Understanding the Different Types of Wakeboard Rockers

When buying a wakeboard, you want something that’s going to feel right when riding your own unique set of tricks and style.  With so many brands and so many colors, the amount of options can be overwhelming. Fear not, as there are three simple wakeboard designs that will help organize your search for the perfect board. The wakeboard rocker simply refers to the shape of the board and there are three different types; a continuous rocker, a 3-stage rocker, and a hybrid rocker. Each of these styles have their pros and cons but which is going to be best for you is entirely based off what riding style you want on the water.

The Continuous Wakeboard Rocker

Continuous rocker boards are amazing and lots of fun to ride at a cable park. These boards have one smooth uninterrupted curve from the nose to the tail. This shape is extremely forgiving on landings and allows more room for error, so the rider can ride away or save a trick. Now a continuous rocker will not get as much pop off the wake as a 3 Stage rocker, which means more skill is required to get the same height behind the  wakeboard boat. These boards are fun for carving they provide a fast, smooth ride and will allow you to turn more easily as well as press and flex more when riding around your cable park. The continuous shape is great on bigger ramp hits thanks to the water dispersion off the bottom of the board on your landings, your knees won’t take as heavy of an impact since you will roll smoothly into those big landings.

The 3-Stage Wakeboard Rocker

A 3-stage rocker is typically used predominately behind boat. It has three flat surfaces that make the shape or the board, a more dramatic nose and tail with a flat base middle. The purpose of this shape and stiffness is to allow you more pop when cutting and releasing your energy through the wake.  This style of board tends to ride higher on the water allowing for greater speed plowing into the wake resulting in greater pop, and height behind the boat. This greater height comes with a toll, landing will be rougher and a bit harder because of the 3-stage wakeboards flat bottom shape. Be prepared for the pop off the wake with this board because of its shape, the pop is explosive compared to other two rocker types, and can catch some riders off guard with the intense height they are capable of. The spectators on the boat might want to bring their binoculars!

The Hybrid Wakeboard Rocker

Hybrid rocker wakeboards (as the name implies) combine characteristics of both the continuous rocker and the 3-stage rocker wakeboards to blend the best of each into one shape. These are going to be for your boat rides on the weekend and cable days during the week type of board. Each hybrid is unique and no two hybrids will ever feel the same. This board is a happy middle of the aforementioned rocker types, allowing for big wake or ramp hits with smoother and more forgiving landings.  These boards normally have a stiff center with a more flexible nose and tail allowing for wake hits and rail presses. The perfect, go-to-board for those active riders that have access to a boat and cable but only want one board to do it all.

No one type of board is going to be perfect for everyone. You need to ask your self what type of riding you’re doing, be it at a cable park or behind a boat. It is also important to consider your level of riding from beginner and intermediate to advance or pro. The best bet in deciding on a new board is going to be through personal experience. Swing by your local Pro Shop (www.MiamiNautique.com), cable park (www.aktionparks.com/miami-watersports-complex/) or Boat Sales center (www.MNIBoats.com) where you can demo or rent a few different wakeboards, and decide for yourself  what simply feels best to you!