Five Tips to Keep You Safe While You’re Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is a favorite watersports activity for many adventure enthusiasts who seek on-water thrills and excitements. However, if you’re not careful, you may end up seriously injuring yourself. That’s why the experts at The Ski Shack have created this guide to help you stay safe while you’re wakeboarding. Keep reading to learn more, then visit us to get any questions and concerns addressed by our team. We’re in Springfield, Branson, and Shell Knob, MO, where we happily welcome our friends from Nixa.

1. Wear the Right Safety Gear

You must ensure that you wear the right safety gear every time you go wakeboarding, the most critical of which is a well-fitted lifejacket. It can keep you safe in various situations, as it will get you back to the surface if you fall off your wakeboard and get pulled underwater after hitting the water at high speeds. Also, if you become unconscious, a lifejacket will help you stay afloat and give rescuers an easy handle to pull you out of the water.

2. Practice Your Swimming Skills

Swimming is the most necessary survival skill you'll need to have for when wakeboarding. Your boat may encounter a problem, or you may need to get out of the way of an oncoming vessel when you’re in the water. If you have strong swimming skills, you’ll be able to handle such situations easily and swim to the shore or until help arrives.

3. Be Courteous to Other Boaters

Just as you are courteous to other motorists on the road, you’ll want to be considerate of boaters around you, too. Doing this will help you contribute to an atmosphere of safety and courtesy. Be vigilant of boats traveling at top speeds and those that are out for a pleasant cruise. Respect their space and slow down if there is a swimmer in the water.

4. Limit Your Downtime in the Water

Another safety tip that you’ll want to follow is to limit your downtime in the water. Downtime means the amount of time you spend in the water but not moving (or being towed behind a vessel). While downtime is an essential part of the sport for reorienting your posture or resting, you'll want to avoid a collision that can result from other boaters' inability to see you.

5. Obey Speed Limits

Boating areas post speed limits and other safety signs to let boaters know of the water depth and other relevant conditions. Make sure you look out for them and follow their instructions for your safety and the safety of other boaters around you.

We hope these tips help you stay safe while you’re using your wakeboard. If you have any questions, visit The Ski Shack, and let our experts address them. We can also share a few more tips to stay safe on the water and help you with any wakeboarding boat needs. Our dealerships are in Springfield, Branson, and Shell Knob, MO, where we proudly serve those from Nixa.