| Why it is important that a wakeboard floats? | | | | it would be very difficult to get the board |
| | | | up. If the board sank, you would not be able |
| Floating or buoyancy is a physics term that | | | | to stand or maintain your stance on top of |
| essentially means that the density and volume | | | | the water. Second, wakeboards are attached to |
| of an object placed in a fluid create a | | | | the rider through the use of not releasing |
| situation in which the object does not sink. | | | | bindings. A floating or neutrally buoyant |
| Neutral buoyancy occurs when the objects mass | | | | board makes it possible for the rider to |
| is equal to the volume of the fluid | | | | easily get into position to perform |
| displaced. Wakeboard construction has | | | | maneuvers. Another aspect important for |
| evolved over the past several years since its | | | | floating wakeboards is the speed in which the |
| introduction as a sport in the early 1980's. | | | | sport takes place. Water skiing generally |
| The first wakeboards were essentially just | | | | takes place at speeds of 25 to 30 miles per |
| downsized surfboards that were designed to | | | | hour while wakeboarding takes place at speeds |
| float on top of moving water. These old | | | | of 16 to 23 miles per hour. The slower speed |
| style wakeboards were difficult to master and | | | | makes it necessary for the object of the |
| inhibited many athletes from attempting the | | | | sport to float or semi-float whereas in |
| sport. Late in the 1980's, neutral buoyancy | | | | water-skiing, the speed of the boat makes the |
| wakeboards were introduced. Neutral buoyancy | | | | rider rise up on top of the water. Very |
| boards neither floats nor sink, which made | | | | experienced wakeboarders sometimes operate at |
| the addition of bindings or foot attachment | | | | speeds of 23 to 25 miles per hour. Even |
| feasible. They also made it possible for | | | | small variations in the speed of the boat can |
| riders to easily mount the boards while in | | | | drastically affect the shape of the wake |
| the water. This development made the sport | | | | created. In order to create the maximum wake |
| easier for beginners and more manageable for | | | | at the slowest speed possible, special wake |
| experienced wakeboarders to perform skilled | | | | attachment or wake boats are available for |
| maneuvers. | | | | use in the sport. As with any sport, safety |
| | | | is always an important factor. Wakeboards |
| The importance of floating is important in | | | | are specially engineered to ensure the |
| several respects. First, of all the | | | | protection and enjoyment of the wakeboard |
| wakeboarding is a surface water sport. As | | | | sport. |
| silly as it may sound, if the wakeboard sank | | | | |