Switch to kneeboarding?

ryanr623 · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2011 Posts: 7 City: Toledo

Hello all, new member here in search of some help. I've always wakeboarded/wakesurfed. My girlfriend decided to try wakesurfing and became frustrated after not being able to get up, and now wants me to buy her a kneeboard instead. She won't wakeboard for fear of broken ankles (don't ask)

That is fine, but if it's as hard or harder than getting up on a wakesurf board, i dont want to wast $$$$ on a board, and room on the racks. I know I won't use it either.

I always thought getting up wakesurfing was easy. The boat does all the work.... it seems like with kneeboarding it would be hard because you gotta pull yourself up, get knees into position and tie the strap. But then i hear people say its a good way to learn and move to wakeboarding.

Anyways, anyone ever do it? And any recommendations on a Straight beginners board? Looking at hydroslide cyclone or obrien voodoo.

GnarShredd · Posted: May 05, 2011 12:21 pm Post subject:

pick one up used for cheap at a garage sale or on craigslist. You really don't want to spend any substantial money on a kneeboard. I'm sure there's tons of em out there collecting dust that people would get rid of for next to nothing.

I can't believe I'm commenting in a kneeboard thread. Try kneeboard forums next time, this isn't the place.

ryanr623 · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2011 Posts: 7 City: Toledo

JeffreyCH · Posted: May 05, 2011 1:10 pm Post subject:

cadunkle · Criminal Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 60 City: NJ

Kudos for her wanting to try kneeboarding. I primarily kneeboard, though wakeboard and surf too. Plenty of people going big on kneeboards and throwing big tricks, many are basically the same tricks as wakeboarding. Kneeboarding was around before wakeboarding and isn't a dead sport, though there are fewer of us these days.

Getting up is pretty easy. Everyone I've had out first time has got up after a few tries. Handle in one hand, both elbows on the front of the pad. For beginners especially do a two stage start. First get to not quite planing. As this is happening the rider should put weight on the elbows and hop up on the board, get fully in the pad, and strap in. Some grab the front of the board with one hand. Either way, it should be a quick smooth motion. Once strapped in go ahead and get to riding speed.

As for a board. If she's serious about it look at a HO Agent or Obrien Rush 5150. For a cheaper board to see if she'll be into it, look for a HO Element or Obrien Lowrider, possibly a HO Joker since the Agent just replaced it as their top board. Really any compression molded board will do. Avoid rotomold boards (plastic covered foam), such as the two you mentioned. They have a lot of drag, don't edge well, break easy, and are in general are junk. A compression molded board will be a waste of time and money.

As for kneeboard forums, check out http://www.kneeboardworld.com ... Lots of people there more knowledgeable than I am, also instructions for tricks and other stuff.

FlyZone CR · Posted: May 05, 2011 4:23 pm Post subject:

Getting up on a surfer indeed is supereasy. Invest 5 minutes in getting her up on it instead of investing in a kneeboard.

cadunkle · Criminal Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 60 City: NJ

Oh, you can always do a dock or beach start on a kneeboard. Just start strapped in and take off easy. We've done this with kids who were nervous about trying deep starts.

ryanr623 · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2011 Posts: 7 City: Toledo

ryanr623 · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2011 Posts: 7 City: Toledo

jbcs16 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 100

Not sure if you have them in your area, but I bought a kneeboard at Play It Again Sports, which is a sports store that sells used equipment. I skied and knee boarded as a kid all the time as my grandparents lived on the lake. After being off the water for about 15 years I bought a 86 ski nautique and was looking for something a little easier than my slalom ski to ride. I find a cheap used kneeboard, buy it, ride it once, buy a wakeboard because kneeboarding is way harder than when I was 12. And the kneeboard has been in my garage since. It was much more difficult for me to get up on as an adult than as a child. Since I have the wakeboard, I will not ride the kneeboard again. I would be glad to get it out of my garage and send it to you if you are willing to pay to have it shipped. It is not a super nice board, but in good used condition and definitely good enough to try to see if she will even ride it. If she likes it, you will definitely want to get a better one. By the way, tell your girlfriend to just go ahead and wakeboard. One ride and she will Bo hooked. I am a female too and love wake boarding.

