Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water behind a boat. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing techniques. The rider is towed behind a boat; typically at speeds of 18-24 miles per hour depending on water conditions, rider's weight, board size, and most importantly, the riders personal preference. But wakeboarding can also be performed on a variety of media including closed-course cables, winches, PWCs, and ATVs. Wakeboarding can be done pulled by a motor boat and recently more often by Cable skiing as well. Wakeboarding arose in the late 1980s after the advent of skiboarding. The actual sport of skiboarding is credited to Tony Finn (who invented the Skurfer in San Diego, CA) Jimmy Redmond (Austin, TX) later drilled holes in skurfers to affix bindings. The term "wakeboard" was coined by Paul Fraser (Vancouver, Canada), as well as the concept and design, along with his brother Murray and a Pro snowboarder they sponsored. Paul approached Herb O'Brien with the idea and the introduction of the "liquid force" wakeboard, named by Eric "The Flyin Hawaiian" Perez, laid the groundwork for evolution of the wakeboard throughout the 1990s. The World Skiboard Association was founded in 1989 and the First World Skiboard Championships was held on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii, on the Wailua River. The next year Eric Perez defended his title against Darin Shapiro. This is when the Hyperlite wakeboard was introduced and blew everyone away. The first US Nationals were held later that same year in Colorado Springs, CO on Prospect lake, hosted by Tommy Phillips. Competitions began popping up around the United States throughout the early 1990s. Wakeboarding was added as a competitive sport in the X Games II. The World Skiboard Association "changed it's focus" and was re-named the World Wakeboard Association.
Using edging techniques, the rider can move outside of the wake or cut rapidly in toward the wake. Jumps are performed by hitting the wake and launching into the air. This can also be done by hitting a kicker (a jump). There is also the slider (a rail bar) in which a rider approaches and rides along keeping his balance. Once a rider improves in the sport, he or she can progress to tricks high in the air. As the rope tightens the rider gains speed toward the wake. When the rider goes airborne, the tightened rope launches him. While in the air the rider attempts to do tricks.
Kiev Wakeboarding Club
Druzhby Narodov Park, Kiev
Website: http://www.wake.com.ua/xt/wake.htm
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