Wakeboard handles are like car tires; they provide grip, are a main source of control, and eventually wear out. Do yourself a favor this Spring and put that nasty thing you’ve been riding where it belongs…on the tree next to the trampoline or on the winch.
Often times customers ask me what makes a wakeboard handle a “wakeboard” handle. Well, there are a few unique features wakeboard handles have that other slalom, trick, jump, and generic price-point handles don’t include. For example wakeboarding handles, like wakeboarding ropes, are non-stretch. They are usually between 15 and 17 inches wide to accommodate for handle passes. This is typically much wider than a waterski handle. Wakeboard handles can also be purchased with smaller “wrap” handles that allow you to do wrapped tricks while generic rope & handle combos will not include this. Finally, there’s grip. Wakeboard handles these days are often made from soft materials like as foam and cloth to provide a more comfortable grip. Since slalom skiing, bare-footing, and other watersports usually require 15+ mph more speed than wakeboarding, handles for these watersports are usually made out of rubber to accomodate for the punishing force of the water at higher speeds.