The 3 Must-Have Wakeboarding Accessories (Other Than the Wakeboard)

Sometimes, watching professional wakeboarders, or even watching dedicated enthusiasts, do tricks on the water can leave many wishing they could try out the sport themselves. Some, like you, actually commit themselves to putting their money where their mouth is. However, wakeboarding isn’t just about the wakeboard and the boat. There’s more you’ll need to get before you’re ready to start learning the ropes. To help you out, The Ski Shack has provided some of the most basic accessories you’ll need for a safe and fun experience on the water. For more help, stop by one of our locations in Springfield, Branson, and Shell Knob, Missouri. We also serve Nixa, so be sure to visit to chat with one of our experienced staff. 

Swimwear

Firstly, let’s start with what you want to wear on your body. Your normal swimwear is sometimes fine, but remember that if you slip and fall, you’ll probably hit the water pretty fast. Hopefully not so hard that it really hurts you, but if your swimwear isn’t exactly tight-fitting, you might be searching for your trunks or top.

Not to mention, what you wear can play an important role in your comfort level. On cold days, you’ll want something that retains heat well, while warm days might benefit from something a little lighter in weight. 

In general, the best choice is some sort of wetsuit, whether it’s a full-body suit or the top and/or bottom portion of the suit. Neoprene, which is what wetsuits are made of, can be both insulating and breathable, so you can use them throughout the year. If you don’t love the idea of a black or grey suit, shop around a little for fun colors and patterns.

Helmet

You probably don’t see all wakeboarders wearing helmets and it’s certainly not required by law, but as we mentioned earlier, you’ll probably fall sometimes. At top speeds, this could mean hitting the water at 40 or even 60 mph. The fall alone could cause damage, not to mention any debris you might encounter. While you can fix a broken arm, damaging your brain can be significantly more dangerous, so whether you’re a beginner or a pro, make sure you’re wearing a helmet.

We recommend looking for a wakeboard helmet, as opposed to other common types, because they’re often more lightweight and designed to avoid getting waterlogged. 

Buoyancy Aid (Life Jacket)

Another important piece of safety equipment is a buoyancy aid, like a life jacket. No matter how strong a swimmer you are, you need to be wearing a buoyancy aid. Let’s go back to that fall we keep talking about. You’ve managed to remain clothed and your head is protected, but you might have been knocked out by the impact anyway. This is where a buoyancy aid is important even for strong swimmers. If you’re not capable of keeping your head above water, they’ll do the work for you. Plus, you can relax when you’re waiting for the boat to turn around and pick you up, as opposed to expending energy treading water. 

The average life jacket is often a bit bulky and doesn't always provide the protection you need from impact. Consider looking for something made specifically for water sport enthusiasts that’ll give you that perfect combination of protection and flotation. 

These are some of the simplest ways to get started wakeboarding, but there are certainly plenty of other accessories that can help make the sport more exciting and safer. Some of these accessories can be for your boat. If you need ways to upgrade your vessel to make it the perfect wakeboarding boat, or if you’d simply like to start looking at options that are built specifically for towing, consider checking out what we have available here at The Ski Shack. You can either stop by one of our locations in Springfield, Branson, or Shell Knob, Missouri, not far from Nixa, or you can look at our online inventory from the comfort of your home and contact us with additional questions you may have.