The MVC Literary Journal

Riding through the water, I pull back on the rope, leaning as far back as I can, watching the sun rise on the perfect glassy water as I am ready to ride and jump the wake. Wakeboarding is an awesome sport which I like very much. I go as much as possible in the summer; I started when I was eleven years old. Wakeboarding depends on the kind of board you have, the boat you ride behind, and the condition of the water you ride on. It is so fun to try new things, like a different way of cutting, or new tricks… even though most of the time you fall. Wakeboarding, no matter how good or bad you are, is a very fun sport to enjoy on warm summer days.

There is a huge variety of boats wakeboarders can choose. The bigger the wake, the better. The ultimate three best boats for wakeboarding are the Nautique, the Malibu, and the Mastercraft. There are also different models of those boats, for example, I have a Malibu Wakesetter VLX, which is a very good boat with a great wake. Sometimes, if people want an even bigger wake, they put a big sack like thing on the floor of their boat called a Fat Sak. Then, they fill the Fat Sack up with water and it can add up to 500 pounds of weight to your boat, which makes the wake that much bigger, better, and smoother. Also, most wakeboarding boats have three tanks called ballast tanks that will fill up automatically with the press of a button, which adds much more weight to your boat. Additionally, some boats even have something called a wedge attached to the back of the boat under the swim deck. With the wedge, you just pull out a couple pins and release it, causing it to go down and lock in place, making the boat drag more in the back, again, for a better wake. Clearly, the wake is one of the most important things when it comes to wakeboarding and different boats have different wakes.

Other than boats or wakes, the actual wakeboard has an impact on how you ride. There are many different kinds of wakeboards, as shown on the Hyperlite Wake MFG website, as well as different brands and companies that manufacture them. I have a Hyperlite Byerly which has carved out edges and is helpful for cutting and lighter for jumping. Hyperlite is the best and most popular brand and they make the best, most quality wakeboards in the industry. There are so many diverse wakeboards and styles you can buy to fit the way you like to ride best. Some boards are totally smooth and have a round-ish shape, yet others have more of an edge, like mine. A good wakeboard is crucial for good riding.

There are many different lakes, deltas, and even rivers around the world that are good for wakeboarding on. Many of the lakes or deltas my friends ride on are either too small, have debris in the water, or are freezing! You always have to choose the best place that you enjoy being around and riding on. Wakeboarding much the more fun if you like your environment! The two best lakes I have ridden on so far are Lake Don Pedro in the Sierra Nevada foothills, east of Modesto, and Lake McClure which is about twenty minutes east of Lake Don Pedro. Those lakes are great because they are big enough that they aren’t directional, they are very clean, and they usually have great water at least twice a day, and are very warm in the summer. Where you wakeboard is another factor of how good you ride, so you should always keep that in mind.

Altogether, wakeboarding is a combination of all-around fun. Depending on many different things, you can ride, or learn to ride, great. You should always be aware of where you’re riding, the board you have, and the boat that you ride behind to affect your wakeboarding. Changing one of those things can either improve the way you ride, or change your riding for the worse… basically, it can help or hurt your riding style. Wakeboarding may seem difficult, but once you get it down it’s so fun, you never want to stop. I love it, it’s awesome!

Labels: 2007: Belles Lettres