It really is about the ride. All about the ride. The way I see it, there are three areas every boarding boat should be judged by. Number 1, of course, is a sick wake. The boat has to have a smoking wake or can't really be called a wake boat. Playing into this is is increasing the wake size, shaping the wake, etc. Number two is room for the crew. We all realize that a good portion of the crew is only calling you a friend because of your sweet boat but hey, that's one of the reasons we bought the boat right? And as long as they are either hot in a bikini or bring the food and drink, we let them keep coming along. The last item of importance is how the boat looks, both in the water and behind the truck.

Everybody and their brother are making boarding boats now, and many manufactures have several different models. The testing was grueling and sometimes painful, but someone had to do it. This years RipNsix rankings are below. If you are going to look great in a new boat don't forget to finish off the look with great wakeboard apparel from RipNsix.

And the winner is...and just by a hair...the Malibu Wakesetter 247 LSV. This is a sweet boat, no two ways about it. Malibu makes has a great line up of wakeboarding boats and this is the top of their impressive line. The engineers did a fantastic job of maximizing interior room. In addition to being amazingly roomy, the interior is plush with comfort and convenience. Once in water the Wakesetter 247 LSV continues to impress. The wakes are huge. Weighing in two tons dry the boat is ripe for perfection. Water ballast adds an additional 1500 pounds. But it doesn't stop there. Malibu's new Power Wedge adds an equivalent to an additional 1200 pounds of ballast. The Wedge allows the driver to adjust the wake with a simple switch on the dash. For such a big boat the Wakesetter 247 LSV handles fantastic. It has a pretty good hole shot (450 HP Vortec engine), a quiet soft ride, and impressively tight handling considering the size of the boat. The last item of importance is the look...what can I say, the boat look sharp, all the way from the boat lines to the sleek look of the rack.

Runner up - It is hard to imagine the Mastercraft X-Star not being the best wakeboard boat available. The X-Star has set the industry standard for wakeboarding boats ever since it was released three years ago and is very close to doing the same this year (being just beat out by the Wakesetter 247 LSV). The wakes have amazing form, maybe even the perfect shape. Almost as impressive are the extra long landing zones that make it easier to land the big air created by the wake. Not only easier technically but easier on the body because of the reduced force in landing. Although a few feet shorter than the Wakesetter 247 LSV, the X-Star's interior is still roomy enough for you and your acquaintances that use you for your boat. The interior is also plush, very plush. Where the X-Star loses points in my ranking is the forked bow design. Although the design is responsible for opening up more passenger room in the bow of the boat, it gives the X-Star a little bit of a flat look across the front.

At Number 3 - Supra pulls down the number three ranking in this article. The Supra Launch 24 SSV (and the Launch 24 SSV Gravity Edition) is yet another impressive boat available this year. With almost 2000 pounds of factory ballast the Supra supplies possibly the largest wake in the wakeboarding world. Additionally the troughs are minimal allowing for any amount of aggression and edge angle in the approach. The Launch 24 SSV loses points because the water ballast containers are relatively slow to fill and empty. The boat handles well, especially when loaded in rough water. Another attractive feature of the Launch 24 SSV is the seating for a full 16 passengers. This boat is party barge that happens to be one of the best wakeboarding boats available. The downside of all the seating is that it can mean a long, long wait between sets. The Launch 24 SSV is a sleek, clean looking boat. The Gravity Edition goes one step further and becomes a true water limo.

Finishing it up - Like this years top boat our selection at number four also comes from the Malibu line. The Wakesetter VLX has many of the same great features as the Wakesetter 247 LSV including the Power Wedge and sleek looking tower. While smaller than its top of the list brother the Wakesetter VLX still kicks out an impressive wake, both in terms of size and shape, and tracks well with very little sway. The interior is comfortable and relaxed. The driving consul is well designed with LCD display to help on those bright sunny days. The Wakesetter VLX is used in many world class tournaments. Get a pull behind it and you will see why.

From the advent of the wakeboard circa 1985, a new culture has emerged with a passion, attitude, style and even language of its own. Wake board boats with towers, loud music, big wake, fat sacks, specialty boards and a "no fear attitude" create a unique sport that attracts a diverse group of water sports enthusiasts around the world. A growing number of boarders join the sport each year, making wakeboarding one of the fastest growing water sports ever.

Wakeboarding is no longer an unrefined recreational sport in the shadows of waterskiing, but has become a competetive sport recently added to the X Games. Professional boarders compete in Pro Wakeboard Tour, the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding and the Wakeboard World Cup each year.

Whether you are a recreational weekend boarder or a competitive boarder in search of a series title, check out the glossary of wakeboard jargon below and test your knowledge of wakeboard stunts.

To bone out a grab or bone out your leg means you straighten it all the way out. So I "boned out grab" is one where your leg or legs are straightened out while grabbing.

The act of touching/hitting your board on an obstacle. If a rider "bonks a buoy", they're hitting their board agains the buoy briefly.

Another term for Ollie. Bunny Hop comes from world of BMX biking, while Ollie is a term from skateboarding.

To hit a rail, slider, dock, etc. Basically riding/sliding something that isn't water.

An invert that also contains at least a 360 degree spin in it.

Another name for an off-axis spin. When a rider spins and the rider leaves their vertical axis and the board rises up to shoulder level or higher while spinning.

When the rider pops the board into the air by pushing down on their back foot and jumping up leading with their front foot. Just like a skateboarding ollie.

An invert where the board travels in an edge over edge rotation. However, some tricks that follow that rotation aren't called Rolls, and a Back Roll has a tip over tail rotation, so it's very confusing.

A type of invert in which you approach the wake and at the base you allow the wake to trip you into the inverted motion.

When a rider moves the board or legs while making a grab. Tweaking out a Method Grab means the rider would grab the board, then possibly bone out one leg.