Teaching kids to slalom

[TBMsNautique]

I have two active boys ages 7 and 9 and both can easily deep water start on two skis and cut across the wake at full spead without fear. They have been after me to teach them how to slalom but I know at this age, a good wipeout that's painful may sour them on the sport. Is a boom the ticket? I have a 2000 Nautique Super Sport (V-drive) and have noticed that Barefoot International has booms to fit V-drives. Is this the easiest way to teach a youngster to slalom? Is the spray to the side a problem? Thanks!

[stevieb]

RE: Teaching kids to slalom

I taught my oldest daughter to slalom when she was 8...just had her drop a ski at speed. Didn't take more than a few splashdowns for her to master it.... We didn't have access to a boat for several years and my middle daughter is now 7, and I just taught her over the weekend how to ski. By 4th of July she'll be on one ski My dad taught me and my sibs and dozens of other kids by going out on two and just lifting one ski for a while to practice and then....eventually kicking off the dead weight ski. Yeah, there will be crashes...but I never met anyone soured by it. The thrill of victory makes the agony of defeat worth it...I must have learned when I was about 7...and I can still remember the thrill of finally getting my foot into the back boot and standing up for more than a few hundred feet.

And we didn't use a boom....

[82tique]

RE: Teaching kids to slalom

The boom will be a big helkp gaining the 'feel' of being on the slalom.

Once they're ready for deep water starts I suggest using a rope with a V shaped bridle.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...407&aID=1G

[talbertini]

RE: Teaching kids to slalom

If they already deep water start, long line on 2, a boom will be a step back. Long line with a easy-up deep v handle is the ticket. I've taught countless kids as young as 6 with this method. The only problem is putting them on the right ski. If it's too big and heavy, even the easy-up won't help you.

[Rick]

RE: Teaching kids to slalom

I like the drop method to get them to get the balance then they just have to hold on for a deep water start. We taught my son by having someone on a wakeboard come up with him and hold onto the collar of his vest til he was stable. It has to be a good wakeboarder though.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Teaching kids to slalom

The drop-ski method is how I learned, too. And I was eight. Never had one of those V-ropes, but I am sure they would help with the deep water start.

[Mikeski]

RE: Teaching kids to slalom

I used to teach the mini-club kids at Club Med how to ski. I used a very short rope (like 40') on the extended pylon or tower with a Deep V rope for deep starts.

Kids learn quickly, keep it positive, having other kids that know how to ski on one also helps.

A big flat wooden ski that doesn't float too high also helps. Make sure they are wearing a vest that floats them well, preferrably arm pits out of the water, use a second vest over top if needed.

Two feet in, knees to chest, elbows hugging the knees, back foot near bum, point the ski towards the boat. Pull them up slowly, they are light. Keep the speed below 15mph once they are up for the first few tries.

[BigBald]

RE: Teaching kids to slalom

Speed is a big key.....little folks don't need a lot of speed. Also, another suggestion that I have good success with. Try having a very experience skier start on doubles with the kid. Then the adult can grab hold of the back of the kid's life jacket and help them with their balance. This works well if you've already had them drop a ski by themselves and they've struggled.

However, sometimes it's more about the kid and their confidence. My 11 year old is a wakeboarder. He had no desire for skiing. But, his older brother started to slalom. So, the 11year old decided he wanted to do that also. But, he didn't want to double ski. Despite our suggestions, he, wanted to start right off with a deep water start on slalom. Amazingly, he got up the first attempt. He quickly got real squirrelly and dropped....but the next time up, he was cutting a good edge across the wake. So, you just never know for sure. Just be flexible and patient with the kid.

[east tx skier]

Like Mikeski, I'm a big fan of the old, flat bottom, wooden ski with the gigantic metal fin. Along with that, the deep-v training ropes are one of the best teaching innovations I've seen since I learned to ski (had to learn with a two handled rope). The not too much speed comment is right on as well.

I'm a fan of teaching kids to deep water start when they're ready to learn to slalom (we don't own a boom, and I'm not comfortable leaving a ski behind where someone might hit it). Sounds like these guys are comfortable on the water. If it were me and my kids, I'd take them out on a day where the lake wasn't too crowded and start working with them. Lots of patience and time is key. A boat full of spectators can make it more difficult, too. So the fewer passengers, the better IMO.

As was repeated to me ad nauseum on a long summer day in 1985,

1. Arms straight.
2. Knees bent
3. Ski tip out of the water.
4. Let the boat pull you up.

The great thing about learning to deep water start is that once you get it, you never forget it.

[surroundsound64]

I learned by dropping a ski also. Not a great idea for a busy day at the lake though,

[swooddc]

a boom is a big help, if you have access to one but not necessary. biggest thing i found is keep it simple. all i say is: stay hunkered down, if you start to lose your balance give a little push with your back foot.
the simpler the better.

[TBMsNautique]

I have heard some great advice about speed, patience, length and style of rope and body positioning at the start. Thank you! I have a crowd full of kids this Memorial Day weekend and I will put to use all the great advice.

Is there any magic to the ski we should use? I have the 58" O'Brien Junior Celebrity skis which seem to work quite well as a combo. Will the slalom ski in this set be just fine or would anyone recommend a longer or different style of junior slalom ski to boost the learning curve? My boys are 7 and 9 but quite small for their age. Thanks again for any assistance you might provide.

[east tx skier]

I'm a fan of the old wooden ski. The flat bottoms and oversized fins seem to make for some stability in the water. If you can find an old Cypress Gardens Dick Pope, Jr. wooden ski on ebay in a smaller size (that may be easier said than done), it'd be a good thing to use. Of course, once up, these skis don't steer quite as well as some of the newer designs.

They make some combos now that more closely resemble pontoons than anything else. For kids though, they might be a little hard to work with in the water (plus, they ride badly). They just plane quickly.

That said, I'm sure 99% of the people out there learned on the better half of a combo set. And if what you have is sized right for the kids, then the best investment might be the deep-v handle.

Good luck.

[TBMsNautique]

Great advice. Thanks.

[Quinner]

Have had quite a bit of success using the lift the other ski while skiing technique as well as the dropping a ski particularly if you have someone who is struggling with a deep water start.

Perhaps you know which foot forward the kids should ski, normally the same one forward as wakeboarding or skateboarding if that is something they already do, if still undetermined a few tests I use are the following:
Stand face to face toe to toe, give them a slight push in the chest, whichever foot they catch themselves with should be forward.
Ask them if they where to run and slide on ice which foot they would lead with, that would be your forward foot.

Good luck, teaching can be as much fun as learning!!