Attempting tricks on a kneeboard can send a glorious boost of adrenaline rush and get your mates to high-five you. What a feeling that must be! But sometimes, these extravagant tricks can also lead to sore muscles, faceplants and irritation.
Regardless of whether you are a pro at kneeboards or are just getting welcomed to this new side of adventure, you must keep some safety tips in mind.
Because why bother with aching bones and sighs of disappointment later, right?
1. Take Care of Your Neck
One of the biggest misconceptions about snowboarding is that it hurts the riders’ knees. That’s not true, though. The rider’s neck and back take the most hit after each ride. So, it’s significant to ensure that these areas remain flexible and strong.
You can undertake some yoga poses like triangle pose or upward-facing dog to help stretch and strengthen your body.
Also, make sure to do some stretching exercises right before every kneeboarding session. It will help keep all the possible pain away and make your core solid and dependable.
2. Choosing the Right Board
This is one of the most asked questions amongst all the newbies. Well, you should always look for kneeboards that match your skill set.
For young kids, a roto-moulded board is the best. It’s made of plastic, thick, stable, inexpensive, and forgiving. As for novice riders, a mid-ranged compression-moulded kneeboard seems ideal. It’s more responsive because of being light and thin, so it jumps better and is excellent for performing tricks.
Though, the best of the best is a sandwich-construction board. Its rideability and performance are incomparable. They are the fastest, lightest, and most responsive kneeboards, leading to colossal air landings.
3. Choosing the Suitable Rope
Getting the correct board is just a start. You need to invest in a good rope as well.
Now there are two kinds of rope: no stretch and low stretch. The former is great for kids and super inexpensive. But the latter is suitable for individuals who want to become serious kneeboarders. It offers consistent and solid pull and allows for safe wake tricks.
Additionally, make sure to pay attention to the rope length. Start with something short, 40 feet, perhaps. If you can make an easy jump with this, then you can elongate the rope.
4. Determining the Speed
The length of the rope determines the speed of the kneeboard. Generally, the speed range oscillates between 18-24 mph, depending on the rope length and the rider’s skill level. If the rope is longer, it will also demand a faster speed.
5. Don’t Forget to Maintain Proper Posture
The key to performing wake tricks and jumps is maintaining the correct posture. Straighten your back, keep your shoulders back and set your elbows at the waist. It will help you maintain the centre of gravity a little behind so you can avoid any terrible faceplants during harsh landings. Once you do land, don’t open your arms.
Keep your back straight and elbows at hips throughout the landing to ensure safety. Once you learn to hold a good posture throughout the sport, every jump and landing will become enjoyable!
Australia recorded over 2,600 serious injuries caused by water sports during 2017-2018. These injuries are twice more likely to happen to men than women. Why become part of such stats?
When hopping on the kneeboard, ensure that you follow all safety protocols. That’s the only fair way to enjoy while ensuring peace of mind!
