When wakeboarding, you need to know some basic safety precautions. For example, you must know how to escape from a falling wakeboard, swim back to the boat, and stay below the posted speed limit on the water. The speed limit is to protect you from other boats and prevent you from damaging your boat and the environment.
In a recent study, researchers found that head and neck injuries are more common during wakeboarding than during water skiing. They found that the likelihood of a severe traumatic brain injury when wakeboarding is nearly half that of water skiing. They also found that helmets reduced the likelihood of a severe traumatic brain or cervical spine injury. But how much does wearing a helmet actually prevent brain injuries?
Although both activities involve falls into the water, head injuries from wakeboarding are more common during collisions with a solid object, such as a dock, ramp, or buoy. Other common causes of head injuries in wakeboarding are collisions with boat propellers, tow ropes, or other boat structures.
When starting to wakeboard, it's important to know the speed you should drive. The faster you go, the more difficult it will be to balance yourself and get on the water safely. For this reason, beginners should always start off at a slower speed. They can even go as slow as 12 miles per hour.
The recommended speed range for a beginner wakeboarder is between 12 and 15 miles per hour. Intermediates should ride between 16 and 20 mph, while professionals can hit speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. But when you're a beginner, it's best to stick to a steady speed and gradually build up your confidence.
A full-length wetsuit covers the entire body, including the arms and legs. It's made of neoprene fabric, which is insulating and breathable. It's also great for all-year-round use. Wetsuits also come in a wide range of colors and patterns.
The quality of a wetsuit makes a big difference in overall warmth. For example, the wetsuits from O'Neill are designed with new technology like TechnoButter and FuzeFlex Firewall to keep the body warm and dry. Other factors that influence warmth include seams and seals. You also need to consider features like the neck and limbs of the wetsuit.
Different wetsuits come with different types of seams. Flatlock seams are ideal for warmer watersports, while glued and blindstitched seams provide a better seal. Moreover, wetsuits with taped seams provide additional protection and reduce water flushing.
While wakeboarding can be a lot of fun, it is not without risks, so it is important to have the appropriate safety gear. One of the most important pieces of safety gear is a life jacket, because if you fall off your board, you will probably need help staying afloat and righting yourself in the water. Also, you should wear a helmet and signal flag. These are essential items for your own safety, and they will alert other boaters that you are on the water.
While wakeboarding, you should be aware of your surrounding and other boats. You should follow the speed limit posted on the water. It will keep you safe and other boaters safe, and it will also protect the environment.
Some common injuries to wakeboarders include head, neck, and ankle injuries. These injuries can be caused by catching an edge of the water, falling, or hitting your board. In more serious cases, these injuries can lead to concussion. Other injuries can involve cuts, sprains, and other body parts.
ACL tears are among the most common wakeboarding injuries. They affect about 31% of wakeboarders. While this injury may not be life-threatening, it can leave a wakeboarder with a permanently weakened knee. This injury usually requires surgery or months of rehabilitation. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for wakeboard injuries.
While the frequency of ACL tears among wakeboarders appears to be similar to other extreme sports, the mechanism involved is unclear. Researchers need to further study wakeboarding's axial compression in order to determine whether the sport is a high risk for ACL tears.