New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

[Chris1956]

I bought a wakeboard for my son for Christmas. It is a Hydroslide with a wrap binding. I am familar with Salom Ski wrap bindings, but this one has two 15" long heavy rubber straps on the outside of each binding. There is velcro all over the bindings, but it is not obvious if those straps support the foot, ankle or some other part of the binding. Does anyone know, or better yet have a picture?

BTW - my kid has no interest in waterskiing. That at least I could teach him. Figures....

 

[MTribe08]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

I bought a wakeboard for my son for Christmas. It is a Hydroslide with a wrap binding. I am familar with Salom Ski wrap bindings, but this one has two 15" long heavy rubber straps on the outside of each binding. There is velcro all over the bindings, but it is not obvious if those straps support the foot, ankle or some other part of the binding. Does anyone know, or better yet have a picture?

BTW - my kid has no interest in waterskiing. That at least I could teach him. Figures....

I had a board with velcro bindings..it basically straps down your foot. Don't expect to do very much in these bindings..you don't feel very stable in them. However, if you are just trying to teach him to stand up and get comfortable riding the board, they will do. But when he wants to start jumping the wake, he'll want to have better bindings.

 

[sebber83]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

sounds like old school bindings, which is fine for starters, so perfect to teach your kid the basics. If i am not mistaken, the straps should go about ankle high and wrap around, meant to keep the foot inside the binding

 

[sickwilly]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

They will do fine. With wakeboarding, you either want to be in the boots with Velcro like these where they are designed so that you come out when you crash fairly easily, or you want to really be planted in boots where you legs and the board stay a unit when you crash.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Thanks for the info. Anyone have a picture of someone with the wraps on the bindings?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Go to hydroslide.net and click on products and bindings. Are you talking about something different from the ones you see there?

 

[smitty1258]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

well I couldn't disagree more with all the other posters.

Those boots are junk, plain and simple. I wouldn't let my kid or anyone I knew strap on with those. They will actually be harder to learn with than real bindings, because they provide ZERO support and have horrible board control and feel. When I first started learning I used this exact type setup for 3 months. Then bought myself a nice board and nice bindings, and although I knew how to ride, it was like learning all over again, because its just that much of a difference, and the old bindings REALLY hurt my ankles.

Do you and your kid a favor. Get some decent lace up or velcro bindings. Liquid Force makes a real nice velcro set of boots that have the best reviews for velcro.

As far as coming out of the boots when you crash, that statement holds less validity than one might think. How fast are you going to be pulling a new found wakeboarder? Your not going to be pulling them at 20+ mph which is when you things start to hurt, your going to be pulling them at 15-18mph because they are just learning.

 

[sebber83]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Since Smitty let the cat out of the bag, I will have to re-tract my previous post and agree with him. I started wakeboarding a few years ago with junk bindings and a junk board and I never felt solid on the board until I got my new set-up (Ronix One board and Ronix Scout closed tow bindings). Now I feel the same way I fee on my snowboard, very solid, the board responds to my every move and even to get out of the water, you just have to lean back and let the board do the work, the bindings will keep you upright and it becomes very easy! Plus I'd rather feel solid in my bindings than worry that on the next fall only one of my feet will come out and I will end up doing the splits or tearing my knee out!!!

Check this link out, they chage deals every day and you will be surprise to find exactly what you need. I got my wife a J-Star Board for 50$ and then 2 days later got her Ronix Luxe bindings for 60$, crazy deals!

http://www.boardersbestbuy.com/index.php

 

[smitty1258]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

these are the boots I was talking about.

http://www.evogear.com/outlet/wakeboard-bindings/liquid-force-vantage-boots-2009.aspx

http://www.bartswatersports.com/catalog.asp?P=50520

Ive seen the 2008 model go for $150 shipped on ebay new.

Now you dont need to spend that much to get nice boots. But That was the only velcro boot that came to mind.

 

[salty87]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

when i first read wrap bindings i thought of junk too but the OP says there is velcro all over them. i searched for wrap style bindings and couldn't find anything. i'm hoping they don't even make those old junky wraps styles anymore.

Chris1956...can you post a pic of these bindings? i couldn't find hydroslide wrap bindings by searching. if they have velcro they're probably ok for a season or 2. if there's no way of tightening them down, don't use them.

wakeboarding may be on the water but poorly fitting equipment can be painful. imagine skiing in the snow with ski boots that don't fit good enough...pretty much the same feeling on a wakeboard....yikes.

 

[tfret]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

I bought a wakeboard for my son for Christmas. It is a Hydroslide with a wrap binding. I am familar with Salom Ski wrap bindings, but this one has two 15" long heavy rubber straps on the outside of each binding. There is velcro all over the bindings, but it is not obvious if those straps support the foot, ankle or some other part of the binding. Does anyone know, or better yet have a picture?

BTW - my kid has no interest in waterskiing. That at least I could teach him. Figures....

I "require" my kids to ski. All they want to do is lay in the tube and get dragged around. Lots of talent that requires.... I make my kids earn their tube time by skiing FIRST. No ski, No tube.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Thanks for the replies.

Salty, the wrap bindings are very supportative. More than I had thought possible, and certainly more than a salom plate binding.

tfret, Maybe my kid will want to waterski, after he trys wakeboarding.

 

[smitty1258]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Thanks for the replies.

Salty, the wrap bindings are very supportative. More than I had thought possible, and certainly more than a salom plate binding.

tfret, Maybe my kid will want to waterski, after he trys wakeboarding.

Do you have pictures of the bindings? Im sticking with my original diagnosis of you should get a good set of bindings.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Smitty, The closest binding to the ones I have on the Hydroslide.new website is called the "Grabber". You can see it there.

The bindings have a one piece rubber heel piece like a waterski binding, with 2 strong plastic toe pieces that overlap, and are held by velcro. There is an additional two black rubber straps that wrap around the toe and heel pieces, and are held by velcro as well. The binding looks like it will hold real firmly.

 

[sebber83]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

there are several options out there, but personally, i believe nothing beats a closed booth, and with lots of crazy deals out there, everyone should have a pair, ahahah!

 

[mikesdad]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

I know absolutely nothing about wakeboards so when my son asks "Why wouldn't my snowboard work just as well Dad?"

My answer is:

( insert your replies here!!)


Thanks.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Its too long/narrow and will sink if it falls off your feet.

 

[mikesdad]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

Thank you.
He's ten and although he probably thinks he can conquer the too long and narrow part?( along with the world!)
When I tell him his snowboard will sink like a rock to the bottom of the lake when it falls off his feet?

That should convince him.

 

[tgell001]

Re: New Wakeboarder = Dumb Question

I ride LF Domain bindings and they have Velcro straps and they ride fine, I actually like them a lot. Very comfortable and easy to get in and out of and the support isn't all that bad either, and i would consider myself and intermediate rider so my opinion may be worth something....