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