If you are into wakeboarding, wakeskating, kiteboarding, snowboarding…, follow me on Twitter

Vacationing in Orlando

For many travelers, Orlando, Florida is a popular tourist destination that sees over 52 million visitors every year from the US and internationally. Most people’s thoughts turn to Walt Disney World whenever you mention Orlando, but there is so much more to the city and the surrounding areas to see and enjoy. Having a tropical climate, many tourists travel to Florida to escape the cold winter months of their home states and countries. Florida is also a popular destination for a variety of water sports that you can take advantage of while on vacation there.

Wakeboarding in Florida

One of the most popular water sports in winter is wakeboarding in Florida. The sport was initially developed by employing techniques that are used in skiing, snowboarding, and surfing. Today it is one of the most popular watersports in the world, especially during the winter months in Florida. The wakeboard rider is usually towed at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour behind ATVs or motorboats. Naturally this depends on a number of different aspects such as the wakeboard size, the rider’s comfort speed and weight, and the water conditions.

Orlando is very accessible by air and there are numerous flights to Orlando available from US and international airports. For the most part, some of the best winter wakeboarding in the sunshine state is found within a half hour to 45 minutes east of Orlando. Keep in mind that one of the best places in the Orlando area for wakeboarding and other water sports is the Orlando Watersports Complex which has become the mecca for wakeboarders of all skill levels from novice to advanced. In addition, there are numerous beaches near Orlando such as Cocoa Beach, Port St. John, and Satellite Beach.

Water Sports Centers

There are numerous water sports centers in Florida where you can enjoy some great wakeboarding experiences. The main one in the Orlando area is the OWC or the Orlando Watersports Complex which has become the mecca for watersports enthusiasts worldwide and is a cable park for a variety of watersports. Most importantly, the complex caters to wakeboarders of all skill levels which is evidenced by the fact that there are two separate cable systems – a beginner and an advanced system.

During the colder months, the OWC is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s. Winter hours are from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm, but the facility is subject to closure during unusual weather conditions. Orlando has long been recognized as the watersports capital of the world and the OWC is the ideal way to experience it.

Besides Orlando, other cities offer excellent wakeboarding opportunities including the following:

Channelside Watersports (Tampa)
Miami Rowing and Watersports Centre (Miami)
Miami Watersports Centre (Key Biscayne)
Sammy Duvall Watersports Centre (Kissimmee)

Most of the Atlantic and Gulf coastlines offer wakeboarding opportunities. You can easily find out more information by searching on line for them or looking for vacation package deals that include wakeboarding adventures in them.