Wakeboard for kids (beginner)

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  • TwinTip
    • May 2004
    • 294



    Wakeboard for kids (beginner)

    My daughter wants to start wakeboarding and I am looking on a beginner board for her. Can someone recommend a board that will last a few seasons and will allow her to progress? She is 6 years old and weighs 49 lbs.

    Also, can someone recommend a pair of boots as well? I have seen sizes S/M (3 to 6) but don't know if these will fit her (she is a size 12 / child).

    Last but not least, she wants a pink board (go figure) and I found found the following:

    1) Gladiator Xena 124 Wakeboard
    2) CWB Bella Wakeboard 124

    Any experience with these boards?

    Thanks.
  • harddock
    • Apr 2008
    • 292

    • toontown E-9


    #2
    My daughter (11) has had a CWB Bella for a few years now. It is pink & white, has molded in and removable fins, and ours came with Hinge bindings which I feel are great for kids to get on& off. Only down side is the white bindings get dirty and hard to scrub clean mostly in the footbed area. CWB may make a XS binding, I don't know but their website would tell you. She will feel stble on this but a 124 may be a bit much to switch or 180. and she might not get much air but in a year or so she'll be fine on it and you'll probrably get a few more seasons after that. CWB is made by Connelly

    She originally statred on a Hyperlite Voyager 121 and then my son got it when he learned so they could go double. He is gonna be 9 this week and still rides this board. It only had centerfins which I cut down and then took off. He rides switch, gets air and does a series of 360's effortlessly.
    Last edited by harddock; 08-29-2010, 04:00 PM.

    Comment

    • TwinTip
      • May 2004
      • 294



      #3
      Thank you for the input.

      I found a Liquid Force Star 118 that is smaller and may do the trick. This one had the binding size 12T to 5Y which would fit my daughter's foot size. I may end up buying this one or another board in the 118/119 range, which seems to fit her weight and allow room for growth.

      Comment

      • harddock
        • Apr 2008
        • 292

        • toontown E-9


        #4
        Bear in mind that one inch = 2.57 centermeters so the difference between a 119 and a 121< one inch. which really won't make a big difference. I would be more concerned that the bindings fit.

        Comment

        • TwinTip
          • May 2004
          • 294



          #5
          Thanks. I have been debating on that as it is only a small difference. I was advised that at 6 yrs of age, a 124 would be a good choice as it provides more surface for stability when learning; it would also last a long time. A friend has a 124 and we will go out this weekend, it will be a good way to demo it.

          I have found the boots (12T-5Y) which should fit and allow room for growth.

          Comment

          • Handyman
            • Mar 2010
            • 8

            • Puget Sound, WA

            • 2010 SAN 230

            #6
            We also started my daughter on the CWB Bella and the hinged boots. Bella is very stable, rock solid when crossing the wake, and easy to get up on. We've started many kids on that board and finally just gave it to the next generation of boarders in the family. The bindings were important to my daughter when she was small, as she liked how easy they went on and off.

            Comment

            • AirTool
              1,000 Post Club Member
              • Sep 2007
              • 4049

              • Katy, Texas


              #7
              Originally posted by TwinTip View Post
              Thanks. I have been debating on that as it is only a small difference. I was advised that at 6 yrs of age, a 124 would be a good choice as it provides more surface for stability when learning; it would also last a long time. A friend has a 124 and we will go out this weekend, it will be a good way to demo it.

              I have found the boots (12T-5Y) which should fit and allow room for growth.
              IMHO, a 124 is too big. I would suggest a Hyperlite Motive/Divine 109 or maybe 119 but you will have to upgrade in one or two years depending on how athletic she is.

              If you get 12x anything, get a Hyperlite Eden 125 and it will last until she is over 100 lbs. And it is a real board...not a kiddie board. It is also slightly assymetric for toe-side improvement without the big corner catcher like on the Ronix.

              My son is 75 lbs and rocks on this (his sister's) board. He is far more aggressive on it than the Body Glove 122 he learned on. I guess I'll have to buy him a State 125 (boyz version). He came this " " close to sticking a half cab 180 on the first and second tries.
              Attached Files

              Comment

              • HS
                1,000 Post Club Member
                • Oct 2007
                • 1333

                • Sammamish, WA

                • 2010 SANTE 210 (Sold)

                #8
                Airtool, Awesome (and motivating) photo! Once they decide they want it, they really want to ride.

                This kid is on a Hyperlite Motive 109 http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...t-time-on-boom Per hyperlite, board length is tied to rider weight: http://www.hyperlite.com/img/thm/t600_KidsUnite.jpg

                109 cm up to 95 lbs.
                119 cm up to 105 lbs.
                125 cm up to 130 lbs.
                2010 Super Air Nautique 210 Team Edition

                Comment

                • AirTool
                  1,000 Post Club Member
                  • Sep 2007
                  • 4049

                  • Katy, Texas


                  #9
                  Originally posted by HS View Post
                  Airtool, Awesome (and motivating) photo! Once they decide they want it, they really want to ride.
                  Thanks...so what is your latest thought?

                  And how fit/strong/aggressive is she?

                  Comment

                  • TwinTip
                    • May 2004
                    • 294



                    #10
                    AirTool,

                    Not sure if you are asking me but my next step is to demo 2 different boards and sizes. A friend has them and will join us this weekend. I would like for the board to last a long time but ultimately, the most important thing for me at this time is for her to have fun and be comfortable with whatever board she ends up with. This will be her first time on a board (she skis very good) and she is very excited.

