wakeskate recommendation

[nychris]

This summer I started learning to wakeboard behind my Seadoo Wake 155 PWC (ie, jet ski) and wanted to get into wakeskating in the Spring. I'm 6'2", 220lbs. Can anyone recommend a good skate for getting pulled behind a PWC in water that is flat to choppy, depending on the weather? I don't want a beginner board that I'll have to upgrade soon. Does anyone like the Ronix skates, like the Boomstick or Hoverboard?

Can I wear my Vibram FiveFingers for wakeskating or do I need special shoes?

[Lychee]

I would recommend trying to find a local shop/park that you can rent/ask a new friend and try out different decks. So much difference between them and there are quite a few company's to pick from. The Boomstick is a bi-level deck and will greatly feel different to a single pressed deck which is what the Hoverboard is and most other decks. Two other company's you will come across fairly quickly will be Remote and Obscura Tao.

Nope, you will shred your feet with that grip tape. Wear skate shoes and if they hold water drill some drain holes in them. People love them Nike Janoski's. I hope you know how to walk and run in those fingers they can cause some serious damage.

[Frye]

You don't know yet what you like in a wakeskate; it doesn't make sense to spend $300+ on one. If you can't try any I would find a cheap board and get comfortable on it. As far as the Boomstick, there are like 2 people left in wakeskating that ride a bi-level. I think you would regret buying one as your first board.


The five finger shoes will be fine you will just look funny out there.

[nychris]

I don't know of any local shops that sell them and being in NY it will be several months before the season is here. I decided to order a 2014 Ronix Hoverboard two days ago because I needed to buy it that day (paid $237). I got a 42". Do you guys think a 42" is a good size, I'm 6'2", 220lbs? After doing a bit of googling it seems that many of you don't like the bi-level boards so I passed on that. Remote seems popular, but the biggest board is a 41" and all of the sizing charts say that I should be on a 44" (even though I got a 42").

I already have the Vibram FiveFingers for running those mud/obstacle races like Tough Mudder. I'm not worried about damage to my feet from a wakeskate, I've run mountains in those things. I was hoping someone had some experience with them to compare to a skate shoe. If the skate shoes are much better I'll pick up a pair.

What does everyone ride and what is your height/weight?

[DaleFish]

nychris, board size is all about preference, Diets is a tall big dude, he used to ride a 42 hoverboard and is now on a 40. I'm about 190lbs 5'11" i think, started on a 42,5 and now i'm on a 39. Good size to start on, be glad you didnt go 44.

If you feel comfortable in your 5 fingers, by all means ride in them, however, wakeskating does derive from skateboarding and incorporates skateboarding tricks, which is what skate shoes were designed for, so if you are going to be doing more tricks than just cruising around I would get a pair of skate shoes, (Canvas shoes work the best because they hold less water).

Happy shredding

[Steven M]

NYCHRIS, I'm 6'2 200lbs with a size 13 shoe. I first started wakeskating on a old Hyperlite Catalyst 112cm (44 inch). This was 2004 and I didnt know any better. Over the years I slowly sized down moving to a 42" inch board and then a 41" Integrity back in 2008/2009.

I had that for a summer or two and then tried a friends 38.5" Integrity and the next day swapped out my 41" for a 38.5" and rode it for 2 summers. I was a big guy on a small board that according to any size chart out there and even common sense I should not have been riding but I was comfortable and the board worked.

After riding that for a while I demoed a Watermonster and feel in love with wood concave boards. Sold the 38.5 Integrity and bought a 40" WM. It felt wonderful.

Whenever I get on a 41" board now it feels huge and like a boat, I cant imagine going bigger let alone back to a 44.

The 42" Hover board will suit you fine but if you get the chance to try a 41, by all means try it. The 41" Remote would work just fine for you as well.

Like Frye said, you have no idea what you like/dislike in a wakeskate yet.... but we can tell you with 98% accuracy the Boomstick or any other Bi-Level would make you hate wakeskating especially as your first board.

[Lychee]

I completely disagree wearing five fingers. You may get some time in on them but starting any tricks pretty quickly your going to ruin a 100$ pair and rip right through that less than 1/4 inch sole. For reference owned a pair for a month, but fell in love with some Merrell's with Vibram tech for all my adventuring.


If your serious enough about skating to drop money on a nice deck, your serious enough for some 30-40$ sale skate shoes.

[-=AlexXx=-]

Your gunna break a toe man.