Ropeway for wakeboarding. What is the difference between wakeboarding and wakesurfing? How much does a wakeboard cost?

Wakeboarding - what is it? The answer to this question can be obtained by watching unusually dynamic and spectacular competitions taking place on the open sea or in specialized bodies of water. The resort sport, which people used to call water skiing, gradually transformed into an independent sport with its own rules, varieties, sets of elements and champions. There are also wakeboarding clubs in the capital of Russia, where you can feel all the delights of extreme sports in just a few lessons.

For those who don't know what it is

Wakeboarding is a sport that originated on beaches and resorts. Everyone knows that snowboarding grew out of classic skis. Modern wakeboarding has replaced static and not particularly spectacular water skiing. The point is that the athlete cuts water surface on a special board, following the boat and holding on to the foul. While moving, the extreme sportsman performs elements of slalom, jumps and flips, and performs spectacular stunts.

The athlete moves in the wake of the boat, so he can deviate from a straight line to ride the wave and add momentum to his jumps. The etymology of the word “wakeboarding” precisely includes two main components of this sport. “Wake” means “wake” in English, and “bord” means “board”.

The boat is equipped with special ballast in order to create waves that help athletes perform various elements. The tricks of wakeboarders are similar to those performed by their snowboarding brothers, but water acrobats are limited in their freedom by a foul, due to which they cannot perform revolutions around their own axis.

Kinds

There are several types of wakeboarding. What it is can be understood by observing the competitions of professional athletes and the fun of wakesurfers.

Wakesurfing is one of the branches of wakeboarding, an amateur sport that does not require expensive professional equipment. Here you can get by with a regular surfboard or snowboard. The athlete begins to move through the water, holding on to the boat, and then releases it, continuing to glide along the wake wave.

Wakesurfing does not require specially equipped tracks; it can be practiced in any place where there is enough space for the boat. Despite its simplicity and limited possibilities for performing tricks, wakesurfing has developed a certain set of special elements. You can ride both to the right and to the left of the boat, with your face or your back, with or without a rope.

Cable and boat

Many nuances and techniques are included in wakeboarding. What it is is easy to understand by watching athletes compete in different versions of this sport. It all started with boat wakeboarding - a rather complex sport with many unpredictable situations.

It is very difficult to maintain a combination of constant speed and ideal trajectory while the boat is moving. This requires large expanses of water, which makes it difficult to observe the progress of wakeboarding competitions.

However, technology does not stand still; such a young sport has also undergone evolution. Now, in addition to boat wakeboarding, there is also cable wakeboarding. Its essence lies in the fact that an electric winch is used instead of a boat. The engine pulls the foul at a constant speed, which allows for a more objective assessment of the tricks and elements performed by the athlete.

There is no need for a boat here, so cable wakeboarding competitions can be held on relatively small areas of the water surface.

Tournaments and competitions

Wakeboarding is a serious sport in which major international competitions are held. In cable wakeboarding, athletes compete in two disciplines - circuit and reverse races. In the first case, the athlete’s performance is assessed according to two criteria. The quality of the tricks is of decisive importance, but the speed of the section, which is divided into slalom sections, is also taken into account.

In reverse racing, movement occurs only in a linear direction - forward and backward. Here the acrobatic skills of extreme sportsmen come to the fore; more jumps and tricks are performed.

Areas of the water surface are specially marked for competitions. The route is marked with flags and buoys; ramps and springboards are installed to perform acrobatic elements and jumps.

Wakeboarding is a very dangerous sport, as the speed of the boat can reach forty kilometers per hour. Therefore, you should be especially careful when choosing equipment.

Education

Wakeboarding is a kind of summer alternative to snowboarding, so it attracts many fans of this winter sport, because on hot, sunny days you can not only not lose your former dexterity, but also learn new tricks.

