Teaching the Groms to ride.

SKIPRO · Newbie Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Posts: 14 City: Gotham

My boys are 4 and 5 and are still alittle freaked out just floating in the water with their SkiPro vests. - look on the inside of your vest at the bottom of the coast guard tag.

anyway, I bought an O'Brien Myth 126 and slapped a pair of the '05 XS link bindings on it.

Two questions.

1. Binding size! Are they too big?
2. IF you do not have an opportunity to shore start, any tips on deep water!

STPHNSN23 · Guest

search.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

If your kids are freaked out just floating in the water with vests - trying to pull them up wakeboarding might be frustrating for everyone.

I kind of see learning wakeboarding as a series of progressions. The first thing with teaching new kids - I have taught my own and plenty of their friends, is to get them used to being in open water. Second get them used to being towed behing boat on a tube - first time with someone then solo. Next I teach them to learn to hold onto a handle/rope buy getting them on a knee board - way easier to learn than getting up on a wakeboard. If they can do all that and are looking confident, then I put a wakeboard on them. I also like to use a PWC for their first couple of times wakeboarding....no wake, slower plane speeds, quicker pickups, and less intimidation.

I got to get back to work, but you can search here for deep water starting techniques.

Nauty · Addict Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 827 City: Lake Dallas

I have an 8 year old boy that I started teaching last summer. I've done a couple of things to help ease his anxiety. First off, I get him up with me on my board. He stands on my board inbetween my legs while I hold him with one hand. This helped him get used to the speed.

Now that he his trying to get up on his own board, I jump out in the water with him to help him get the rope and more or less just keep him calm. The most important thing is that I do not pressure him or rush him. When he says he's done, he's done.

Last night was his best attempt ever. He got up on the board and actually got it turned and was riding.... for about 3 seconds. Once he got up he got scared and let go of the handle. He'll have it by the end of the summer though. Here is a pic of him riding with me on my board.

gotama176 · Soul Rider Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 341 City: Columbus

Speaking of groms, any of you guys know where to get get the hook up for little grom wakeboard soft goods? All my friends are having baby fever and I would much rather hook up the little ones with some cool threads from a wakeboard company than Baby Gap.

As far as the teaching, I really like Nauty's approach. I know that when I was a snowboard instructor, the kids did best when you got right down with 'em. A series of small steps coupled with a break of snowball fights always worked well. That way they were always having fun even if some of the lessons went less that "perfect" (although I always told they did well regardless) It always felt like you just had to get them over that initial fear. Of course, once that was over watch out.....turn, who needs to turn Twisted Evil

jjakober · Posted: Jun 03, 2005 7:59 am Post subject:

My son showed some interest in wakeboarding when he was five. I started out with him riding between my feet just like Nauty.

I also would take him to the local YMCA and use the pool to get him used to floating around with the board strapped on and since he was so light I was able to get him up on the board just by walking fast with the rope from the other side of the pool.

The best part about teaching him how to get up at the Y was that the water was always warm and calm. He is a pretty skinny kid and he would get cold very fast out at the lake.

When he turned six I got him a wet suit from one of the many great wake list members and he started trying to get up behind the boat. I would always get in with him to help with the rope. He was able to get up and ride a little but the wet suit didn't fit just yet so he still got cold pretty quickly.

Well he turned 7 just before Memorial Day weekend and finally had a chance to get out on the water. This time he was in the water by himself and he did awesome. He got up just fine every time and was able to ride for a long time because the wet suit finally fit and he didn't get cold.

I guess the point of this long post is to just take your time and don't rush.

Here are some pics from the holiday weekend.

Good luck,
jjakober

PS: He is riding the O'Brien Vision 121

jason2454 · Outlaw Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 240 City: austin

sl8w · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2003 Posts: 11 City: Winter Park

gotama176:

Malibu sells onesies on their website. My daughter is hooked up with one. Just don't be fooled, they are for newborns, not "up to 12 months" like advertised.

