Cable Wakeboarding
Cable wakeboarding as its name implies is wakeboarding where the participants are not pulled by a boat but by an overhead cable, very similar to a cable car system.
The cable system runs counter-clockwise around the lake and the participants are. Very simply, hooked up to the cable on the move, it can travel at the same boat speed as recreational and competitive wakeboarding. It is powered by a variable speed electric motor that can maintain a speed of 24 - 37 kph.
All wakeboarders have to begin from the same starting dock. This also helps ensure that the cable operator has some control over the people getting into the water. There is no limit as to how many rounds a participant can go.
The obvious advantage to cable wakeboarding is the dramatic reduction in the cost for participants. Up to 8 wakeboarders can participate at the same time on one cableway, with an average of 300 - 400 participants per day (depending on the size of the cable park).
It is because of the masses that can use this system it is possible to reduce the cost for the participant as compared to if they were riding behind a boat.
In competition, riders are also judged subjectively and can perform many of the same tricks and grabs, but have the added bonus of park features. Much like a skate park or snow park, features are structures built along the cable path that give riders other tools to expand the creativity of their runs. These features are virtually limitless and can be ramps to allow big air tricks, rails and boxes for grinding, transfer boxes, “A” frames, and even quarter pipes to wall ride. Along with features, air tricks such as flips are also performed.
The cable system runs counter-clockwise around the lake and the participants are. Very simply, hooked up to the cable on the move, it can travel at the same boat speed as recreational and competitive wakeboarding. It is powered by a variable speed electric motor that can maintain a speed of 24 - 37 kph.
All wakeboarders have to begin from the same starting dock. This also helps ensure that the cable operator has some control over the people getting into the water. There is no limit as to how many rounds a participant can go.
The obvious advantage to cable wakeboarding is the dramatic reduction in the cost for participants. Up to 8 wakeboarders can participate at the same time on one cableway, with an average of 300 - 400 participants per day (depending on the size of the cable park).
It is because of the masses that can use this system it is possible to reduce the cost for the participant as compared to if they were riding behind a boat.
In competition, riders are also judged subjectively and can perform many of the same tricks and grabs, but have the added bonus of park features. Much like a skate park or snow park, features are structures built along the cable path that give riders other tools to expand the creativity of their runs. These features are virtually limitless and can be ramps to allow big air tricks, rails and boxes for grinding, transfer boxes, “A” frames, and even quarter pipes to wall ride. Along with features, air tricks such as flips are also performed.
Historical Background
At the end of the fifties, during a holiday in Holland, Mr Bruno Rixen from Munchen, Germany, experienced water-skiing for the first time. He liked it very much but did not like the long wait at the overcrowded ski school. Being an inventor by nature and profession, he placed himself behind his drawing table to invent the ideal skiing machine – the cable system. In 1966 the first cable ski park opened in Spain.
Safety & Environment
Cable wakeboarding is safe, clean, quiet, and environmentally friendly, there is no risk of oil or fuel contamination.
World Wide Cable Parks
There are currently about 500 cable parks world-wide. In Germany alone, there are around 100+ cable parks operating and every year there are 10 additional cable parks which are put into operation.
Singapore's only cable park, Singapore Wake Park, is located at East Coast Lagoon.