It is necessary to master the basics of wakeboarding in special wake parks, under the supervision of experienced instructors, as this is a very difficult and dangerous sport. Classes begin with the beginner being taught to simply stay on the board while moving. Only when the board begins to feel like part of your own body can you begin learning jumps and tricks.

Particular attention is paid to safety during the first lessons. Life jackets are a must for beginners. Instructors are always nearby, because falling and going under water are an inevitable consequence of the first training.

Board

Choosing the right wakeboarding board is the key to successful extreme sports. It is necessary to choose the one that best suits the person’s level of training. There are no clear parameters for wakeboard sizes; there are boards that are wide and narrow, short and long. Wide models are better at throwing an athlete on the waves, narrow ones are faster and more maneuverable.

There are also some subtleties with the leg mounts. They range from adjustable across a range of sizes to custom made to fit a specific athlete's foot size.

Professionals also attach special fins to their boards, thanks to which the wakeboard gains controllability and maneuverability.

Where to practice

Wakeboarding originated in the USA in the early nineties and during this time has spread widely throughout the world. Today in Europe there are more than a hundred specialized wake parks equipped with the latest technology. Wakeboarding is also developing in Moscow.

This sport came to Russia recently and has not yet managed to acquire a sufficient number of fans. Accordingly, there are not many places for wakeboarding here. Not everyone knows what it is, however, well-equipped wake parks can be found in Moscow.

They differ into two types. In the former, you can ride a board while following the boat; in the latter, there are installations with electric winches for circuit and reverse racing.

Addresses

Wakeboarding in Moscow is supervised by the Water Skiing Federation and is supported by companies that sell equipment and clothing for summer extreme sports.

Moscow Wake School is a wake club that opened not long ago in Strogino on the territory of the Superbeach beach. There are two boats operating here that take visitors around. They are instructed by the owner of the club, who at one time was a professional wakeboarder.

The wake club in Myakinin is the first in Russia to operate a circular winch for wakeboarding. There are about ten figures installed here to perform jumps and elements.

“Vo-club” in Strogino is an actively developing platform for wakeboarding. Winches for circular and reverse skating operate here; There are seven figures for jumping and tricks.

Combine these four sports, put an athlete on the water and you get a wakeboard.

Wakeboarding in Moscow.

Despite the fact that wakeboarding is a type of extreme water sport in which the athlete moves at high speed behind a boat, this sport is increasingly being chosen for active rest. There are two main ways to do this:

• Wakeboarding behind a boat.
• Wakeboarding using an electric winch.

The difference is that riding on an electric drive eliminates the appearance of a wake wave, but if there is no boat, there is no wave. To some extent, this helps to more accurately assess the cleanliness of performing tricks.

There is no doubt that riding behind a boat looks more impressive. However, boating will require a larger area of ​​water, skills from the athlete and the boat captain.

Wakeboard. Question price?

If you are interested ride a wakeboard in Moscow, change your winter snowboard or skis, and just test yourself, the Moswake club invites you to experience new sensations on the best wakeboards from world-famous manufacturers.

If you are a beginner, but you are very interested in trying water skiing, our experienced athletes and instructors will tell you where to start. They will help children and adults quickly get up and get used to the apparatus, tell them about the pitfalls and instruct them on safety precautions.

If you don't know where to ride and wakeboard in Moscow, collecting dust in the corner? Or you can't find inexpensive wakeboard in Moscow equipment for rent? Come visit us at the Moswake club. We are located 5 km from the Moscow Ring Road along the Dmitrovskoye Highway, on one of the piers of the Pirogovskoye Reservoir. We will be glad to see you, as we love guests very much.

Greetings, my friends! You know, something new and unusual is invented in the world every day, and much of it relates to entertainment. Only now people have become of little interest in the ordinary, give everyone more adrenaline. Just some kind of mania. I wonder why this would happen?

My theory on this matter is this: we see too much drive and action on TV, one might say there is practically nothing to surprise us. Hence the desire to receive stronger emotions. Where can I get them from? That's right, by participating in extreme sports.