DizzyG · Soul Rider Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Posts: 266 City: Oconomowoc

when I was little and learning to ski I loved the water but the middle of the lake/bay kind of freaked me out. It only took one afternoon, anchored the boat in the bay, parents went swimming with me (I wore a life jacket). I was fine from then on out, behind the boat and in the water waiting for it to turn around.

You have to be ok with lakes and being away from shore in one first, otherwise it's just scary. Tubes and swimming would be a great start.

buckshot · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Charlotte, NC

So, like how soon can you get a kid out there behind the boat? I've got a nephew that I'm really looking forward to teaching how to wakeboard.

Problem is, he's only six months old right now and I don't think I have the patience to wait 6 or 7 years for him to start riding. Bummer.....

itch · Posted: Jun 03, 2005 6:56 pm Post subject:

jakober
Man skinny aint the woed feed that kid for christs sake. HaHa good for you I had to have patience to First tried to teach my son at five water was to cold tried again at 7 he was tired and at 11 he is ripping well maybe not ripping but I love the fact he and I can share my one true love.
It is the one the one thing that has consumed my life for the last 15 years maybe he can carry it on. I will have to get my boy a wet suit he is skinny too.
ITCH

cdn_ripper · Outlaw Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 174 City: Toronto

Wow you guys are great parents....I first learned by water ski-ing when i was 6 and they just thew my out in the water and pulled me up, I was sooo scared of the deep water but I didn't tell my dad cuz I knew he would just say there is nothing in the water that can hurt you....But its not that, its the fact that its open Deep Deep water and kids are really in-secure about it and get intimidated by it...as did I. If i had a parent out with me in the water or even up wakeboarding around i would be out there the whole day....Parents keep it up!

Beaver · Posted: Jun 03, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject:

My little brother is 11 and Imm going to teach him how to wakeboard because i amk tired of his knee boarding. First off he tried a couple times the other night and he was really close but he let go of the handel. I have tought a bunch of my friends befor and they all learned really quick but my brother isnt. Could this be because my board is to big for him(LF Search 139 and my brother is tubby and weighs a bit more then me I am like 135 pounds and hes like 137) Any way should i just give it time and keep working at it or would it be best just to buy him his own board now? Every time he uses my board i have to narrow the stance and my mom doesnt want me to keep doing that incase i strip the screwes. If we decide to get him a board now what size would you recemend hes about 137 pounds and umm not sure on height maybe 4'5 or somewhere around there. Thanks for your help and thats awesome that your teaching your kids so young.

Mermaid · Addict Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 844

My 5 yr old tried skiing last year, he fell right away and forgot to let go of the rope. Why do people do that? He's still anxious to get out there again, I'm going to try sitting in the water with him next time. Rolling Eyes

grapic · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 192

We didn't have a boat and start until my youngest was 10 years old. The link below shows a friends daughter starting when she was still 2. She is now 4 and deep water starts and carves all over the lake.

http://photos.wakeboarder.com/showphoto.php?photo=9563&cat=500&page=1

Beaver · Posted: Jun 04, 2005 7:29 am Post subject:

grapic, Sweet shes gona rip when shes older. Way to go.

Offdapeggs · Criminal Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 54 City: Tulsa, Ok

He's is 8, He started at 4 but wouldnt wakeboard most of the time even though he could do it. Only recently has he started to really want to.

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

PHIl...
That is awesome! do you have anymore videos of your daughter riding?
I am an expecting dad and can't wait to be able to teach my child to board. My wife isnt real sure about it, but she cant swim so she doesnt necassarily understand!

itch · Posted: Jun 04, 2005 10:47 am Post subject:

Offda looks like he has got that fashion air just get em to stick that hand behind the head and he has his first trick.
ITCH

grapic · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 192

qmarkham1 - its a friends daughter - I don't get to see them very often - will try to get some move video later this summer