Wakeboarding involves riding a board much like a shorter surfboard behind a motorboat. The speed boat tows the wakeboarder, providing speed and creating a wake which is used to perform acrobatic manoeuvres over the surface of the water. Developed from techniques used in surfing, snowboarding and water skiing, wakeboarding is a dynamic sport enjoyed on lakes, seas, and rivers the world over.
Wakeboarding carries inherent risks associated with falling on water at high speeds. This can be surprisingly painful and damaging. There are also common injuries associated with high impact sports and the fixation of your feet into binding. Safety measures can be put in place to reduce the risk of injury or lessen their effects, not to mention avoiding accidents altogether.
To prevent wakeboard injuries, we recommend wearing correct safety equipment, using prevention supports such as ligament braces, learning the sport from a professional teacher, always checking that the towline is untangled and getting as fit as possible to strengthen your body appropriately.
Common Watersports Knee Brace Questions
Is wakeboarding bad for your knees?
High impact sports such as wakeboarding can be bad for your knees, but technique has a lot to do with it. You can also opt to wear a wakeboarding knee brace to offer additional stability and protect against ligament damage in the event of a fall.
Why do wakeboarders wear knee braces?
They can be worn to either protect against injury or to offer stability following a previous injury. The most common type of injury is ligament damage which affects the stability of the joint which, if surgery is required, can put you out of action for up to 9 months. Wakeboarders who choose a knee brace will take measures to help prevent that from happening, bracing being one of them.
Does wearing a knee brace weaken the knee?
A wakeboarding knee brace is designed to protect the knee during wear while performing the sport. Once you’ve finished, you simply take the knee brace off. Following an injury, it’s important to work on strengthening the joint (speak with a physio), with the knee brace only being worn to offer protection in sport to minimise the risk of further damage being caused.
Is it bad to wear a knee brace all day?
It depends. If you’re out on the water all day then wearing one makes sense. If you’re sat in your living room watching tv then there is little value (other than looking cool rocking your CTi).
Can you tear your ACL wakeboarding?
The short answer is yes. The ACL (or Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is one of the most common ligaments to tear or rupture following a bad fall on the water. There are 3 grades of injury from a minor strain (grade 1) to a full-blown tear or rupture (grade 3), which may require surgery. The knee has 4 ligaments, which is why both amateurs and professionals opt to wear a wakeboarding knee brace when on the water to minimise the risk of injury.
What is the difference between a knee brace and a knee support?
Technically a knee brace and a knee support are the same. Normally a knee brace is defined as something to offer protection such as a watersports knee brace, protecting against possible injury or against a reoccurrence of an injury and is rigid by design i.e., the carbon fibre CTi. A knee support is normally something worn following injury and is usually what we call a soft brace (with or without hinges) to offer compression (to help manage inflammation), stability (to support damaged ligaments) or a combination of both.
Can you wear a knee brace in the pool?
A watersports knee brace such as the CTi can be worn in the pool and even the sea. When you’re finished just rinse the brace in clean water to ensure it’s good to go for wearing next time around.
CTi Watersports Athletes
Andrew Cotton
Professional Big Wave Surfer
Lee Debuse
Pro Wakeboarder & Owner of LDB Wake School
Aaron Hadlow
5x World Champion Kiteboarder
Emely Freja Petersen
Danish & Turkish Kitesurfing Champion