It is for fans of drive that new types of extreme sports are being invented, such as wakeboarding. Its main advantage is that anyone can master it, regardless of age. Therefore, among extreme sports it is less dangerous.

Do you want to know what the main advantages of this type of entertainment are? Let's look at them in more detail.

Wakeboarding - what is it?

This version of water skiing originated in America. There are many beaches there like nowhere else, especially in the state of California. Surfing is where the idea of ​​creating wakeboarding came from. The problem of any surfer is waiting for the right wave, sometimes you have to wait for hours for the next one, so someone’s savvy mind decided to experiment.

And the effect, the option of riding a skateboard behind a boat, inspired the others so much that it was decided to call this water activity wakeboarding. Of course, initially the surfboard was not very suitable for high-speed travel. Too big and heavy, so the idea of ​​a skating board was borrowed from water skiing, but with some changes, instead of skis they took a light skateboard.

Among the many types of water sports, wakeboarding is one of the youngest. Combining many combined elements from other above-water entertainment, its fans are growing more and more every year. If you think about it, it's a lot like kitesurfing.

The principle of movement is the same when in tow, but not behind the kite. A distinctive element is riding behind the boat, while the athlete holds the cable in his hands, and in case of danger he can release it. In kitesurfing, a cable is attached to the swimmer's lower back.

In some respects, wakeboarding is similar to skiing. We can say that here we have collected the best from different sports types and combined into one:

• Surfing;
• Ski jumps;
• Kitesurfing.

The methods of wakeboarding are also different. It all depends on the professionalism of the swimmer. Of course, without special training it is better not to try to conquer the wave behind a boat, as it is fraught with injury. By the way, wakesurfing went further and mutated into, which we have already written about.

There are special courses for beginners; within a week you will learn how to stand on the board correctly and maintain balance while maneuvering behind the boat. There is a safer and less expensive way to ride. The athlete overcomes obstacles using a special mechanical rope installation.

Types of wakeboarding and their features

There are two ways to enjoy riding the waves or simply overcoming obstacles placed along the route.

Boat wakeboarding

This is a rather expensive form of entertainment, and at the same time quite traumatic, especially if the swimmer has no experience. But in terms of the amount of adrenaline experienced during the trip, it is much more spectacular.

To make the trip you will have to refuel the boat, and experience is required; otherwise, the chance of falling off or capsizing on the board increases significantly. And no one wants to be held responsible for injuries. Another disadvantage of boat wakeboarding is water pollution, because the boat runs on fuel, and its processed waste is discharged into the reservoir.

The speed of the boat is on average 32 km/h, and the movement begins quite abruptly and you need to constantly adapt to the boat, and you still need to perform tricks. A professional raider with experience can do this.

Therefore, winch wakeboarding or cable wakeboarding is gaining more and more popularity.

Cable wakeboarding

The principle of skating remains the same as that of a boat. The only difference is in the process. An athlete moves along a wakeboarding winch. Special equipment can be placed on a quiet pond or lake. And the raider will move, overcoming the same obstacles, only using a specially installed system of winches and cables.

There are many more advantages here:

• An opportunity for beginners to quickly master this sport;
• The age limit can vary from 12 to 70 years, the main thing is that health allows it;
• Constant speed of movement allows you to easily cover the distance, and even simultaneously overcome obstacles, if any;
• Up to 10 people can ride at the same time using the cable, depending on the distance;
• Significant savings of your money in contrast to the cost of a boat trip;
• Preservation of the environment.

Looking at all the advantages, it is not surprising that the popularity of rope wakeboarding is growing much faster than boat wakeboarding. Hence the construction of wake parks; there are now 11 of them across the country, and this is not counting homemade wakeboarding equipment.

Wakeboarding training

Learning always depends on the capabilities and abilities of the student, how quickly he grasps. Of course, the course itself can be mastered in a couple of days, especially if you have practice directly on the pond. Wakeboarding training is conducted in specially equipped schools located in the same wake parks.

