First time behind the boat!!

[acs220]

I previously posted in another thread about how we have progressed our son to get him wake boarding. This past Saturday we got him to try from behind the boat. Previously we would pull him on the shore of our lake with a handle. The video is short but we love it!! Hopefully more to come in the future. Thanks for watching.

http://vimeo.com/72651594

[Double D]

Oh yeah, he's got it!! Its all easy from this point!! He'll be crossing the wake before you know it!

[jward]

How old?

[acs220]

How old?

He's 4 1/2. Will be 5 in January. When we go out next weekend, I'm going to give him a little more rope so he can get behind the white water. He saw it coming and let go.

[Bevan]

Awesome!

[AirTool]

That's awesome. Note I start all beginners (even adults) far to the side of the boat...maybe 40 to 50 degrees out or more...and tell them to stay in the flats until they build confidence/skill. It's hard to do in the runway lakes we have but I still manage...mainly using the wind to help me position the boat.

Don't get me wrong...you've done a great job teaching and the kid has skill which helps.

But try floating him out to the side of the boat and have him pop up in the flats ahead of the wake.

[acs220]

I will probably try that. I figured he would just stay on his heels and it wouldn't matter, but he flattened off and the length I had was right in the wash. (Horrible Parent). Lol!


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[s_kelley2000]

Looking good!

Sounds like Air Tool has a good idea however I have never tried it so I will share what has worked well for me. When working with newbies I like to put the rope all the way out so the wake is nice and wide and they have plenty of room to edge around without having to worry about going in or out of the wake. Also the prop wash is more tame when you are 80 feet back. When they do get comfortable edging then the wake is smaller the further back you are when there is no ballast.

[acs220]

Comedy relief out of a 4 yr olds mouth!! I asked him why he let go. He said "I saw the wake coming close so I let go, but next time I'm going to jump it". Haha!!


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[AirTool]

Comedy relief out of a 4 yr olds mouth!! I asked him why he let go. He said "I saw the wake coming close so I let go, but next time I'm going to jump it". Haha!

Send that to Art Linkletter

Sounds like Air Tool has a good idea however I have never tried it so I will share what has worked well for me. When working with newbies I like to put the rope all the way out so the wake is nice and wide and they have plenty of room to edge around without having to worry about going in or out of the wake. Also the prop wash is more tame when you are 80 feet back. When they do get comfortable edging then the wake is smaller the further back you are when there is no ballast.

That is a good idea also...and less work to keep the boat positioned...and you are guaranteed smooth water back there.

We have runway lakes w/boat houses so I limit rope lengths especially with newbies. Also, having a lot of line out makes it hard on the beginner to manage the slack...and the rope short keeps them close to the boat where I can talk to them. I think my shortest has been 55 or 60 feet....maybe 50.

There have been times where I've had a goofy learner almost 90 degrees out from my pilot's seat. When they are ready, I bump it into gear and ease them up as they start tending behind the boat. They also come up a little slower/smoother when out to the side.

Another thing I've done is (once they can stay up in the flats, but can't cross the wake)...is have them come up behind the boat and then cross the one wake on the way out to the flats where they are comfortable. It is easier to learn crossing going out than coming back in.

[awakewilson]

Sweet