Among so many action sports out there, wakeboarding and snowboarding are the two most trendy games. Recently people are getting more fascinated by the adventurous nature of these two extreme sports.
However, there is always a confusion between wakeboarding vs snowboarding, which
is a better option. Let’s try to figure out a head-to-head comparison between
these two most crowd-pleasing adventure games.
What is Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a year-old water game.
It originated in Australia back in the 1980s. This water sport was initially
known as skurfing. But with significant
evolution throughout the years, it is now popularly known as wakeboarding.
This game is rooted in three major extreme sports- surfing,
water skiing, and snowboarding.
In wakeboarding,
you need to ride on a wakeboard with your feet fastened to it. Then you are
trailed by a motorboat with an ultimate speed of around 30-50 miles in an
hour.
It would be best if you had some equipment for starting
your wakeboarding journey. A
boat and a board are an absolute must for this water game. Besides, you need
suitable bindings, rope, wetsuit, and, most importantly, lifejacket or buoyancy
aid.
Relax. As a beginner, you don’t need to buy everything. You can
just buy a board and a wetsuit and rent the rest. First, learn the tactics and
decide if you enjoy it or not. Then you can invest the money as per your
requirements.
As a beginner, don’t go for a longer rope. Because a shorter
string will offer you much more control. Also, choose the thickness of your
wetsuit according to the location. For instance, a countryside lake will be
okay with a thinner wetsuit. Conversely, if you are practicing in the cold
ocean, it will demand thicker wetsuit.
A friendly suggestion for the novice wakeboarders is to choose
buoyancy aid over lifejackets. They will help you swim back to your
wakeboard.
As it is a water game, many people become confused if it demands
a high level of fitness. Well, as you are drifting through the water dragged by
a boat, you must need a certain level of energy to hold down the balance.
Besides, insistence and inscription are the two major factors to give birth to
a successful wakeboarder.
There are two main wakeboarding styles
based on your leading foot while doing it. If you place the left foot on the
front, it is known as regular style, and if your right foot is forwarded, it is
called goofy.
What is Snowboarding
Snowboarding is another form of action
sport. It is one of the most thrilling snow games for the
adventure-seekers.
In snowboarding, a
rider stands on a snowboard and rides down a snowy surface. The board is tied
with the rider’s feet.
The prominent styles of snowboarding are
mainly freestyle, freeride, and free carve. Snowboarding was evolved
in the 1960s in the USA. Because of it’s gradually increasing popularity, it
was included in the Winter Olympic Sport in 1998.
The usual size of a snowboard is 60 inches long and 10 inches
wide. The board does not include any wheel. As it is a winter game, you cannot
snowboard all the year as there will be no snow available.
Just like the wakeboarding,
it also has two stances based on the foot position. Respectively, your left
foot and right foot, are kept on the front in the case of a regular stance and
a goofy stance.
Snowboarding was primarily inspired by
surfing, skateboarding, and skiing. Nowadays, it is performed as a professional
activity along with a source of entertainment.
It is not that tenacious to get acquainted with snowboarding craftsmanship. Your tied feet will provide you with extra support to maintain balance. Just practice a while, and you are ready to go. However, it would be best if you remained every bit watchful to eliminate the chances of severe injuries.
Similarities
between Wakeboarding and Snowboarding
Both snowboarding and wakeboarding have
a lot of things in common. Both of these are board sports keeping your feet
bound. They both require maintaining balance in the sideway stances.
These two are, indeed, solo activities offering the same amount
of recreation and exhilaration. Both the games are startlingly similar in terms
of technical movements as well. In both cases, the regular and goofy styles are
determined in the same way- based on a similar foot position. If you are
experienced in one, you can undoubtedly go for the other by acquiring some necessary
skills.
Both snowboarding and wakeboarding are
rooted in the fundamental idea of surfing. In fact, snowboarding was once
known as “snurfing” or surfing on snow.
Snowboarding and wakeboarding require
a decent level of firmness and contemplation from the riders. Both these
outdoor games promise great fun and madness.
To be brief, wakeboarding and
snowboarding display two different sides of the same coin.
Where Do They
Differ
Despite having abundant resemblances, wakeboarding and snowboarding are
not identical. They differ in several key points.
One is a water game while the other is a snow game. Although they both need boards, the boards vary from each other. Wakeboards are usually thicker and shorter, consisting of a broader base. Snowboards are kind of long wheelless skateboards, while wakeboards have fins underside for retaining fixity.
Snowboarding needs more equipment
than wakeboarding. As nearly
freezing temperatures and high wind are common factors in snowboarding, you need boots,
waterproof jackets, goggles, gloves, etc. However, in wakeboarding, you will get the
chance to free yourself from these extra winter gear and freely enjoy your
ride.
Another difference is that wakeboarding demands
more strength in arms and upper body parts. But snowboarding focuses on
leg strength.
Climate is a big issue in differentiating the two sports. Wakeboarding can take
place anywhere in the water, suitable for swimming. It is a game performed
mainly in the warmer months when there are fewer waves in the water. You can
also wakeboard during cold days by using wet or dry suits. But snowboarding is
particularly performed on a snow-covered ground during the winter.
Location is probably the largest of all the distinctions between
these two. For snowboarding,
you need a snowy surface alongside hills or mountains. But wakeboarders can
perform it even in a lake by creating wakes.
Which One Is
Better
It is a hard job to figure out which one is better among these
two thrilling outdoor sports. If you consider wakeboarding vs snowboarding,
probably wakeboarding is a bit
flexible and spontaneous as it follows a boat as the guide. It will be easier
to learn wakeboarding for beginners
because of the fin facility. But there are great chances of falling into the
water, which makes it riskier.
Wakeboarding is a year-long activity though
preferable in summer. But snowboarding cannot
be performed except in winter because everyone cannot afford to practice snowboarding on the
artificial snowy surface. Besides, the equipment also costs a lot more
than wakeboarding.
To be honest, you can try both at your convenience. Whichever
will be easy for you to learn will entirely depend on your level of interest
and skill development.
Final Verdict
If you are experienced in any one of the two action games, switching to the other one would not be that much troublesome.
But if you are a newbie in the world of extreme sports, have a look at our wakeboarding vs snowboarding discussion attentively. Then decide about which one you will go for. We hope you welcome new challenges and enjoy your ride regardless of your decision.
