|
Wakeboarding on Lake Tarpon
By TERRY TOMALIN, Times Outdoors Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000
[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
Jay Vetzel, 21, goes airborne on a wakeboard at Lake Tarpon on April 23.
|
All you need is a boat, rope and calm water to enjoy the fastest-growing water sport in America: wakeboarding. One of the best places to catch some "big air" is Lake Tarpon in North Pinellas County.
The sport -- a combination of surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding and trick water skiing -- isn't as hard as it looks. The boards, made of thin, compression-molded epoxy-Fiberglas, are performance-oriented machines, but with foot straps/boots and variable fin assemblies, they can adapt to any riding style.
The most popular boards are double-ended and resemble a snowboard in design. They allow a wake rider to switch directions and perform spinning turns. But beginners shouldn't concern themselves with aerials and flips.
A wakeboard with a longer, straighter outline, or template, will perform longer, straighter turns and is better suited for the beginner. Fin assembly also is important: a shallow fin is designed for tricks and high-performance maneuvers; a deep fin provides more stability.
New wakeboards start at about $250, but top-of-the-line models can cost about $800. Be forewarned: Once you start wakeboarding, the only thing your old water skis will be good for is firewood.
Back to Outdoors
© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.
|
