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What Length of Wakeboard Rope Should You Use?

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Jonathan Hua

A kid catching some air on a Hyperlite Wakeboard.

Before covering what length of rope you should use, it is important that we cover what type of rope to use. Novice wakeboarders might consider reaching for a water skiing rope to go wakeboarding. However, it is actually much better to use wakeboard-specific ropes. The main reason is that a good wakeboard rope is rigid and has no stretch in the line, which allows a rider to load the line with tension providing an added lift to jumps and won’t pull you off-axis when you get into the air. Three main factors influence the decision of what length you should ride at and include skill level, size and shape of the wake, and riding style.

Skill Level

A kid carving a wake while the sun sets on a Hyperlite Wakeboard.

The right wakeboard rope length for you is the length that lets you comfortably jump the wake. Beginner wakeboarders who are learning to jump the wake can shorten the wakeboard rope to about 50-60 feet (depending on the size/shape of the wake). The shorter the rope, the closer you are to the towboat, which is where the wake is narrower and easier to clear. As your confidence and skill increase, you will want to increase the length of rope you use. A longer rope allows you more time to set up for your wake jump and also will give you more time in the air for doing tricks.

Size and Shape of the Wake

Each boat throws a unique size and shape of the wake. The size and shape of a wake are determined by the shape of the boat hull, boat speed, and the amount of weight or ballast the boat has. Because there are so many factors that can influence the size and shape of the wake, you will find that your riding length will change as each of these factors changes. Riding behind a boat with a wider wake would influence you to ride at a shorter rope length. Conversely, riding behind a boat with a skinner wake, you would want to ride at a longer length.

The ideal place to land a wakeboard jump is on the downside of the opposite wake. If you are riding too short of a rope length, you will land outside of the wake in the “flats,” which is a much harder landing. Riding too long of a line may lead to not clearing the other wake, which is an even harder landing.

  • The “Sweet Spot”– This is where the wake is at its peak and is not rolling over or whitewashing. The sweet spot changes as the speed of the boat changes, thus influencing the rope length you chose to ride at.
     
  • Big vs. Small – Smaller wakes are harder to launch big air off of and therefore influence your rope length to be shorter. Bigger wakes provide more push and can blast a rider much higher in the air.

Style

On top of a wake on a green wakeboard.

Personal preference also plays a role in the length of rope you select. A rider who is timid and not as confident in their wake-to-wake abilities will prefer to ride at a shorter length. Riders who love to send it into the flats will want a longer line and riders who want to go high, but land on the downside of the other wake will want something in the middle.

As you can see, your rope length will change according to the different factors involved. It is recommended that you ask riders who are familiar with the boat you are riding behind the best rope length and speed for your riding level. If you find that you are at a length that is too long or too short, just let go of the handle, and when the boat passes back to you with the handle, let them know to let it out or pull it in. For more info on wakeboard ropes or any outdoor watersports in general, come see us in-store or online at your local Sun & Ski Sports.