Grupo Mayan Resorts: Explore Wakeboarding
April 9th, 2009
People interested in water sports here at Grupo Mayan resorts have definitely heard a thing or two about wakeboarding. It was conceived back in the 80s, has gained a growing popularity and it has quite a considerable number of fans. This sport involves riding a wakeboard over the whitewash ripples or wakes caused by boats. It involves a boat pulling a wakeboard rider along as he maneuvers and plays water tricks with his wakeboard.
Wakeboarding is a combination of two water sports, namely surfing and water skiing and uses the principles of these two sports. According to our Grupo Mayan experts, it was previously called skurfing when it begun and was eventually called wakeboarding as the sport became more popular. It basically involves a person with his feet on a surfboard while holding on to rope and pulled by a motorboat at high speeds. In competition, the wakeboarder is pulled at even greater speeds while he performs different maneuvers and stunts.
Like all sports, Grupo Mayan experts say that wakeboarders should practice their skills before performing any dangerous maneuvers. It would take time before you can get to competitive level but you will have a fun time doing it. Grupo Mayan experts say that wakeboarding is not only for men but has become a woman´s sport as well, with female competitions performed worldwide and at X-games.
The most important tool for wakeboarders is their wakeboard. Like any other board-related water sports, it is important for players to have the right sized board that would match their height and weight. According to our Grupo Mayan experts, the size of the board affects the surfer´s stability and agility on the water.
Some players are sizing down their wakeboards to make it a great deal lighter. This would make it easier to spin and ideal for jumping high up in the air and perform tricks. However, the size difference makes it hard to land or catch and ride a wake. However, our Grupo Mayan experts say that size-downed boards are not ideal for beginners with this sport.
Beginners should start with a sized-up wakeboard. The ride would be slower but smoother and allow novices to master the stance position. They should first learn this skill before they can move on to tricks and other more challenging stuff.
When wakeboarding, safety precautions should be followed as recommended by Grupo Mayan experts. This includes wearing the life vest and other protective clothing.