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

lol kneeboards ;P
they are actually really fun and really easy (its been years since i touched one but we used to go wake to wake my and friend could W2W roll it.)
but if you go to academy, you can get a very cheap very bouyant one for mabey 100$. and many newer ones come with the "aqua-hook" which allows you to attatch the ski handle to the front of the board untill you are up and in then you can grab the handle out and ride so it makes it just effortless to get up.
And they actually are a lot of fun to just go out and Surface"3" and occasionally W2W if your back is up to the abuse, but depending on how light she is it could be very frustrating on even moderatly rough water, with lighter riders they begin to bounce and unless you lean forward(very unnatural) it will not stop and makes it no fun.
also there is NO GOOD WAY TO FALL on a kneeboard, when you fall it will probably hurt. and then you are still strapped in and usually upside down... a scary thought, so when teaching her go easy on the strap and tow slower. mabey 18-20mph

I think its a good idea, she'll enjoy it and then she'll have her own thing when you guys go out instead of being the worst boarder.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: May 05, 2011 7:22 pm Post subject:

I know you said not to ask.. but break her ankles? You need to get a girl that isn't an anorexic twig AND you need to make sure she drinks milk from time to time. OOOOR (assuming she's intelligent) you could explain how a properly fitted binding will actually *prevent* her ankle from breaking... (and here's where her intelligence comes in) she agrees it's a non-issue.

IMO you don't have a gear issue. You've got a lady problem Very Happy

I mean if she really wants to try it because it looks like fun, that's fine. Nothing against kneeboarding. But to be afraid of wakeboarding out of fear of breaking ankles?

jeeeze.

ryanr623 · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2011 Posts: 7 City: Toledo

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

We started with a kneeboard. It was a Hydroslide, but I'm not remembering the model at the moment. It had the hook up front for the handle and also had retractable fins. It was super easy to get up on and a lot of fun. It bothered my knees and back, and we transitioned to wakeboarding, so we got rid of it. I'm sure if you look around enough you can find one for under $100.

ryanr623 · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2011 Posts: 7 City: Toledo

HHI Dave · Posted: May 06, 2011 9:36 am Post subject:

I just bought a new Obrien kneeboard for my watersports business. It was about $130. Most newer kneeboards seem to have a hook of some sort on the front. The rider places the handle in the hook until the board is on plane, then straps in and picks up the handle. It is super easy. So far we've used the kneeboard for everyone from a 60 lb kid to a 250 lb man and all of them have gotten up with no problem.

Its funny because I've ridden it a couple of times now and the abuse my knees take is way more painful than riding around on a wakeboard...except of course for all those broken ankles. Very Happy

ryanr623 · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2011 Posts: 7 City: Toledo

cadunkle · Criminal Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 60 City: NJ

GnarShredd · Posted: May 06, 2011 11:54 am Post subject:

buckthis · Posted: May 06, 2011 2:59 pm Post subject:

Did anyone actually go to http://www.kneeboardworld.com/

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

I use my kneeboard all the time. To float beers and chips on.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: May 07, 2011 8:18 pm Post subject:

HHI Dave · Posted: May 08, 2011 8:10 am Post subject:

GnarShredd · Posted: May 09, 2011 4:59 am Post subject:

Can we get this moved to non-wake, mods?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

If she won't wakeboard and can't get up on a wakesurfer, it's not worth the effort. Tell her to sit up front, look pretty, and distribute beers. She sounds like a whiny B. If she wants to spend time on her knees give her a better activity to do.

Getting up on a kneeboard isn't much easier than getting up on a wakesurfer. Just tell her to lay on the surfer and get up like you would on a kneeboard. She can then work toward standing up or just riding around. She doesn't sound like she's going to enjoy it anyway.

GnarShredd · Posted: May 09, 2011 10:01 am Post subject:

oh snap

TnR6Rida · Posted: May 09, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject: