Performance requirements for Wakeboarding vs Kneeboarding vs skiiing

[jcminnesota]

I have experience skiiing and kneeboarding, but no experience with wakeboarding. For kneeboarding boat speeds and strong hole shot are lower than for skiing and speeds can range from 15 to 20 for kneeboarding and skiing 20-30. Also deep water slalom starts take the most hole shot of all, and my 15 whaler with a 70 yamaha can pull up my 195 lb son on a single ski...but with a bit of difficulty. What about a wakeboard? Is it easier to pull at start than skis? What boat speeds to you wakeboard at?

Thanks!!

 

[skibrain]

Re: Performance requirements for Wakeboarding vs Kneeboarding vs skiiing

Wakeboarding demands are going to be more similar to kneeboard. 18-22 mph speed. Hole shot, with more planing surface on a wakeboard than a slalom, is easier. Where a skier wants less boat wake, the likely complaint with a lighter boat for wake boarding will be less wake to jump.

BTW I'm a big fan of whalers. our family boat when I was 13 - 19 yrs old was a sport 13 w/ 40 hp. Have always admired the 15.

 

[bikerdib]

Re: Performance requirements for Wakeboarding vs Kneeboarding vs skiiing

I slalom, trick, kneeboard, wakeskate and wakeboard. Of all of these, wakeboarding is the second easiest to get up on; kneeboarding is first. If you can pull up your son on a slalom then there is no reason you won't be easily pulling him up on a wakeboard. For someone around 195 you could probably start at around 20-22 mph and let him tell you where to go from there. Wakeboarding is done at slower speeds similar to kneeboarding just a LITTLE faster. Like skibrain said, once you guys advance a little the biggest complaint will be lack of a well shaped large wake.