Practising wakeboarding when you’re not on the water can
help improve your skills, strength, and balance. While it’s impossible to
replicate the exact experience of wakeboarding on dry land, you can engage in
various activities and exercises to enhance your abilities. Here’s how to
practice wakeboarding when you’re not on the water.
Practice Balancing on a Board
Balancing on a board is similar to a wakeboard. You can
create a makeshift balance board by using a skateboard deck on top of a cylinder.
These boards work by helping you improve your stability and develop the muscles
of your feet and legs to engage your core. You can do this by listening to your
favourite tunes or watching a movie on your laptop or your TV.
If you want to engage your core further and strengthen your
muscles by doing squats and one-footed exercises to hone your skills further,
you can also use a balance trainer.
Study By Watching Videos
Just like pro athletes in major sports leagues watch videos
to improve, wakeboarders should watch instructional videos in their downtime.
Learning a new trick, or technique, or even studying videos of your runs from
the past summer will go a long way in helping you get better. So instead of
watching your favourite pro rider for fun, focus on their technique and rewind
the video if you can’t understand how they pulled a certain trick off.
Upgrade Your Gear
The gear might not be what makes the wakeboarder a great
athlete, but better gear can help the rider (you) to be more efficient with
your tricks. Plus, quality-made wakeboard
equipment and gear keep you safe and comfortable and it lasts for a long
time before breaking. Furthermore, getting new gear gives you more reasons to
look forward to the upcoming wakeboarding season.
Do Workouts
This should go without saying, but any physical activity
will be easier if you’re in good shape. As mentioned, having strong core
muscles is an absolute must if you’re dead set on excelling at wakeboarding.
Incorporate high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your workouts. HIIT
can help improve your cardiovascular fitness and endurance which is helpful for
you to put up with long wakeboarding sessions. Lifting weights, doing pull-ups
and jumping exercises can help condition your body for wakeboarding.
Trampoline Training
A trampoline can be a fun and effective tool for practising
wakeboarding tricks. Bounce on it and practice spinning, flipping, and grabbing
to develop your aerial skills and body awareness.
Mental Training
Work on your mental game by practising relaxation techniques,
meditation, and mindfulness. You can do this a few days before you get on the
water to practice your wakeboarding skills.
Visualizing Techniques
Spend time visualizing wakeboarding scenarios. Close your
eyes and imagine yourself successfully navigating the wake, performing tricks,
and adjusting to the boat’s movements. Visualization can help improve your
mental readiness and muscle memory.
Join A Wakeboarding Community
Connect with other wakeboarders through forums, social media
groups, or local wakeboarding communities. You can even talk with wakeboard boat dealers and ask
for advice on the best wakeboard products and boats to use. You can exchange
ideas, ask questions, and learn from other’s experiences.
Remember that while these off-water practices can enhance
your wakeboarding skills, they should complement, not replace, actual on-water
training. Regular practice on the water is essential to apply and refine what
you’ve learned on dry land. Additionally, when you return to the water, always prioritise
safety and wear the appropriate safety gear such as a life jacket and helmet.