how old do you have to be

Garyh · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 43 City: Manchester

Last sumer my son 4 yr was itching to have a wakeboarding
he kept asking to have a go but carnt seam to find any kids boards for him this year he will be 5yrs if i carnt by 1 im going to have to make him one, can eny one help me !!! Or is he just to young? should i just get him some baby water skis? ..................... help............ Confused

Ctipping · Posted: Jan 15, 2006 5:47 pm Post subject:

gary, i learned to water ski when i was four, but never really liked it. My friends cousin was four when we taught him to ride a wakeboard. 5 should be fine.

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 15, 2006 6:15 pm Post subject:

Garyh, parks bonifay (pro wakeboarder if you didnt know) learned to water ski when he was less than 2. They make kids boards so hes ready, get em out there! For boards, Liquid Force has a nemesis series which come in kids sizes. If your looking for used...look at the Liquid Force squirt and Mini Squirt. Just try to find a board that is 125cm or less.

Bowen · Posted: Jan 15, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject:

I've gotten up holding 3 and 4 year olds, I get up with one hand, let them stand on the board in between my legs, then I bring the handle down to their hands and give them the feeling of riding. I suggest you do this with your kid first. He's definitely old enough to start riding on his own though.

Garyh · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 43 City: Manchester

chears every one for sugestons meny thanks garyh Laughing

Chad H · Posted: Jan 16, 2006 10:48 am Post subject:

as far as buy boards, here are some of the smaller ones
Hyperlites Voyager
http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=18&man=Hyperlite&sku=HY_V5nJk

Liquid force nemsis

http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=1&man=Liquid%20Force&sku=LI_7e7JL

CWB Trooper

http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=18&man=CWB&sku=CW_mJh5P

On the LF one, it will need bindings, so thats the only thing to knwo about it.

Also, i wouldn't buy anything too small, because you don't want them to outgrow it too quick. just get a 121 or something

Blake · Posted: Jan 16, 2006 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: how old do you have to be

DU540 · Outlaw Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 185 City: PDX

Gary

Follow the link for some ideas:

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=48750&highlight=

Garyh · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 43 City: Manchester

DU540,
many thanks he looks like he has some fun on the water
as we are boarding on the sea a cut down board looks beter for now to get him started because of the width ill have to troll ebay and get 1 from there cos .Kids board look narower
what do think??
Very Happy

many thanks garyh &master luke

marcuskg · Posted: Jan 17, 2006 9:34 am Post subject:

hey gary, ive emailed you bout riding.

we hook up 4 a pull wen the weather gets better.

canuck · Newbie Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 8

My son started when he was six turning seven. I think there is one critical test that you must do to determine whether he is ready for wakeboarding by himself.

Put him into the water with his wakeboard (and life jacket). Turn him over so that he is on his belly (ie face down). See if he can turn onto his back by himself. If not, he is not ready. I've seen kids panic when they wipe out and end up floating face down and can't turn back over. Keep in mind that when they wipe out there are lots of waves and it may be hard for them to keep their heads out of the water.

This is a test that I do for all young kids that want to wakeboard on my boat. It also helps if they are good swimmers and are used to diving under water.

As for sking this is not as critical as the feet are apart and they usually do not have any problems flipping over.

My son is ten now and before every season I still get him to practice turning over before his first session of the year. I also do this for every first timer regardless of the age.

johnaulick · Posted: Jan 18, 2006 7:37 pm Post subject:

Garyh, that kid might have some good potential starting him that early

grapic · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 192

Check out a friends 3 year old daughter on this video. Shes been on a boat since she was a few months old and started wakeboarding when she was 3.
http://photos.wakeboarder.com/showphoto.php?photo=9563&cat=500&ppuser=3079

drdubie · Outlaw Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 161 City: Lucedale, MS

canuck,
that is a great piece of info about the kids and the fliping over. When I was 6 and kneeboarding for the first time, I was straped into the board and when I fell I only weighed about 40lb at the most and got stuck under the board. I had been told to hold the strap and pull it if I fell, but when your drowning, you forget. I was under long enough for the boat to make it back to me and when I got the board off and came up my dad was about to jump in and get me.
Anyway I was lucky and actualy it scared my dad more than me. I was ready to go again. I did, but without the strap from then on.
A near drowning experince for a kid can be devistating enough tha they never try a watersport again. Geat advice!

Chad H · Posted: Jan 22, 2006 11:56 am Post subject:

Kneeboard in my opinion is not as safe for the young ones as wakeboard.. most of the time i cane get to my back quick on a wakeboard than i can undo a strap and breathe again on a kneeboard.

marcuskg · Posted: Jan 24, 2006 2:15 pm Post subject:

Garyh, if your still looking for a board for your son, i think this might be a good buy:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CHILDS-WAKEBOARD-HYPERLITE-VOYAGER-121-HL_W0QQitemZ7214259352QQcategoryZ47363QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem