Wakeboard vs Kiteboard: What Are The Differences?
If you’re here reading this article, you’ve probably already heard of both wakeboarding and kiteboarding: two of the most popular extreme watersports of the moment. As a result, you’ve probably also heard of 1) the wakeboard and 2) the kiteboard.
A wakeboard is used for wakeboarding, which involves boarding behind a motorboat while attached to it by a handle and rope. In other words, the wakeboarder is towed by a motorboat across the water and relies on it for speed and movement.
A kiteboard is used for kiteboarding, where the rider instead utilizes wind power and a large power kite for direction, momentum, movement, and speed.
While the wakeboard and the kiteboard may seem alike, they are actually very different devices with very different purposes. The wakeboard and kiteboard primarily differ in terms of
1) Function, since wakeboarding and kiteboarding are significantly different activities that utilize different systems of movement,
2) Speed and rocker, wakeboards are faster than kiteboards with higher capacity for risky stunts, therefore requiring a sturdier rocker,
3) Weight, wakeboards need more anchoring in the water than the kiteboard as a result of its enormously high-speed, high-risk nature.
4) Respective proclivity for foot strap systems, since many kiteboard stunts involve a departure of the feet from the board such that foot straps may be required for a more reliable kiteboarding experience.
Furthermore, wakeboards and kiteboards generally aren’t interchangeable. This might seem odd when you consider the often identical, rectangular sizes and shapes of both, but the fact is that wakeboarding and kiteboarding are very different sports, and their dissimilarities outweigh their similarities. They are not swappable — especially not to those looking to make the best of their wakeboarding and/or kiteboarding experience(s).
Since wakeboards and kiteboards are designed accordingly such that they are only to be used for their respective activities, switching one out for the other steeply increases the likelihood of board malfunction and/or extreme danger. Not only is it not worth it — the experts also don’t recommend it.
Function
As we already mentioned, wakeboarding and kiteboarding are very different sports for which wakeboards and kiteboards are designed specifically. The wakeboard is designed for high speeds, extreme stunts, and a generally thrilling, high-adrenaline adventure in the water. Most of the speed, momentum, and direction in wakeboarding comes from the motorboat to which the wakeboard is attached. The boat tows the wakeboard and positions the boarder relative to the water’s crests such that high-speed aerial stunts are made possible.
Like wakeboarding, kiteboarding is referred to as an extreme watersport by professionals and enthusiasts alike. Kiteboarding, despite its tendency towards significantly lower speeds than wakeboarding, is also a thrilling, fast-paced activity with a capacity for stunts. Still, due to the different speeds and power systems involved in kiteboarding, these stunts are not identical to the ones a boarder might perform while wakeboarding. This comes down to the varying constructions of both sports’ respective boards, plus the dissimilar systems of movement the two employ.
With kiteboarding, the board and the boarder move with the wind by utilizing wind power and a large power kite. Although it does so differently than wakeboarding, kiteboarding combines many of the best elements of surfing, gliding, and boarding to create a multifaceted boarding experience. As a result, kiteboarding is oftentimes loftier than wakeboarding, but still packs plenty of thrill for those eager to be guided by the wind while in the water.
Is kitesurfing expensive? Find out here.
Speed and Rocker
Kiteboards are fast, but wakeboards are faster. Whereas kiteboards are made more for a straightforward, drifty aquatic experience, wakeboards are designed instead with the intention of reaching
high speeds and making sharp moves. As mentioned before, both wakeboards and kiteboards allow for stunts, but the prior especially excels at high-speed tricks whereas the latter does not.
A primary distinction between the two is the rocker. In fact, experts consider the rocker to be the biggest and most significant difference between the wakeboard and the kiteboard. The wakeboard’s rocker is more pronounced and prominent in order to prevent the dangers of boarding at high speeds. A larger rocker allows for additional weight and stability throughout the turbulence common with wakeboarding. Therefore, the average wakeboard has about three inches of bend regarding the rocker. Conversely, the standard kiteboard only has about one or two.
Wakeboarding is highly akin to surfing or waterskiing — especially as it applies to speed and movement through the water. Because of the wakeboard’s proclivity to high speeds and the opportunities it cultivates for riders to perform dangerous stunts, its rocker is specifically designed to prevent incidents — more specifically, wipeouts. Meanwhile, kiteboards utilize the wind in order to move and reach heightened speeds.
Unlike wakeboards, which are built with the primary concern of mitigating the perils of boarding at such high speeds, kiteboards deal instead with issues of planing— meaning that they are actually better-known for occasionally moving too slowly through the water.
Weight
A lot of the confusion regarding the apparent lack of dissimilarity between the wakeboard and the kiteboard stems from the fact that these two types of boards appear nearly, if not entirely, identical — especially to those unfamiliar with the respective distinctions. As mentioned before, comparing the rockers on boards is one good way to distinguish between the two. Moreover, there are also differences between the weights of most wakeboards and kiteboards that can help you tell them apart.
Both boards are famously rectangular, but wakeboards are the heavier of the two. The average wakeboard sits at about seven or eight pounds, while the average kiteboard exists somewhere between four and six. The relative heaviness of the wakeboard (especially when considered alongside its larger rocker) creates a sturdier platform for boarders such that they can move fast and perform high-speed aerial stunts safely. This is one of the many reasons why wakeboarding shouldn’t be attempted on a kiteboard — the kiteboard and its rocker don’t possess the weight or infrastructure required for boarders to wakeboard safely.
Similarly, it would be extremely difficult to use a wakeboard for kiteboarding. The lightness of the kiteboard makes it ideal for wielding the wind for the sake of air, movement, and speed. This would be far more challenging a feat to perform on a wakeboard. In fact, attempting this could be just or nearly as hazardous as attempting to go wakeboarding on a kiteboard.
Respective Proclivity for Foot Strap Systems
Many kiteboards come with foot strap systems, whereas most wakeboards are not. This is because a significant number of kiteboard tricks involve a departure of one’s feet from the board.
Related Questions
Can I use a kiteboard to kitesurf? Yes, you can use a kiteboard to kitesurf. Kiteboarding and kitesurfing are generally considered the same sport — the terms are actually just used interchangeably. The same, however, does not apply for wakeboarding and wakesurfing, which are related activities but still differ from one another in significant ways.
Can I use a wakeboard to wakesurf? Technically, you can — but it won’t be as fun, safe, or effective as it could be if you employed the proper gear for wakesurfing. When it comes to wakeboarding, you need a board that is twin-shaped and has bindings and smaller fins. For wakesurfing, you’ll want an unbound surf or skimboard instead.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.