As with all extreme sports, wakeboarding has its own unique language, which can leave a first timer puzzled.
Most of the slang centres on the tricks and some of the language is borrowed from the skateboarding and snowboarding stunts on which the moves are based.
Here’s a collection of the most widely used terms in the sport:
Double-Up: A Double-Up creates a monster wave which allows riders more time in the air to pull off the most complex tricks. It’s created when the boat pulling the rider doubles back on its own wake at a 90 degree angle. This creates a wave twice the size of the original and allows the rider extra pop (air time) to help nail a trick.
Rocker: There are two varieties of wakeboard – the continuous rocker and the three-stage rocker and the rocker refers to the amount of curve on a wakeboard. A board with a continuous rocker will have a smooth curve from front to back while a three-stage rocker will have a flat spot in the middle of the board.
Fakie: In wakeboarding your feet are strapped to the board so there is no switching your stance like in skateboarding. Fakie refers to the rider passing through 180 degrees on the water and putting their back foot forward. Fakies are usually in evidence when a rider lands a trick and the method of riding is also known as switchstance.
Faceplant: The painful fate of the Faceplant often befalls a rider after a poorly executed trick. Another way to score a Faceplant is by dipping your toeside edge (edge of the board closest to your toes) into the water. Other terms to try and avoid when wakeboarding are the all encompassing Bail as well as Whipsplash, Scorpion and Memory Loss.
Surface Trick: These tricks do not require pop so a novice rider can keep in contact with the surface when pulling off these stunts. Most surface tricks involve the rider grinding the wake and spins can be incorporated into the slide. Although no air-time is required, some surface tricks are particularly difficult to master such as the Powerslide. During a Powerslide a rider turns through 90 degrees on the wake and digs their board in to create a massive spray while having their back facing the boat.
Wake Jump: Any jump where the rider pops off is referred to as a Wake Jump. So once you’ve left the safety of the water what are you going to do? One option is the Backscratcher, which involves the rider kicking the board up to their buttocks while keep their back straight. After perfecting the Backscratcher, the next step is the Fashion Air when a rider will again bring the board up to their posterior while sticking a free hand either behind their head or pointing to the sky for that Superman look.
Grabs: A Grab trick is any jump, which involves the rider gripping on to any part of their board. A good place to start is with an Indy, which involves the rear hand grabbing the front edge of the board between their feet. A bad place to start is with a Chicken Salad, which requires the rear hand passing between the legs and grabbing the back edge of board.
Spins: A counter-clockwise spin by a regular rider (left-foot forward) or a clockwise spin from a goofy (right-foot forward) is known as a frontside spin. A rider taking the opposite direction for their twist performs a backside spin. When a rider’s body remains vertical the spins are on-axis but when their body is at an angle to the horizon the spin becomes off-axis. The term Osmosis is used when a rider releases the rope during a spin before getting hold again at the completion of the trick.
Inverts: An Invert refers to any trick which sees the rider’s board go above their head. Inverts are incorporated into many different styles of trick such as Backrolls, Frontrolls, Front Flips, Tantrum and Raleys. A Moby Dick for example is an Invert, which includes a backflip combined with a 360 degree spin.
Raleys: These tricks see the body extend backwards for that true flying sensation before landing on the other side of the wake. The 911 trick sees the rider turn towards the place they popped off from when completing their Raley. In a Suicide Raley the rider releases the rope with both hands while at the peak of the trick before reconnecting before landing on the water.
Now you’ve got the lingo down what are you waiting for? The water is lovely, all you have to do is turn up, tune in and pop off.
Learn more about all things wakeboarding at Wakeboarder
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