Wakeboarder Thoughts is an ongoing "journal" by Wakeboarder.com Editors.
Check back often for new thoughts on wakeboarding, wakeskating, this web site, and other random stuff.
Wakesurfing, how big is it?
So wakesurfing is now the hot new thing. It's been around forever, but lately it seems to growing in popularity.
Various companies are coming out with wakesurfing boards, Centurion recently held the World Wakesurfing Championships, and Level X Magazine just put out their first issue of an annual wakesurfing magazine.
This is cool and all, I'm glad there is another thing to do on the water which is fun for everyone, and I hope all the companies entering the wakesurfing market are doing it profitably.
I'm just wondering if wakesurfing will really grow that much. Maybe it will get big enough to support a magazine and numerous companies designing boards for it, but I'm not so sure. Now, it definitely doesn't need to be anything like wakeboarding of wakeskating, but they're easy to compare it to. It's like a mini-industry of special products is popping up for wakesurfing. Here are some problems I see:
- Wakesurfing requires a direct drive or v-drive boat, with a lot of weight/people in the boat that can be moved to one side. So, that gives you a fairly limited numbers base right there.
- Wakesurfing is fun, and there is a lot you can do, but it's more limiting than wakeboarding or wakeskating, so people will get bored with it faster.
- Wakesurfing is less fun to watch. It can be fun, but the novelty wears off after seeing someone do the same carve for the 30th time.
- It takes more set up time to set the boat up with the weight to one side. If you go out wakeboarding, it requires moving the weight around to start wakesurfing.
- Everyone doesn't want or need their own board. Wakeboarders often have their own board because of the length, binding size, etc. There are good reasons to have different wakesurfing boards, but I can't see everyone having their own. It's more like one or two for a crew of people.
- Pictures and video of it are less exciting.
Of course, there are things that make wakesurfing great as well. But are there enough wakesurfers out there to support multiple companies making special wakesurfing boards? It'll be great if there are, but I'm still skeptical.
Is there enough interest for magazines and videos? An annual magazine would make sense, but multiple times per year? And maybe one wakesurfing video would make sense, and maybe an instructional. But beyond that?
It'll be interesting to watch if wakesurfing grows...
- posted by staff
Collin boards are out
Collin Wright Boards are now for sale. There are only 100 limited edition first boards available, so if you want one, you better hop on over to CollinWrightBoards.com and get yourself one. I'll be ordering mine!
- posted by staff
Wakeboarding Unleashed
So I'm still working on playing Wakeboarding Unleashed more before I write my full review. I haven't had a ton of time to play it, but I think it's a pretty fun game.
Naturally, like many other hard core wakeboarders who have complained about it there are some things that bother me. I'd like some more space on levels to do wake to wake tricks without landing on something or having the boat turning. Some of the tricks are named wrong, and some of the challenges are pretty silly.
However, it's a fun game, and I enjoy playing it and being able to do wakeboarding moves, and I'm sure it's going to be a positive step forward for the sport.
- posted by staff
Busy Busy Busy
Sorry I haven't updated with any thoughts in a while. I've been busy as summer as hit with a combination of things, such as working on this site, lots of work around the yard, events with the family, and even a little bit of wakeboarding!
Not to mention playing a little bit of Wakeboarding Unleashed since it's come out. I'll have a full review of the game up soon, and although it's not perfect, it's still pretty fun.
The Gear Guide is really getting rolling, please check it out and review products and rate them as you see fit. It really can become the best source of product information in the wakeboarding world.
- posted by staff
Credit Card
Does anyone actually check what people sign on their credit card receipts? This Zug guy puts it to the test.
