Kids and watersports.

[Daytomann]

The thread with the kiddos wakeboarding has got me to realy thinking....which can be dangerous. :grin:


We dont have any kids ourselves but I want to get my nephew out behind the boat.
He's 4 and he has no fear. Hes very comfy in a boat and he has no problem being out in the water...even out in the middle of the lake.
I'd love to get him behind the boat on some learner skis or on a wakeboard.

I have some ideas but can anyone throw out some tips to get the youngins skiing or wakebaording? Anything at all would be appreciated.

[Hlymons]

RE: Kids and watersports.

I started my daughter out on a kneeboard that had a hook for the handle. I held the the rope and started her real close to the boat and then as the boat got moving I slowly increased the length. Then a short rope of the tower with someone on the shore helping to steady her for wakeboarding. I used the boom to teach her to ski.

Have fun

[HS]

RE: Kids and watersports.

I am getting a tower boom from Barefoot International. I spoke on the phone this morning with Mike Seipel (BI) who referred me to the following website and said as far as instruction for kids goes, using a boom is the best way to go. Nuf said.

http://www.1hourslalom.com/ and http://www.thefootersedge.com/ will give you tips (video) on training anyone to waterski.

This plus Mike's advice conviced me to get a wakeboard boom to teach my sons on this summer.

[DanielC]

RE: Kids and watersports.

Keep kids off inflateables! if you loved your kids, you would educate your kids, and not just entertain them.

[AirTool]

RE: Kids and watersports.

Daytomann,

There are many ways depending on the strength, talent, energy of your kids. My kids tubed at 5 and 6 and were hooked. At the end of the summer I bought one of these. It is a great starter. No strength required to hold the rope since it is tied to the board. The tether adds security, comfort, and control. The boy was standing in about 15 minutes. The girl doesn't stand yet but only because she doesn't want to. Their comfort level behind the boat builds rapidly. The boy can stand with no tether at 7-9 mph, tethered at 9-12 mph, down up to 15+ Crossing the wake is fun...often the rope goes slack and he is actually surfing the wave. See pic.

This year we will move up to the Jimmy Jam which uses a ski rope with starting clip like a knee board....stand when ready. We also have a small wake board and skis. I bought most of the equipment at the end of last summer new from marinas via ebay. Except for the fun board, all costs 50 to 80 % off. (Shhhh....)

I'm debating buying a tower boom. Some friends say once they're up we won't need it and they'll be up fast. Still might be fun though for BF activities and trining the little cousins on the first day.

http://qualitymarinesupply.com/pro1103647.html

Air Tool

[KPNautique]

RE: Kids and watersports.

We taught my daughter to ski at age 4. She is 7 and 42 lbs now and learning to "one ski" as she calls it. Careful with the kneeboard, if they are strapped too tight it can be hard for them to get out when it tips upside down. She is still to small for the kneeboard. She got up easily on the wakeboard. My son started on a kneeboard with the hook. Training ski's with the bar. Getting up on the wakeboard comes easy for them after learning the basics on ski's and kneeboard.

Enjoy

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Kids and watersports.

Careful with the kneeboard, if they are strapped too tight it can be hard for them to get out when it tips upside down.
Enjoy

Good reminder. Our kneeboard is the simple Obrien foam model (Orbit) for kids and it does NOT have the strap just for that reason.

http://www.obrien.com/products_detail.asp?Prod_id=63

AirTool

[jjackkrash]

Start with the ski skimmer.

http://www.nextag.com/Ski-Skimmer-Tr...70/prices-html

You can pull this by hand on the shore or behind a riding mower on the grass (with pto disengaged) to start out.

I learned on a "devil board" at age 3 which was a three foot diameter disk cut out of plywood and edges beveled that my dad made in the 60's with a gnarly looking devil painted on it. You can ride on your belly, stand up, do 360's, and ride with multiple people on a plywood disk.

Here is a random youtube I found (no one I know) showing the disk concept.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACstbn8Sg0A

[AuMDLST]

Kids

If the kids have good balance they can get on the kneeboard on their knees and float, our two youngest kids, Mathew (8)and Audrey (6)can still do it today. Audrey started with mom behind her on the kneeboard, Audrey was two years old, mom was able to pull up and ride together with her. The strap was either very loose or not used at all for them, I think we would pull them around 8mph back then.

[75Tique]

Here's a video of my kids progress from about age 6 on.

my kids

[AuMDLST]

Great video

[east tx skier]

This seems like the perfect place for me to thank BigBaldSplash for agreeing to sell me his Zip Sled/Bob Sked a few years back. With one of us dragging behind him, my son has enjoyed riding (sitting down) on it since he was 18 months old.

This past weekend, after many a swimming lesson, my now two-and-a-half year old son is a water bug and, to no one's surprise, asked to ride the zip sled while we were at the lake. With mom hanging on behind it, and at a brisk 3.4 mph, he pulled his legs underneath him, adjusted his grip on the rope handle, and stood up. By the end of the weekend, he was shifting his weight from one leg to the other in an effort to turn it (having an adult dragging behind makes this pretty difficult though).

We are pretty astounded that he is so in to doing all of this at such a young age. But if he's interested, we are all about encouraging him without pushing him. But I am pushing for more swimming lessons at this point.

Pictures to follow.

[Daytomann]

Thanks all, great ideas!

I got on Ebay today and we found some kids bindings. I think i'm going to use my wifes old board when we get around to starting him on the wakeboard. I'll rig something up so that I can tether the rope off the board so they wont need to pull against the rope to start. I may also try to find a cheap, floatable kneeboard to try out in a similar fashion first.

I think we'll practice near the shore and when we move to the boat I'll probably start off by holding the tow rope in my hands so I can make adjustments while he's riding and let go if needed.

Thanks again.

[HS]

Here is the money shot from Father's Day!

This is from yesterday. First try. Thanks to Lane "Dawg" Bowers for the video training (www.onehourslalom.com and www.the footersedge.com) and Mike Seipel for suggesting the boom as the best way to teach kids.

[saceone]

RE: Here is the money shot from Father

very cool thread.
I'll contribute to this thread in 10 years