Buyers Guide: Intermediate Wakeboards

Reuben runs through the intermediate wakeboard range. The shapes and the terminology below all come from the video — the models and sizes are checked against what we actually have in stock.

You have the basics down and you want more out of the board. This is what separates one intermediate wakeboard from another, and which of ours does what.

How to read a wakeboard

Nearly every difference between the boards below comes down to four things: the rocker line, whether it has a centre fin, and what is going on with the rails and the base.

Rocker — the biggest single difference

Rocker is the curve along the length of the board. It decides how the board feels when it hits the wake and how it feels when you land.

• Continuous rocker. One smooth curve end to end. The pop comes from the taper of the rocker being very big, and it rides fast and high on the water.
• Three-stage rocker. A flatter section in the middle with the curve at each end. Prioritises pop off the wake, but the board sits a little deeper in the water and creates a bit more drag, so it is a little slower than a blended board.
• Blended or hybrid rocker. The middle ground — pop off the wake plus soft landings, and a high-riding, easy board to ride.
• True hybrid rocker. Two rocker lines on the one board. See the Ronix section below, because it is worth understanding properly.

The centre fin

The KD, Liquid Force and Connelly boards below all keep the centre fin. It is what makes this whole bracket work.

Rails, concave and spines

These are the details on the rail and the base that shape how the board holds an edge and how it lands.

• Chine rails — the shaped edge running along the board.
• Concave in the base — softens the landing and adds edge hold.
• Spines through the centre of the base — the same job, done a different way.
• Grip and release rails through the outer channel — edge hold.

KD Flare and Maverick

KD boards are fantastic value for money, and that does not change when you step up to an intermediate board.

Both run a hybrid blended rocker line, so you get the best of both worlds — nice pop off the wake, nice soft landings, and a high-riding, easy board to ride. They carry big chine rails through the entire length of the board, and there is carbon fibre in the laminate, which makes them a little more responsive and a little more poppy.

Both keep the centre fin, so they are a strong pick for a rider who wants to skip the beginner board entirely and start on something they can grow into.

• KD Flare — the womens board. 132cm and 137cm.
• KD Maverick — the Japanese-style graphic, and it looks the part. 132cm, 137cm and 141cm.
• KD Maverick Junior — the same board scaled down.

Liquid Force M.E.

The M.E. is Meagan Ethell’s pro model, and it sits at the other end of the rocker scale from the KD boards.

It runs a three-stage rocker, so it prioritises pop off the wake. The trade-off is honest: the board sits a bit deeper in the water and creates a bit more drag, which makes it a little slower than a blended board like the Flare or Maverick. What you get back is the pop, plus the base shaping Liquid Force are known for, which gives you soft landings and big edge hold.

Centre fin, same as the rest. 130cm, 134cm and 138cm. See the M.E.

Connelly Reverb and Wild Child

If you want something a bit different from what everyone else is riding, this is where to look. Connelly make high quality gear and the Wild Child in particular always looks good.

The shaping story here is two-part. There are massive spines through the centre of the board, which is what makes it land super soft. And the rocker is a mellow, blended three-stage — so you still get pop off the wake and soft landings, but you also get good top water speed, so the board does not feel boggy.

• Connelly Reverb — 132cm, 137cm and 143cm.
• Connelly Wild Child — 132cm and 137cm.

Ronix Quarter Til Midnight and District

These two have been around a long time and have plenty of people on them. They have also been upgraded over the past few years — lighter, thinner, and a little more responsive than they used to be.

What they still have is the true hybrid rocker, and it is worth explaining because it is the one shape on this page that changes depending on how you ride.

Combine that with the big grip and release rail through the outer channel and the board holds an edge like nothing else. There have been very few people who have jumped on a District or a QTM and been disappointed.

• Quarter Til Midnight — 129cm, 134cm and 138cm.
• District — 134cm, 138cm, 144cm and a big 150cm.
• Junior District — the 129cm, in its own graphic. A ripping board for young guns coming through.

What has changed since we filmed

The video is a couple of seasons old now and three of the boards in it are no longer in our range: the Hyperlite Cadence, the Hyperlite Cryptic and the Liquid Force RDX. Everything the video says about them still holds, and the shapes above cover the same ground — but if you came here looking for one of those three specifically, give us a call rather than ordering something similar and hoping.

Both Hyperlite and Liquid Force still have boards in this bracket. The most current list is always the intermediate wakeboard range, which updates as stock does.

A couple of sizes have shifted too. The Connelly Reverb and Wild Child have both moved up a centimetre or two from where they were when the video was shot — the sizes listed above are the current ones.

Getting the size right

Unlike most board sports, wakeboard length is based mostly on your weight, not your height — it is your weight that decides how deep the board sits. The full chart is on the wakeboard size guide.

If you are between two sizes, ring us. It is a two-minute conversation and it is the difference between a board that works and one that always feels slightly wrong.

Common questions

What makes a wakeboard an intermediate board rather than a beginner board?

Mostly the centre fin. An intermediate board keeps the centre fin so it still tracks straight and still lets you learn to edge toe side and heel side, but the shape and construction are better than a beginner board. That means you can start on it and grow into it rather than replacing it in a season.

Continuous, three-stage or hybrid rocker - which should I get?

Three-stage prioritises pop off the wake but sits deeper in the water and is a little slower. Continuous rides fast and high with pop that comes from the taper of the rocker. Blended or hybrid sits between the two and is the easiest to ride. If you are unsure, a blended board like the KD Maverick or Flare is the safest first step up.

What is a true hybrid rocker?

Two rocker lines on the same board. Ronix put a big flat spot through the centre of the base, which is a three-stage rocker line, and a continuous rocker line on the outer two-inch section down both sides. Flatten off before the wake and you ride the three-stage; hold your edge up onto the wake and you engage the continuous rocker for a smoother, more consistent pop.

Why is a three-stage rocker board slower?

Because it sits a little deeper in the water and creates a bit more drag. That is the trade for the pop it gives you off the wake.

Which intermediate wakeboard is best for a bigger rider?

The 150cm Ronix District. If you have always felt limited by short boards, that is the size it exists for.

Is there an intermediate board for kids?

Yes. The KD Maverick Junior and the Ronix Junior District in 129cm are both proper intermediate shapes scaled down, so a young rider who is progressing quickly does not get held back.

What size wakeboard do I need?

Wakeboard length is based mostly on your weight rather than your height, because your weight is what determines how deep the board sits in the water. Our wakeboard size guide has the full chart, and if you are between two sizes it is worth a quick phone call.

Can I try a wakeboard before I buy it?

Yes - we have demos available on a few of the different boards. If you are not sure what suits your style of riding, come into the shop at Moorooka in Brisbane and we will organise a demo and get you out on the water.

Try one before you commit

We have demos available on a few of the different boards. If you are not sure what is going to suit your style of riding, that is the fastest way to find out — come see us at Moorooka in Brisbane, jump on the website, give the shop a call or email us, and we will organise a demo and get out on the water with you.

Browse the intermediate range, or step either side of it — beginner boards and advanced boards. You can also narrow it to womens or kids boards.

There is more on how board shapes work in the wakeboard breakdown, and once yours turns up, the setup guide covers fins and boot position.

Or see the full wakeboard range.

Presented by Reuben at Waterskiers World — Australia's dedicated towed water sports retailer, family-run for over 20 years from our Brisbane store and online.