There are experienced raiders who can demonstrate their skills by showing master classes.

In any case, when taking wakeboarding lessons, do not hesitate to ask questions to the trainer, this will help you avoid possible mistakes and speed up your learning.

Wakeboard photos and video collection

Thanks to the Internet, you can find anything about anyone. extreme form sports I suggest viewing a collection of photos and wakeboard videos like this:

This will help you appreciate for yourself the beauty of this type of entertainment. You can also professionally engage in wakeboarding from all possible types extreme sports this one is the safest. First of all, thanks to possible option with rope wakeboarding. In any case, thanks to the classes you will be able to maintain excellent physical shape, because in the process of maneuvering on the board all the muscles of the body are involved.

I am sure that my advice will help many people discover a new niche in the field of incredible sensations, without resorting to dangerous activities. Share interesting articles with your friends and don’t forget to subscribe to. See you soon!

Text— Agent Q.

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Hello dear friends.
I hope that everyone who is interested has already understood what wakeboarding is. I wrote about boat wakeboarding earlier, today let's look at a more popular and accessible type of wakeboarding - cable wakeboarding.

Cable wakeboarding- this is an actively developing water skiing sport, in which all the muscles of the body are involved, and which allows you to get a sea of ​​​​emotions and extreme sensations, but at the same time, it is one of the most safe species sports and suitable for people of all ages!

Cable wakeboarding is based on the same principles as traditional boat wakeboarding or water skiing. The difference lies in the manner in which the athlete can ride on the water. Unlike boat wakeboarding, when the rider rides behind the boat and performs various tricks using waves and springboards, in cable wakeboarding the athlete moves through the water using a special cable car, and obstacles are used to perform tricks. Ropeway (popularly known as a winch) -quite a complex and interesting mechanism on the water.

All “winches” are divided into three types:

Ring- as a rule, the cable is stretched between 5 supports and forms a ring along which the athlete moves

Reversible(or linear) - this installation has only 2 supports, and when skating, the athlete moves first in one direction to the end, and then back.

Mobile winches(among those who skate - winch) - in fact, THIS is the “Winch”. Consists of an engine, a variator and a drum. Riding is carried out as follows: the rider takes the handle of the halyard in his hands and walks along the shore, after he moves a sufficient distance, he puts on a wakeboard, starts the engine and gives gas, the cable is wound on the drum and pulls the athlete

Let's look at each option in detail.
Ring cable car.

The ring cable car consists of masts placed around the perimeter of the water area chosen for skiing. Special cables are stretched between these masts. The cable is driven by an electric motor. Athletes ride using a halyard that they hold onto. 5 or 6 riders ride at the same time. The start is made from the launch pad. If you fall, you just need to swim to the nearest exit, and then walk to the start along the path that goes around the entire lake. Among the advantages of such a cable car, we can highlight its large capacity, always a large crowd, and accessibility (the price on a ring winch is always lower than on a reversible winch, and even more so on a boat). But there are no downsides here either. Not all bodies of water are suitable for installing such a cable car. After the fall, when you come to the start, you have to stand in a queue, which can be very long. I think a few videos will give you more insight into ring winches than my stories. The video from vimeo.com does not want to be inserted, here is the video from the Moscow Open Championship, the St. Petersburg Open Championship, and the Yekaterenburg Championship

Reversible cable car.

Reversible installation is more common and is easier to install as it only requires 2 supports. Most often, supports are installed on opposite banks of a reservoir. The advantages of this type of cable car include the ease of installation and the cost of the winch (tens of times cheaper than a ring winch). Riders really like reverse installations because they don’t have to go to the start; after a fall, they just need to swim up to the halyard handle, which the operator stops at the closest point to the rider. Prices are usually much more affordable than on a boat, but a little more expensive than on a ring winch, but here you only pay real time skating, and not just standing in line. The average price in Russia is 40 rubles per minute. One of the disadvantages is the small capacity, because only one person can roll. Here is a video from the northern capital.

