Getting young ones to ski

[brodiecolton]

Any Ideas or any luck getting your young kids to ski? I ski a few days a week and my kids just play in the water. It is killing me that they are apprehensive about skiing. I don't want to push to hard. My son is still young (6 years old) but he has no problem riding his KX65 wide open so skiing should be a breeze. Am I asking to much for a six year old ski? I have a boom, ski trainers, just about anything needed.

[east tx skier]

If you can find one, get a zip sled. There have been two show up on ebay in the last couple of weeks. They aren't cheap, but they are the best introduction to the water I know of. My son was on one with us dragging along behind at 18 months old to my amazement. At two, he was standing on it holding the handle. He's almost four and still loves it (we finally stopped dragging behind him when we were in front of the house.

Suddenly, over the weekend of the 4th, he said, "I want to ski." My father in law had trainers and so we shrugged and saddled him up. One face full of water and on his second try, he rode across the lake like a little frog. He's got a set of trainers in a box in my closet for his birthday on August 11!

Thanks again to BigBaldSplash for hooking me up with the zip sled/bob sked a few years back!

[brodiecolton]

Any tricks with the boom. I saw one person took a five foot section handle attached it to the skis and over the boom and the kid held onto the handle.

[NautiqueOasis]

Have him hold onto the boom first without the rope. Once successful on boom, then use the five foot rope.

[AirTool]

Re: Getting young ones to ski

Any Ideas or any luck getting your young kids to ski?

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....03&start=0

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....65&start=0

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....59&start=0

[harddock]

Re: Getting young ones to ski

Any Ideas or any luck getting your young kids to ski? I ski a few days a week and my kids just play in the water. It is killing me that they are apprehensive about skiing. I don't want to push to hard. My son is still young (6 years old) but he has no problem riding his KX65 wide open so skiing should be a breeze. Am I asking to much for a six year old ski? I have a boom, ski trainers, just about anything needed.

my boy (7) had a PW50 and rode it a dozen times, got a Honda, won't ride and says why not sell it and get a golf cart. He is a soccer and basketball player. He kneeboarded at 5 and started wake boarding at 5 but didn't get the hang of it till 6. Now at 7 he figured out skiing and is nearing dropping a ski. His sister (10) started at 4, wakeboards, slaloms, and wakesurfs. There are days when you wonder what happened, he was doing so good yeaterday and now won't cross the wake or try something you know they can do.
My point is they have to want it. While willing to try for us is great they really have to want it or it's not gonna happen and then one day they jst get it and never look back.
Patience is key no matter how frustrating their reasoning is. When the time is right you'll watch them and be ever so proud.

[mdsankey]

RE: Re: Getting young ones to ski

My son is 7 years old. at 6 years old he was real tentative in the water he kind on freaked out having skis on in deep water. we got in the water with him and we had him just hold onto the boom (to get the feel of it) when he was comfortable there (which took about a minute) i told him i would just put the boat in gear so he could get used to that. i gave it a little throttle and he was skiing before he knew what happened. he had the biggest smile for about half way around the lake until we hit rollers he couldn't handle. this year he has progressed to skiing long line, wake boarding and he barefoots off of the boom, he is hooked and now he and his 11 year old sister fight for water time. it is a great predicament to be in, i never have fight when it's time to head to the lake.

[sodbuster88]

RE: Re: Getting young ones to ski

All my kids started on kneeboards and really only "bellyboarding." They then upgraded to their knees and getting proficient...then upgraded to a set of trainers. At this point, depending on the interest of the kid, some went to wakeboarding and some went to slalom skiing. But in the end, I have learned to not push them, because when I got frustrated with what they wanted to do versus what I wanted them to do, they would regress or intentionally lose their interest out of rebellion. But when I allowed them to do what they wanted to do with my guidance, they started to shine and get better and as a result their confidence grew. And yes, I will humble myself...there was some tubing done (and still done on an occasion.)

[DanielC]

RE: Re: Getting young ones to ski

One method I have used is to give then a kneeboard, and just let then play with it on the beach. Later, that day, or week, or month, whatever, get a 5 foot rope and pull them around by hand, along the beach. When they are comfortable with that, suggest that it is just like being pulled with the boat. Use the boat then to pull them. Do not ever force them. Encourage or reward them, but do not force them.

[j2nh]

Jaeyln age 5. Handle tied to skis, rope from boat tied to skis. 5-7 MPH. Kept close to the boat. Note: rope is not attached to the boat.
Shore start with someone holding the skier up. Two ways to end, either a close pass to shore with a "catcher" or the person on the platform pulls the skier in as the boat stops.

We have done this with probably 6 or 7 kids from age 4-6 and had great success. Keys. Kids have to want to do this.
They have to be comfortable in the water.
Try pulling them along shore by hand first.
Pick warm days and warm water and heap on the praise. Make it a positive and they well come back for more.
If for some reason they fall make sure the person on the back is prepared to get wet, don't ever leave them in the water alone.

[19skier]

This worked for us with really young skiers.

[mwgasman]

We use a "Blue and Bayou" made by Nash. Connely makes one just like it. I have seen others too. Overton's sells one called a Gladiator ski trainer.

The boat pulls the ski. All the kid has to do is be able to stand up and hold the rope.

You can use any length of rope you want. We use a tube rope. My wife stands on the beach, puts her feet on the back of the ski and holds the kid upright by the life jacket. I idle out, and when the rope is tight, away we go. I set the cruise on about 13 mph.

My spotter/helper is usually my teenage son. When the youngster is done, I slow to idle and my son pulls him in. He can pull the kid/ski right up to the swim step by hand. They don't even get wet.

We have done 2 of my kids this way. Also several friends' kids.

I won't say my kids were eager to do it at first. Everyone who gets in the boat has to do something (no one rides without participating). My 5 year old will now go several times/day at least 1/2 mile per time.

Have fun,
Mike

[mwgasman]

Here is a picture of my son at age 4. This was his very first time up, he looks nervous but went 2 more times that day.

[HS]

Once they are up on a pair of trainers, what is the next size to move up to? Our guys are solid deep-water startiing on the HO "Hot Shots" which are about 46" long. The next size up I saw in the HO line is 59" (Blasts) or 54" on the Obrien (Traditinal) combo skis. That seems like a big jump in size. (The oldest weighs about 75 lbs.)

Can anyone out there tell me about their experience moving the kids from the small trainers to the youth size combo skis?

Thanks.

[HS]

Went with the Connelly Super Sports (55"). Thanks to Adrenaline Watersports.