Starting eager young kids (5-6 yr olds)?

alandhowie · Newbie Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Posts: 2 City: Austin

Have any suggestions for starting young kids (5-6 yr olds)? Would it be better for them to learn skiing first? How confident a swimmer must they be before starting?

Please let me know what has worked for you and what went wrong.

Thanks,
A. Cool

*chris* · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 982

check out my topic in 'general wakeboarding' ....teaching the little people. has some really good suggestions from people.

alandhowie · Newbie Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Posts: 2 City: Austin

Thanks -- lots of good tips in that thread.

Very Happy

A.

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

The biggest hurdle to overcome is fear. most of the kids I've seen out on the water are scared. They may be excited and want to try it, but you put them behind a boat with 200+ horsepower pulling their arms off....they get a little intimidated.

A friend of mine practices with his son on the swim platform. His son is in the water holding on to the rope with his feet in the bindings and the board up against the platform, then he pulls on the rope and lets his son get the feeling of poping up on the board.
Try that a few times in and out of the water (maybe in your living room) to help him get the sensation of coming out of the water.
Then it's just a matter of physical ability and practice.

I'd recommend staying in the water with your child and comforting them, getting them set up, and then let someone else in the boat try to pull them up. Of course it's safer if you're closer to the shore, so other boats don't run you over if you're out in the middle of the lake.

Big T · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 106 City: Ft. Wayne

When I teach younger kids, i take out the jes ski and sit in the water with them to get their setup right, make sure everything looks good. It also helps them overcome their fear. After they take off I get on the jet ski and give them pointers from a safe distance. We usually do this on a weekday or about 30 mins before sunset.

I taught my 6 yr old niece and my 4 yr old daughter this way, it works pretty good.

ben8473 · Criminal Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 86

If your boat will accomodate one, put a pole out the side(Gunnel is it?). This allows them to stand immediately and get used to the board a little. It worked for my six year old. The jet ski is next for a rope start, less intimidating than a boat with a wake up to there chest. ( Lucky them!)
If they have no experience on the water at all, then a few slow tows on a kneeboard, gradually building the speed, ( and of course a few falls) will build the confidence.
Biggest problem i had was to stop my boy panicking when falling off and staying toes down in the water. Teach them how to roll the board back to start position before letting them ride. Do it in waist deep water for a start, get em used to it.
Must be scary for a child to not be able to flick a board around.
They dont have to be great swimmers as you will always be close to them and of course they will always wear a jacket. Most importantly make sure you give them encouragement and praise. Good luck mate.

colefooter · Posted: Nov 10, 2004 6:08 pm Post subject:

ben8473, your gunnel thing is called a boom

the boom is the way to go, it makes everything really easy, and still gets them the feel and confidence of it

joedirt00 · Posted: Nov 11, 2004 4:22 am Post subject:

I saw one of these, and my son will be 4 next summer so I think I'm going to make one since i don't think he'll be on it too long but it will get him started.

http://www.bartswatersports.com/catalog.asp?C=308&category=Junior+Combo+Water+Skis&P=11158&product=Nash+Blu+Bayou+Ski+Sled

The tow rope actually hooks to the "sled" and the handle is really just for balance and to lean back on, so there is no need to rip his arms off. This way he can get use to the idea of holding onto the handle and moving accross the water standing up. The ad says "idle along" so I'm assuming you dont have to go that fast.