How to Learn Wakeboarding History

Wakeboarding is a combination of water skiing, monoskiing, and surfing. It utilizes a shorter board with a stance secured by footsteps or water skiing boots. The stance is at least partially sideways. The tow rope is also shorter than is typical for water skiing. The result is access to the tow boat's wake for use in producing some jaw-dropping acrobatics. Learn about its history.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Get a feel for what the sport is like in real time. View a few of the many videos available on the Internet.

2. Wade into a solid history of wakeboarding as well as a discussion of the best equipment by reading "Wakeboarding: Techniques and Tricks" by Stephanie Cooperman.

3. Go to the website of an Irish wakeboarding organization for a great overview of the sport as well as a discussion of wakeboarding competition in Ireland and Europe.

4. Learn about the development of the "skurfer" by Tony Finn in the mid-1980s. Learn how this piece of equipment, a cross between a water ski and a surfboard, was modified by Jimmy Redmon by adding footstraps in order to facilitate control of the board so that acrobatics were possible.

5. Understand that skurfing is more of a brother or sister of wakeboarding than a cousin. Learn about how ESPN first televised a skurfing championship in 1990. Explore the importance of the technical modifications introduced to the sport by Herb O'brien. Read about O'brien's company, H.O.

6. Check one of the websites that documents current developments and discusses upcoming competition.

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