I have now been wakeboarding for about 2 years and have decided that i might want to try to wakeskate. so i would like to know what everyones opinion on wakeskateing being harder or easier to learn than wakeboarding, and if u guys have any pointers for me let me know please. thanks. i would also like to know what size board i should look at i am 5'6" and i weight about 130. thank you all for your help

It's more challenging because the board is smaller and tougher to control, but don't be discouraged. Try it out...probably a 41 inch would be a good size for you.

When I started, i found that it was more challenging getting up. Once you're up, however, the difference is minimal. The board is smaller and therefore a bit more difficult to control, BUT you're not strapped in and you have the freedom to adjust your stance whenever you want to. Like David D sez, use a 41 inch board with some fins to make it easier for you and enjoy. Once you go strapless, you may not strap in again! Good luck.

Folks that tell you it's just lake wakeboarding are kinda over simplifying it. I am just starting and it's way more difficult than wakeboarding. I'm happy to just stay on the board right now, whereas with wakeboarding I was carving and doing surface stuff more quickly. <BR> <BR>You can't make any mistakes and must be able to edge like a champ. Wakeskating is way more technical than wakeboarding. But it's way more fun when you are riding and falling is funner too!

Wakeskating is similar to wakeboarding in alot of ways, but it is a heck of alot more fun. <BR>For your size, I would try to get a 39"-41" wakeskate. There are many diferent boards out there, so try to go somewhere that has a selection to choose from and try to demo first if at all possible. Good luck and have fun.

I have sort of stayed away from the wakeskate as I have somehow formed the opinion that it is much easier to get injured. <BR> <BR>It took a few broken leg and dislocated hip or knee articles to totally get the skate off my mind. <BR> <BR>I don't know if I have convinced myself of something that has no basis...... Thoughts? <BR> <BR>Sorry, don't mean to hi-jack...but it is relative to the post.

Now that I see the original post was back on January 2nd....it is not a hi-jack...it is starting a new thread....<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

E.J., all board sports are pretty dangerous, I blew my ACL/MCL wakeboarding, and I am convinced that being binded to the board had a lot to do with it. In doing some research after I got injured, I found the incidence of knee injuries is particularly high for ANY sport for which bindings are involved, this includes skiing. Both wakeskating and wakeboarding are a lot of fun, but you just have to learn the basics first.

I did the acl/miniscus surgery last year due to wakeboarding. My feeling is the same about the bindings... Just bought a new Hyperlite Catalyst. I'll do just about anything to avoid another knee surgery, except quit riding completly.

E.J., I would tend to disagree that it is much easier to get injured wakeskating. There are injuries that you can get wakeskating that you probably won't see on a wakeboard, but IMO, the list seems smaller. Just look at the pro boarders and skaters....we're always hearing of the boarders injuring themselves from a fall, but you rarely hear of a skater doing the same...In fact, Byerly is the only one I can think of. I can assure you that (at least for me) the falls do not hurt NEAR as much wakeskating as they do wakeboarding, and believe me, I've fallen with the best of them. I do, however, agree with cosmocat, that being attached to the board can cause more injuries than not being attached. I can't even think of a time I'd rather strap than wakeskate.

I wonder if some of that is just due to the fact that there are 10X+ more wakeboarders than skaters.... <BR> <BR>Not at all worried about bumps and bruises, thinking major stuff. I am too old to dislocate a knee.....<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/sad.gif" border=0>

I thought about the difference in numbers, but I am talking about the extreme upper tier of each sport where there really aren't that many more boarders than skaters. <BR> <BR>I'd still be more worried about knee probs on a board. I'm too old to think about this stuff too (late 30s). I do some moderate working out in the evenings when I can and really try not to do something extremely stupid on the water. But your feet come off the board when you fall, freeing your knees up to be in a much safer position than when bound. Anyway, just my opinions. I just much prefer not being strapped down.

I am in the same situation (mid-30's) and after having both ACL's re-constructed from wakeboarding, I took up skating full time several years ago. I have had a few injuries (board to head,grip burn, etc...), but find the falls much more forgiving for the same reasons stated above.

E.J., <BR> <BR>Plan a trip down here to SoCal and let's go skating. <BR> <BR>dtw.