Tomorrow I am to give a 5 minute informative speech in my college speech class, I, being the boarder I am, chose the topic of Wakeboarding, I was going to have my main points be: History, Riding (basics (getting up) and tricks), and equipment. Are there any suggestions anyone would like to make to help a boarder out? Any suggestions at all would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

5 minutes, I'd steer away from the basics. Most people don't even know what wakeboarding is so break it down to really simple terms to explain it. Then I would explain the different levels of riders, from the weekend warriors, to the tournament riders, to the free riders, and everything in between and finish it off with explaining why people have so much fun with it. <BR>

take the opportunity to throw a pitch in about driving a boat. If you can stop even one potential "power turner" the world wil be a better place.

If you are allowed props for your speech, get some good pictures of tricks and explain some of the tricks. This would be a good time consumer and very interesting for the audience as Thane dogg mentioned many people dont have a clue. To see someone several feet in the air upside down, sideways and spinning is very interesting to people that dont have a clue about our sport. You could even throw in a little about boats and how they have progressed with the sport... <BR>Pat..

Since wakeboarding is about the 'crew' and fun as much as the actual board, I would think like a condensed Detention speech. Make it fun. I would think props would make for a MUCH more interesting speech. <BR> <BR>-jesi

hmm, interesting, as I'm starting to write this out, I have come to realize that it will be very long. I think I need the history part in it to make it more ligit, but I probably should just stay away from the basics of getting up, it would be difficult to explain without actual action anyway. As for the pictures, does anyone have any good pictures I can use? and maybe a list of tricks I could think of using, thank you for your help already, now just for a little bit more..

You can talk about style. Explain WEST coast, and east coast style, and how the west has more style!<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

haha, I'm represting tha midwest, you know we have the most style!

hahahahah west coast more style?!!!! How you gonna tell a little lie like that.... we ALL know Florida is where its at! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>no one get offended... having some fun.

Hey I don't know what west coast vs east coast style is? For us in Canada we have our own style all together.....and better beer.:P

anyway, does anyone know where I can get the pictures I should use to explain about the tricks?

i would explain what a wake is, since most don't know. you could talk about the evolution of the sport and where it might be headed. maybe go into <BR>boats and equipment-directional boards to twin tips, and sandal straps to boot bindings, etc. <BR> <BR>it might help to have a hot video section cued up too.

I considered the video option, or a powerpoint slide show, but my teacher said no.. But what I am going to do is take in a few magazines and show them the main tricks since those have the coolest/best pictures anyway. I have a section on history, and one on equipment, both are just about done, i just need one more topic, any ideas? I also need a good intro and conclusion but for the intro I was probably gonna be like "close your eyes, imagine this: it is 5.45 in the morning in the middle of the summer and you hear your alarm clock going off.. you jump out of bed excited to get started, you throw your swim suit on.. etc. etc. etc. and then my conclusion would be a summary of my points and that everyone should go try it!

bring your board in..... your rope and handle, vest. People relate with skiing.... show how we attach to a tower, have nonstretch line. Blah blah blah

I say if your gonna talk about the tricks/manouveres, talk about the good stuff, you know, whirly birds, crow mobes, 313's - the shiznit stuff. That's gonna make the speech more interesting and maybe even attract some more people to the sport!

I did a speech on wakeboarding in college. I started the speech with a short section from on e of my favorite videos. The instructor liked it a lot. You may want to give that a try. I also took in most of my gear.

well for now i made the last section wakeskating as i am an avid skater, but if anyone else has a better idea, let me know!

Take plenty of props to show people what you're talking about. A long time ago I did a speech on my fave watersport at the time (kneeboarding) and I got a really good grade as I took the board in to show it. <BR> <BR>Hopefully I can be forgiven for mentioning the 'k' word on wakeworld? It was 15 years ago! <BR> <BR>Pete

There's so much to talk about you can talk about wakeboarding for ages. Don't try and cram too much in, talk about the differences between it and waterskiing which most people know a bit about. In particular people find it interesting that we want the biggest wake possible instead of smallest, as with waterskiing. Tell em about people loading up the boats with concrete in the early days, that should amuse them. <BR> <BR>Aim it at the uninitiated - if you start trying to explain the difference between a tantrum and a back roll, eyes are gonna glaze over! <BR>Pete

Daniel amen about the Beer... i seriously think that our water seems to have more alcohol in it the American beer... <BR> <BR>the only american beer that is any good in any way is MGD and thats only if you want to be able to drink ALL day long<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR> <BR>oh and clinton, take your board in, and other gear if you can, try and find some pictures on here of some of the really big wakes (im sure some of these guys could help out with that and get em printed off so you can show em, talk to Ant or Walt about using some of their pictures of guys killing it, <BR> <BR>oh and before your speech hit teh shower with your board shorts and vest on so you soaking wet for the speech (gotta get right into it) <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

Ahhh nothing like the famed last minute speech preparation... True Collegiate form bro, props.

Haha, Im with Blair on drenching yourself before the speech. Just make sure you're reeeeeeaally enthusiastic about the sport during your speech. Make every aspect of wakeboarding sound soo exciting and have no negativity (obviously) <BR>-- Whoops, didn't think about if you're done with the speech yet or not but good luck!!

this is a good way to get some parents to let their kids do wakeboarding if they don't already for some reason. It helps you out in school!}

I have done tons of speaches, most of them persuasive speaches for my business classes. The most important thing i could recomend is remember your audiance. They are the most important thing. All they know about boarding is the X Games aspect. Let them know that it is a sport that many people may have the opportunity to get into. Many colleges have teams that anyone can join. Be enthusiastic but not cocky. Remember what it was like the first time you got to try to board and speak from that point.

Actually, I'm going tomorrow. I'm still waiting on Ant to get me some pictures those, he's supposed to e-mail me some..Hopefully I can get to them in the morning.

i may do a speech or report later on in the year on wakeboarding and thought about adding the age levels that can participate in wakeboarding, what is the youngest age you think someone could start this sport? <BR>

i've heard 3

i wouldn`t go that extreme about the shower with your vest and board shorts but it does help to get into it when you are giving a speech it helps the audience understand, also try and show them litterally with the moves that are basic for a beginner, because most people don`t know any thing about wakeboarding.