Mobile winches.

Last in order, but not least, are Vinci (from the English Winch - winch). Riders usually make such winches themselves, for a group or team of 5-6 people, but, of course, you can buy them. Winch is extremely mobile; it is equipped with wheels and a handle for moving. It allows you to ride on any body of water that riders choose, adding great variety to the ride. To make things completely clear, I recommend watching the video of the Russian team about traveling around Russia with Vincha

Obstacles.

In behind-the-boat riding, the rider uses the wake wave to perform various tricks and elements. In cable wakeboarding there is no wave, and special obstacles (or, as they are called, figures) are used to perform jumps and slides. The most famous company in the world specializing in the manufacture of figures is UNIT.

Typically, ring winches are equipped with a “standard set” of obstacles:

• Video about wakeboarding from the project “On the Edge”: Actually, I’ll put it more simply. No manuals on the Internet will make you a miracle wakesurfer if you don’t practice. Theory without practice is dead. Take it, come to where they ride and learn from your own experience under the supervision of knowledgeable people. I think that in any wakepark there are instructors who will teach wakeboarding and tell (and show) how to do it.

What is a wakeboard

So what is a wakeboard? This is a board with fastenings on which a person stands and rides on the water. If a person holds on to the halyard, which is connected to the winch mechanism, and is pulled by an engine located on the shore, then this is. Often, people riding a wakeboard practice various tricks by jumping from kickers or figures (the so-called special slides located on the surface of the water). The discipline itself is somewhere at the junction between snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding.

Difference between wakeboard and wakesurfing

A wakeboard differs from wakesurfing in that it is a device that drags you along the surface of the water. It may be said clumsily, but I can’t explain it any simpler) The difference is that a cable wakeboard uses electric traction (you are pulled by a cable towing device). In wakesurfing, you take off behind the boat while holding onto the halyard. Having accelerated, you release the rope and continue riding along the wave that follows the boat. In this article I already wrote about mine.

If you want to try cable wakeboarding, come either to or to the place where such a cable installation is assembled and ride to your heart’s content. Cable wakesurfing, according to statistics, is more common than boat wakesurfing.

How to get on a wakeboard and learn to ride

Based on the experience of our past rides, I will say that everyone managed to get up. There are no difficulties here, the main thing is to understand how the winch in a cable wakeboard drags, and how the body behaves.

Technically, it looks like this - you lie on your back in the water, with your legs strapped into the board and pulled towards you. At some point, the installation operator turns on the winch and drags you. Your task at this moment, keeping your arms straight, move from a lying position to a sitting position. And your arms are straight. That's all. The mistake here would be to start transferring your weight to the front edge, then you will fall forward and your entire rope wakeboarding will end before it even begins.

Video about wakeboarding from the project “On the Edge”:

Actually, I'll put it more simply. No manuals on the Internet will make you a miracle wakesurfer if you don’t practice. Theory without practice is dead. Take it, come to where they ride and learn from your own experience under the supervision of knowledgeable people. I think that in any wakepark there are instructors who will teach wakeboarding and tell (and show) how to do it.

Practice is the secret of success. Everything else is nonsense. However, as in other areas of life.

Wakeboard for beginners - first time on the board

Here's an example of our event. It took place in one of the wake clubs in Kaliningrad, called Wake Up. We rode for two days, dividing all the participants into two groups. Each person skated two sets of 10 minutes. I will say that for the first time this is enough. One set (10 minutes) is spent understanding how to behave on a board, how to stand on a wakeboard, and how to ride in a straight line. The second set (10 minutes) is enough to start trying to cut in (move away from the winch you are riding under) and learn to turn around.

