Teaching Kids to Ski -- Advice Needed

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  • jpduster
    • Apr 2008
    • 106

    • Sydney, Australia

    • 2008 210TE

    #16
    RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???


    I'm thinking to leave him on the 30+ long line and slow down. Another trick a buddy at work told was to have him try to hold the handle with only one hand so he can lean back more. I bet we get it on the first try. Pics to follow next week. They've got VBS all week and Mom said no lake trips this week.
    sounds worth a try, he looks like a strong fella, one hand shouldn't be a problem,
    once he's up have him let go of the rear hand.
    Also make sure heels and toes are central on the board, its hard to tell sometimes because of the big bindings

    Comment

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

      • Katy, Texas


      #17
      Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???

      Originally posted by jpduster
      Also make sure heels and toes are central on the board, its hard to tell sometimes because of the big bindings
      That's a good point. These are small bindings...but his feet are much smaller.

      Comment

      • TravisFling
        Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
        • Mar 2008
        • 889

        • London, Ohio

        • 1989 Ski Nautique 2001

        #18
        RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???

        AirTool - With the wakebaord the more skegs you have in the water the more control you'll have. I, personally, find nothing "loose and fun" about having no control over what I'm doing. The skegs are what give you the ability to move the board around. I'd put them all in. Think of a sailboat without it's center skeg. I would bet that you're going a little too slow if he's back and forth and washing out. The water is too "soft" to support the board. Also, like driving a car, if you look right in front of the hood you'll swerve, if you look down the road you make littler adjustments and stay straighter. Weight on the rear foot, look at the boat, go a little faster with the skegs in and I bet you got it. Remember, he's used to going fast barefooting!!!
        Travis Fling
        Choctaw Lake
        Current - 1989 Ski Nautique 2001

        Comment

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

          • Katy, Texas


          #19
          Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???

          I just figured out he's coming up goofy footed.

          He is right legged. Should I make him come up left foot forward?

          Comment

          • AuMDLST
            Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
            • Apr 2007
            • 870

            • Orlando, FL (Butler Chain)


            #20
            RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard?

            Although a lot of right handed people are regular footed - there are exceptions.
            You can give him a slight push from behind and see which foot he catches himself with
            that should be the forward foot. If he is indeed coming out of the water switch that would
            explain some of the control issue.
            2006 SANTE 210 (Pending Sale)
            2005 206 TE (Previous)
            1994 SNOB (First Nautique/Boat)

            Comment

            • bkhallpass
              1,000 Post Club Member
              • Apr 2005
              • 1407

              • Discovery Bay, CA

              • 2001 Super Air Nautique (Current) 1998 Ski Nautique (former) 1982 Ski Nautique (Current)

              #21
              RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard?

              I agree with AuMDLST. Lot's of exceptions to the rule. I water ski right foot forward, but wakeboard predominantly left foot forward. The push/catch test is a good one. With kids, I usually just ask how they ride a skateboard. BKH
              2001 Super Air

              Comment

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

                • Katy, Texas


                #22
                RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard?

                HE DID IT !!!

                Third pull he was up.

                Variables we didn't change:

                1. 35 or so feet of rope.
                2. All 6 fins on
                3. Hanging out on starboard side
                4. Right foot forward
                5. Smooth/quick acceleration

                Variables we did change:

                1. Settle out speed - exactly 12 mph with a very smooth transition from the start. We had been at 16.
                2. No camera in the boat

                He got up and stayed up on the third pull. First pull I was too slow. Second pull I couldn't see him in the mirror. Third pull was the jackpot. In the second pass, he starts hopping up to get air. I wish he had more patience!

                I'm hoping we can go in the morning and get some nice photos. Wind is going to be 15 + so we might not go.

                So far this kid two skis, kneeboards, surfs on a fun board, barefoots and now wakeboards. If I can get that boom on were going to work on the slolam next week.

                We've got a big jump and a little jump in the neighborhood....just need a jump coach.

                Watch out ! Jaret Llewellyn !

                Comment

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

                  • Katy, Texas


                  #23
                  Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakebo

                  Originally posted by AirTool
                  HE DID IT !!!

                  Here is a pic. Speed was about 12.5

                  By the way....one of the best equipment investments I've made was the Eagle barefoot suit. That thing is awesome. Usually, he has a long sleeve rash gaurd under.

                  Next step - left foot forward and crossing the wake.
                  Attached Files

                  Comment

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

                    • Katy, Texas


                    #24
                    Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakebo

                    Originally posted by AirTool
                    ....Variables we didn't change:
                    The sixth variable we didn't change was:

                    6. Tow boat was one awesome Nautique powered by a legacy small block Chevy.

                    Comment

                    • BKinSoCal
                      Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                      • Sep 2008
                      • 507
                      • Colorado River - Parker Strip

                      • Prescott, AZ

                      • 2004 Air Nautique 216 Team 2005 SANTE 210 2008 SAN 230

                      #25
                      RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wa

                      Look at the smile on his face...EPIC!!!
                      BKinSoCal - Brian
                      '08 SANTE 230 - Current
                      '05 SANTE - Sold '10
                      '04 216 TE - Sold in '05

                      Comment

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

                        • Katy, Texas


                        #26
                        subject

                        Originally posted by BKinSoCal
                        Look at the smile on his face...EPIC!!!
                        He had four ultrasounds in the womb, I guess he learned to ham it up at an early age.

                        Comment

                        • harddock
                          • Apr 2008
                          • 292

                          • toontown E-9


                          #27
                          RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???

                          Do not be too gentil on the throttle. I realize they are light and little but sometimes in an effort to be gentle we go too slow, and they being anxoius to get up are fighting the drag. As for the boom. I took a handle section and zip tied it to the boom so there was basically no slack and just enough room so the fingers fit between boom and handle. Boom seemed a struggle for litle hands to wrap around. Once we got anywhere near getting up for more than a few feet we untied the skis, and the next step went straight to line behind the boat. my 7 year old likes wakeboarding and kneeboarding at 18 mph, skiing on two skis at 15mph and my 9 year old daughter is about the same except she slaloms at 21mph.

                          Comment

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

                            • Katy, Texas


                            #28
                            Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???

                            Originally posted by harddock
                            ...we untied the skis...
                            how were the skis tied?

                            Comment

                            • harddock
                              • Apr 2008
                              • 292

                              • toontown E-9


                              #29
                              RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???

                              Beginner kid skis have eyestraps on each and a line tying them together front and rear . Some have a bar in front and a strap in back. It keeps the skis from gettig too far apart. One less variable to deal with with little ones. Once they can get up you remove the bar, staps or line, thus "we untied the skis"

                              Comment

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

                                • Katy, Texas


                                #30
                                Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fin placement on kids wakeboard???

                                Originally posted by harddock
                                Once they can get up you remove the bar, staps or line, thus "we untied the skis"
                                It sounded to me like you tied the skies to the boom.

                                Comment

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