Look for a longer wakeboard; longer wakeboards are easier to control and their landings are softer than a shorter board. The size of the board will also depend on your weight. The more you weigh, the longer your wakeboard should be. Get a board with a continuous rocker for a smoother, easier ride. You'll know it has a continuous rocker if when you're looking at it from the side it's in the shape of one continuous curve from tip to tail. Wakeboarding boots, also known as bindings, go on your feet and hook onto your wakeboard so you're held in place during your ride. Look for a stiffer, less flexible pair of boots for when you're just starting out. It will be easier to balance and steer the board if your ankles are tightly locked into place. Your boots will screw into the tiny holes built into your wakeboard. Not all bindings attach to a board the same way, so check the instructions that came with your boots before you attempt to attach them to your board. Make sure they understand that you're a beginner and ask them to take it slow with you. A boat driver should never speed with a beginner wakeboarder. Because you'll likely fall several times during your first few go's, remind the driver to slow down before turning around to come retrieve you so you don't get caught in any choppy waves. The spotter is someone on the boat (other than the driver) that keeps an eye on things while you're wakeboarding. The spotter should alert the driver whenever there's nearby boats or objects or if they see you fall down during your tow. If you're regular or goofy footed in other board sports like snowboarding and surfing, you'll probably be the same in wakeboarding. If you're not sure, think about which foot you use to kick a ball with and place that foot in the back. You want your non-dominant foot to face forward. If you're regular footed, your left foot faces forward on the board. If you're goofy footed, your right foot faces forward on the board. A life jacket will help you stay afloat while you're waiting to get towed, and it can protect you from serious injury while you're wakeboarding. A shorter rope will position you in the narrower part of the wake, making it easier to stand on your board. Use a rope that's between 30-50 feet (9-15 meters) long.
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One-sentence summary -- Rent or buy a beginner's wakeboard. Get a pair of wakeboarding boots. Talk to the boat driver. Designate someone to be the spotter. Decide which foot you want to face forward. Put on a life jacket before you get in the water. Use a short rope during your first few tows.

By knowing which one you have, you can take appropriate action. A cold is typically confined to your head coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose. The flu can take over your whole body. Flu symptoms include headaches and muscle aches, chills and fever, and vomiting, though often not all together. The flu tends to make you feel much sicker than a cold. Sometimes just drinking lots of fluids can help flush out the infection in your system. Water is often the best choice, but drink whatever tastes the best to you. For water, try for a big glass every two hours or so. You also might want to try Pedialyte or another beverage that provides electrolytes, especially if you are vomiting or have diarrhea. Especially for a cold, tea can help ease congestion and soothe a sore throat. Tea also contains theophylline, which helps to clean out your lungs and decrease the mucus. Any kind of tea will be helpful, and honey often helps coat your throat and makes you more comfortable. If you have an appetite, stick to whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. Even though sweets or fast foods might sound good at the time, they are not going to help your body function well and fight off your illness. Your best choices for food partially depend on your symptoms. A sore throat would benefit from soothing foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, or creamy soups. Body aches, on the other hand, might be helped by dark leafy greens, yogurt, and avocados foods high in magnesium or calcium. Headaches benefit mostly from drinking water. Sometimes caffeine can help in small doses, particularly coffee or tea. But be sure to re-hydrate with water after the caffeine has dried you out. For congestion, try making "golden milk." Use two cups of coconut milk to simmer on the stove with a teaspoon each of ginger and turmeric, and a dash of black pepper. After a couple minutes of simmering, let it sit for 10 minutes before drinking. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, and this is a good way to get it into your system. Eat some chicken soup. Traditional wisdom was right chicken soup can help you recover from a cold. It boosts your immune system, and based on the ingredients, can add electrolytes and an array of vitamins, as well as helping to thin out mucus. The hot steam can help dislodge the mucus. The water can also help energize your skin while washing away some of the germs that have gathered on your body as you've been sick. Use hot water and a spoonful of salt, with an optional spoonful of hydrogen peroxide. You could also use hydrogen peroxide alone, but be careful to use a small amount (two teaspoons) at room temperature. You can also water it down, but it is very effective at clearing mucus.
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One-sentence summary --
Determine if you have a cold or the flu. Keep yourself hydrated. Drink hot tea. Eat healthy foods. Take a hot shower. Gargle to help your sore throat.