Some of our participants skated only one set because they said they were tired. I skated twice, and at the end of the second my arms hurt quite normally. By the way, free advice - ask for gloves if you wakeboard behind a winch. Fal rubs his hands. Without gloves - bo-bo palms)

In general, the adrenaline rush is certainly invigorating. At first you just try to stand up while squatting. Then straighten up to your full height. Then, plucking up courage, you jump on the water and think that you are the king of the lake. And then, you hit the water and think that this is a fiasco, bro. And then you don’t have the strength left in the second set to cut normally and make a turn.

For the first time, I think I skated very standardly))

If we talk about the other participants in the “On the Edge” project event, then in general everyone skated very well for the first time. Girls, by the way, got up on the board faster, but the guys needed more time. Probably, the instructor’s phrase “take the position of a woman in labor” played a role here))) Such a team reached the female half better. And among the guys, Lesha Aksyutich and Sasha Filyaev did well. There's probably something we don't know about them)

Wakeboard tricks

There are quite a lot of tricks on a wakeboard (about 20 basic grabs alone), but for the first time it is difficult to count on miracles of jumping with rotation around a horizontal or vertical axis. Simply because first you need to stand up normally, roll steadily in a straight line, and learn to turn around. If you can do everything, then I think you need to read not this article, but a guide to jumping.

But the guys-instructors showed their class by performing several cool tricks. The instructor was trying to do a trick called KARMA. Having accelerated, he jumped onto the figure, and from there he flew away holding the halyard with one hand, simultaneously trying to turn over his back, around a horizontal axis. Damn, it’s hard to describe in words, you feel like a cripple without the necessary vocabulary.

Vest and board and helmet for wakeboarding

A few words about equipment. All participants rode in wetsuits, helmets, vests and used gloves. Despite the apparent simplicity of wakeboarding for beginners, you can hit the water very hard and injure yourself. That is why they pack you in a wetsuit, give you a vest and put a helmet on your head.

I don’t know when, but while we were riding, I managed to hit my elbow on the water and now it hurts a little. Therefore, be careful.

By the way, about the boards. U Wake Up Kaliningrad, where we skated, there are about 6 different boards that fit any foot size and riding style (beginners). You tell the instructor your shoe size, and he selects the right board with fastenings for your height and weight. The technique is similar to snowboarding, but the size and shape of the boards is different. By company, I remember exactly that there were Jobe boards))

How much does a wakeboard cost?

I looked on the Internet, boards cost from 20,000 to 40,000 rubles, on average. Well, as usual, if you want to do extreme sports, throw money at the barrel) Everything is the same as with other types of activities. Typically, an average kit for a beginner in any type of activity starts at $1000-2000. According to my observations (perhaps you have a different opinion - you can voice it in the comments).

Videos and photos from cable wakeboarding

As usual, a photographer photographed us at home events of the “On the Edge” project Max Levin. His photographs are the visual component of this review.

Also, within the framework of the concept “1 video = 1 director”, this time we worked with Ivan Dobrusin, who made a video about how our party went and how we drank from the lake.

Balance board

I would like to say a few words about such a thing as board balance. This is a simple device that is designed to hone the balance skills of novice surfers. It is a piece of pipe and a board on which you stand, catching your balance. It is advisable to stick with your neighbor at first. Or a neighbor. Here who is closer? In extreme cases, a wall will do.

Is it easy for you? Then a second level of difficulty is provided. After you stand confidently and maintain your balance for one minute, it is suggested to squat down to one and a half and stand the same way. If you pass the second difficulty level, then tricks to balance the board begin. You can at least try to turn around while standing on it, and then transfer the entire arsenal of tricks from skateboarding to the balance board.

The balance board is an excellent balance trainer. I advise you to try it, as we did during breaks between wakeboarding.

Wakeboard in Kaliningrad

Recent developments in Kaliningrad aquatic species sports, including wakeboarding, is gaining good speed, which is good news. People, places and actions appear that give beginners the opportunity to try their hand at one form of water recreation or another, and join the extreme movement.