becomes stiff and surprisingly light. These wakeboards have a very narrow profile.

Polyurethane foam (foam) , coated with a composite of graphite and fiberglass, is the most common material for wakeboards and water skis. Due to its plasticity, the board can be given any shape during manufacturing. Such wakes are not durable, but, nevertheless, are ideal for making slides and rails.

Hybrid core combines high strength, flexibility and low weight.

Honeycomb is a combination of an aluminum honeycomb grille with a composite coating. Wakeboards made from this material are lighter and stiffer compared to polyurethane foam, and more expensive, which predetermined their withdrawal from the market.

Board bend shape (rocker)

This indicator determines the glide of the board through the water. To determine the bend of the board, you need to lay it on the floor and see how much it recedes from the surface at the nose and tail.

Continuous rocker characterized by a uniform curve from bow to stern. This rocker provides excellent gliding as it does not retain water. Stable when moving in a straight line and when cutting.

Three stage rocker has a flat sliding surface and a bend near the edges. U
It has two bending points, which sort of divides such a wake into three parts. Perfect for high jumps and aggressive riding style, as it is very responsive in control, elastic, and goes through the water above a continuous rocker. It easily picks up speed, jumps high from the wave, and allows you to cut into the water more sharply. The disadvantages include a hard landing and less smooth gliding.

Hybrid rocker characterized by increasing bends towards the bow and stern. This wakeboard is stable, bouncy, responsive, and glides well. His behavior is more predictable. Can both glide smoothly and cut the water aggressively. A fast, versatile type of wake that combines the benefits of continuous and three-stage rocker. Continuously gaining popularity all over the world.

Slider design

This parameter determines the wakeboard's ability to gain speed and its comfort when landing.

If the slipper comb-shaped completed (V-Shape) – the landing will be soft.

Concave (a recess along the longitudinal axis measuring 5-10 mm) ensures rapid acceleration on cuts and ease of making slides.

Channels are responsible for stability of movement and soft landing.

In addition, the speed of the wakeboard determines material, from which sliding is completed. If it is rough, the board will be faster, if it is soft, the speed will be slower.

Wakeboard mount

Mount O pen toe (open fingers): fingers are open and water has access to the body. Its main advantage is flexibility of the size range, due to which several riders can use this mount at once. A good option for those who are just learning how to get on the board.

Fastening Closed Toe (closed fingers) , accordingly, limits the access of water to the feet thanks to the closed toe. In appearance, this mount resembles snowboard boots. A binding that is correctly selected for the size of your foot secures your foot well, which allows you to gain additional control over the board and prevents your feet from freezing. This fairly rigid mount is perfect for professionals and well-trained riders.

Buying a wakeboard, needless to say, is an expensive undertaking. Of course, there is always the opportunity to rent a board, and some craftsmen even make their own wakeboards from plywood, foam or slats.

Well, have a good wave!

HOW TO CHOOSE A WAKEBOARD?

Selection and purchase wakeboard- a responsible occupation. After all, your goals may be different: to get maximum pleasure from skating, improve your style, perform a new record-breaking trick, or just get on the board.

If you pay attention to the skating of famous riders, you can find different preferences: some choose longer, some shorter, some prefer hybrid boards, others clearly choose to suit their riding style!

Strong pro riders are part of teams of any brands wakeboards and ride only on equipment of this brand, sometimes even creating their own Pro model.

Currently there are about 20 manufacturing companies. The largest ones are represented in Russia, such as Liquid Force, Slingshot, Reckless, Нyperlite, Ronix, CWB, O'Brien, Jobe, Rope and others. There is also a Russian brand of production wakeboards: Alride.

When choosing the first wake First of all, you need to know what style of skating you plan to use. The choice of board parameters depends on it. Besides wakeboard has a number of technical characteristics that are quite easy to get confused about.

WAKEBOARD LENGTH

Length is one of the most important indicators when choosing, similar to a snowboard and other boards.
The heavier the rider, the longer the wakeboard should be!

SHORT WAKEBOARD

LONG WAKEBOARD

Flies well from the wave. The advantage of a short wakeboard is that it is easier to twist and control in the air when jumping or crossing waves. Better suited for various interceptions, flips and simple rotations. Easier execution of style elements - rowing. A short board moves slower and will require more effort to move through the water to accelerate. Reducing the contact surface makes the landing a little harder, and the nose of the board may dig into the water.

Long boards are good for beginners because they give the rider a more stable position. They are distinguished by greater contact with the surface of the water, and this makes the skating process easier and makes landings more stable. More stable when cutting and great for big, stylish grab runs. High speed movement. They are easier to control, which gives a great advantage when mastering various flat tricks.

WAKEBOARD SIZE SELECTION TABLE

WAKEBOARD WEIGHT

Here there is the following dependence: the lighter the board, the more convenient it is when riding and performing tricks, and, accordingly, the more expensive it is. The weight of the board directly depends on the materials from which it is made. The price and main characteristics of the wakeboard depend on the material of the wakeboard core.

POLYURETHANE FOAM
Most boards use the same materials as jet skis, namely lightweight polyurethane foam (or foam) covered with a fiberglass or graphite composite. These boards are suitable for rails and slides. A wakeboard made of polyurethane foam weighs less, but has a more voluminous structure for added strength. During production, foam boards can be easily given any rocker shape and any sliding profile. However, such boards are less durable.