                    Comment

                    • harddock
                      • Apr 2008
                      • 292

                      • toontown E-9


                      #11
                      There is merit to Airtools comment about the board being to big. It will be stable and easy to ride but manuevrs may be hard to do. My son has a State 130 and it is to big for him, hard to switch, too heavy for him to catch much air. He much rather ride his 121 with no fins at all. Slippery but he does muliple switches, 360's, and if he keeps it on edger to the wake catches some 1 wake air.

                      Comment

                      • AirTool
                        1,000 Post Club Member
                        • Sep 2007
                        • 4049

                        • Katy, Texas


                        #12
                        Originally posted by TwinTip View Post
                        AirTool,

                        Not sure if you are asking me but my next step is to demo 2 different boards and sizes. A friend has them and will join us this weekend. I would like for the board to last a long time but ultimately, the most important thing for me at this time is for her to have fun and be comfortable with whatever board she ends up with. This will be her first time on a board (she skis very good) and she is very excited.
                        At this age, weight, and skill level.... she is only going to be "comfortable" on a rounded corner, continuous rocker kiddie board of a smaller size like anywhere between 115 and low 120s. The problem with this solution is that she may outgrow it (not in weight, but performance) fairly soon. If she is like my son, she'll be limited by the board in a year if you board regularly and she is strong and aggressive. "Average" kids that might board once or twice a month during the summer won't outgrow the board until they are too heavy for it. Someone mentioned the boards sizes are tied to rider weight but that is only part of the equation....especially for beginners.

                        For a kiddie board, I would suggest one with as many removable fins as possible. Our kiddie board has 6 removable fins. They start out with them all and then try to lose the two center fins for surface tricks and maybe all of them but then you lose traction in the landings once they start getting air. (The outer fins can be molded in but you really need the board to be equipped with removable center/keel fins.) Right now I have just the toe side fins on for my son and all of them on for my daughter but now she has moved to the Eden 125 mainly because I needed her to have her own board and she is much heavier than her older brother. I went ahead and got her a board that will last her both for weight and skill. She can probably ride that board for three or four years but I would have never picked it for her at age 6 or 7 and a much lower weight. My son loves her board so it looks like I'm stuck getting him a State 125 soon. I will tell you though that he had a harder time doing the surface tricks on her board because of the three stage rocker. I had not taken the fins off of it for him but I don't think it will matter much because the fins aren't even in the water when he is side sliding. The board has a fairly aggressive rocker which is evident by what I just wrote plus the air he can get off the wake. He can't get close to that with the continuous rocker board we have.

                        I guess my point is....get her a small continuous rocker board with not-sharp corners and removable keel fins. It doesn't have to be fancy, expensive, or even pink. When she is board limited by either weight or skill (whichever comes first), sell it for half price and get her a bigger board designed for her skill level.

                        PS - please let us know how the demo goes and if she is able to get up on the first trip. Money shots are always welcome.

                        Another PS - I'm in Narita airport in Japan after a long flight from Houston. It is 3 a.m. Houston time so no telling how many typos I have above. I'm on the way to China and I have no idea what type of internet service or free time available to get my daily dose of PN. We will be working through the weekend.
                        Last edited by AirTool; 09-02-2010, 03:01 AM.

                        Comment

                        • TwinTip
                          • May 2004
                          • 294



                          #13
                          Thank you all for your comments. To a newby getting his daughter up on a wakeboard, this is very valuable information. It is interesting to read how you all are one step ahead of me. I was initially only thinking of my daugher getting up and riding the board, like she does on skis (which is basically being behind the boat and going side to side). It never occurred to me that I had to consider doing tricks as well and this opens a bigger can of worms.

                          At any rate, the weekend is almost here and I'll see how she does soon (can't wait.....). Maybe this will be a two step process (like mentioned by AirTool). Smaller board to get her up and be comfortable, perhaps some basic tricks, then get her a bigger board to do more advanced tricks.

                          AirTool, have a good trip and safe return home.

                          Comment

                          • AirTool
                            1,000 Post Club Member
                            • Sep 2007
                            • 4049

                            • Katy, Texas


                            #14
                            Originally posted by TwinTip View Post
                            AirTool, have a good trip and safe return home.
                            I've made it to Shanghai now and finally got in my room...delayed due to credit card problems I tried to prevent before leaving. Anyway, I'm in the lobby bar of an expensive hotel having one margarita and a large order of cold french fries then off to bed.

                            Back to the demo, I hope she can get up this weekend. It is unlikely that she will but I'll pray for you guys that she can do it. Not to put any pressure on you or your buddy, but the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR getting a beginner up is the driver. I could have had my son up a year earlier if I knew then what I know now or had a seasoned driver/trainer like we've had for barefooting.

                            Go over and look at my $20 in your pocket video and thread and notice how far out the side my 8 year old daughter is. I've had teens not be able to get up directly behind the boat but got up easily way out to the side. It is much easier for them to balance their weight against the edging than trying to balance while riding behind the boat. Also remember her beginner speed might be as slow as 8 or 10 mph. She will have more friction and more control of the board at a slow speed.

                            http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...571#post147571

                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i3GQcxbW2U

                            Comment

                            • harddock
                              • Apr 2008
                              • 292

                              • toontown E-9


                              #15
                              I have had great results teaching several kids with a boom. Once they know the basics of what is going on the transition to behind the boat is easy. Slow and graceful on the throttle is key. They can usually get up at almost idle speed or not much more. As for a board there are used, out of year graphics, and other packages available on ebay from time to time with good savings.


                              One more thing. Airtool might confirm this. Do not wager with kids about getting up. It will cost you money. The lil hustlers!!!
                              Last edited by harddock; 09-02-2010, 02:34 PM.

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