WOODEN CORE (DNA/ULTRACORE)
Boards with a wooden core are flexible, which gives soft landings. Balsa wood is used as a wooden filler, which, when properly dried, becomes hard and light. The wooden core makes the wakeboard more durable and also more flexible. These wakeboards have a thinner profile.

HYBRID CORE
The hybrid core is a versatile combination of low weight, increased strength and some flexibility.

HONEYCOMB
Another technology for the production of wakeboards is the use of an aluminum honeycomb grid coated with a composite. Such boards are stiffer and lighter than polyurethane foam, but are also much more expensive to produce, so at present they are gradually leaving the market.

ROCKER

One of the main points in choosing a wakeboard is the rocker, or the shape of the board's bend. Simply put, if you lay the board on a flat surface, it will be noticeable on the nose and tail - how far they recede from the floor. It determines sliding on water and there are three types:

CONTINUOUS | CONTINUOUS
Smooth, even curve from bow to stern.

Stability of movement in a straight line and when cutting.
Excellent glide.
Smooth (continuous) rocker - a smooth curve from tip to tail, as if the board is part of a circle. Essentially, the first wakeboard was designed with a smooth rocker. It allows you to glide through the water more easily without retaining water.

THREE-STAGE | THREE STAGE
A flat slider with a bend closer to the edges. It has two bending points and is “broken” into three parts.

Increased responsiveness. The board goes higher in the water and has better elasticity and response.
High jumps.
Suitable for an aggressive riding style, it allows you to cut into the water more sharply, gain high speed and jump high from the wave. Sharper, more explosive, great pop.
The downside is harder landings, especially when flying over a wave on a flat, and not as good a glide as a smooth rocker.

HYBRID | HYBRID
The bend increases closer to the bow and stern.

A universal combination of stability, good glide, jumping ability and responsiveness. A wakeboard with such a curve is more predictable and functional, it can glide smoothly through the water and at the same time is capable of aggressive cutting and amplitude jumps.
For those looking for a fast, responsive projectile. The Hybrid Rocker is a rocker that combines the benefits of a smooth rocker and a 3-step rocker. One rocker extends from nose to tail and a second rocker that is located at the edges. Various combinations allow you to choose a wakeboard specifically for your needs. This type of rocker has been gaining great popularity lately.

PROGRESSIVE | PROGRESSIVE
Varying camber from center to bow and stern

All the benefits of a hybrid rocker with more pop to add height.

DESIGN

PROFILE FORM
The silhouette of a wakeboard affects its behavior.
Wide nose and tail - high stability of movement, ease of rotation in the water.
Narrow nose and tail - high control and maneuverability.

FINS
Wakeboard keels (fins) are designed to give the board longitudinal stability while moving along the surface of the water and at the moment of landing. They make the board more stable and controllable and soften landings, but also less movable. There are two main types of keels: removable and built-in.
Removable keels are convenient because their size, width and presence can be adjusted. The most common wakeboard on the market has built-in keels at the edges and removable keels near the middle.

Dependence of control on the location of the fins.
CLOSER TO THE NOSE OR TAIL (AT THE EDGES)
Stability when moving in a straight line and when cutting corners.
Keels on the edges make the board more stable. The closer the fins are to the nose and tail of the wakeboard, the better the board holds on the water.

CLOSE TO THE CENTER
Fast turns and edge changes.
Keels located closer to the middle make it possible to transfer the slightest movements of the rider to the wakeboard.
Pushing the rider off the wave faster and more efficiently.

DEEP FINS
Beginner riders should choose larger and deeper fins, which will allow them to stay stable on the water and have better control of the board.

NARROW FINS
Narrow fins of 4 cm or less are suitable for fans of tricks and spins.

EDGE THICKNESS

Effect of board cross section
Sharp edge - easy cutting.
Thick edge - stability of movement along the figures in the park.

MORTGAGES FOR MOUNTINGS

Different mortgages require different screws
Inch thread is a classic American standard.
Metric thread - a more reliable fastening of boots.
Fastrack - maximum freedom of adjustment of the wakeboard stand.

BOTTOM SHAPE

Slider design
Comb (V-Shape) - soft landing after the jump, easy edge transition.
Concave - quick acceleration on cutting edges, easy edging, light slides.
Channels - stability when moving, soft landing after jumps.

Slider shape
The sliding surface of a wakeboard has a direct bearing on your riding style.
It is worth paying attention to:
Slide material. Rough makes the board faster, smooth slows it down.
Rises along the edges of the board or concave allow the board to stay higher above the water surface, making it easier to re-edge the wake.
Built-in fins along the entire length of the wakeboard or channels affect the landing quality.
The V-shape or ridge also makes edge transitions easier and improves landings.

The sliding quality and resistance to damage depend on the sliding material.
PBT is a standard wakeboard base coating that is easy to manufacture.
Nexes - rough Nexes material affects the speed characteristics of the board, making it faster; provides reduced resistance to sliding on water, which seriously reduces the rider’s energy consumption.
P-Tex/Grind is a special coating that is scratch resistant when used on park figures.
Uretane is an ultra-light, scratch-resistant coating for park wakeboards.
P-Tex is suitable for rails and sliders, as is Urethane.