Teaching my girl

EliteAcq2 · Newbie Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 14 City: Mesa

I'm taking my girl out this weekend for the first weekend to lake powell and was wondering whats the best way to teach her to get up. Ive never taught anyone before. Should i be in the water with her or what?

Any suggestions would be great

thanks guys

wakeboarder07 · Posted: Sep 10, 2004 2:01 pm Post subject:

i learned with my teacher in the boat, tell her just to let the boat pull her up, and not to just stand up. And when she falls, tell her to let go Confused

make sure she has good posture r she will get bad aches in her back.

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

How old is she?

My buddy has taught his 8 year old son by practicing at home first on how to hold on to the rope and how to get up. Then once out on the water, he puts his son in the water with his board up against the swimdeck and he pulls him up by just pulling on the rope by hand. After he's got the feeling of how to hold on to the rope and stand up, he stays out in the water with him and gets him setup straight, then the driver pulls him up slowly.
He usually gets up a third of the time and may ride for a few seconds before falling, but it all depends on the ability of your daughter. I've seen 5 year old that have been riding for 2 years competing in beginner tournaments.

molypod · Criminal Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 85 City: Chilliwack

With my olderst girl (13 when she started two years ago) I had her get up on skis for her first couple runs to get used to getting pulled up then went to the board and she got up first try. She also snowboards so that may have helped. My oldest boy (12) cant get up at all after many many tries. He does have a fear of the open water and I've tried shallow starts with a helper in the water on both skis and the board but I believe he doesn't really want to do it yet. My younger boy ( 7) got up on skis on his second try but I havent tried the board yet. That will be next season.
My youngest girl (2½) well she'll be on my snowboard this winter like I did with my youngest boy and I might try her on my wakeboard next summer.
depending on age I have found that a shallow start with a helper ( mainly for confidence) has worked well, I did this with my nephews and other friends of my older kids.

EliteAcq2 · Newbie Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 14 City: Mesa

its actually my girlfriend, not my daughter. we just got back and she could not get up. she was pissed, most things usually come pretty easy to her. the problem was her trying to stand up to soon, and the rope poping out of her hands. i dont think i was going to fast out of the water. how fast should i be going to get her to hang on? she is 5'4 120. any advice would be so awesome. thanks

Ladythump · Posted: Sep 14, 2004 11:35 am Post subject:

The way the guys taught the girls at GLTR, start off by showing her on the dock.
Sit on the dock like you would be sitting in the water with your board (only without the board) -- Butt on the ground, feet flat and next to your butt. Hold a rope and have someone else hold the end and gently pull you up off of your butt but knees still bent in, basically like you're squatting. Show her that it's the boat that pulls you up off your butt and once it does that, it's easy to just stand up and pick a lead foot. Have her sit on the dock and pull her up to a squat using the rope.
It's hard to explain in a reply, much easier to show in person, but let me know if this helps.

WakeChikNikki · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 264 City: Sacramento

Tell her to keep her butt to the board until she is out of the water, once she is out of the water she can stand up. Just get her out of the water first. AND KEEP THAT BUTT TO THE BOARD. Once she has it down she'll figuire out easier ways to do it and how to do it quicker etc etc

EliteAcq2 · Newbie Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 14 City: Mesa

How about holding on to the rope? Is that a problem for any other ladies? I need to get her up so she feels what i do for the sport.

molypod · Criminal Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 85 City: Chilliwack

If the rope keeps popping out of her hands could be she's plowing too much water.. try and have her start with the board slightly turned so it has less surface area against the water or to press her toes down (point her toes) as the boat pulls so the board will plane easier. Are you giving her a slow gradual pull to get her up? I've seem many of my friends try and get someone up and they give er way to much gas to start, this goes both for beginner skiers or boarders.

hope you get her up.. My wife sticks to driving the boat Shocked

.. maybe I'll get her up someday

WakeChikNikki · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 264 City: Sacramento

If shes not holding on to the rope its because shes trying too hard. I had the same problem at first. Seriously, tell her to relax take a deep breath, sit in the water crunched up with her butt to the board. It sometimes helps to put her arms instead of in the middle of her legs around her left leg.. Does that make sense? Well if shes left foot forward that would help. If shes goofy then put her arms around the right leg. It just helps get her out of the water at an angle allready instead of having her have to rotate the board. But the main thing to begin with is keeping her butt to the board, because that will get her out of the water (and keep her from trying to stand up too quickly and faceplanting), she can go across the whole lake like that if she really wanted to, once shes out of the water then she can stand up. Watch her standing up too, make sure shes not pulling on the rope to stand up, get her to use those leg muscles! Hope this helps and makes sense! Mr. Green

chaz28o · Posted: Sep 15, 2004 9:35 am Post subject:

Gals are interesting to teach - some pick it up, others struggle forever. I've found for those who struggle, some success doing the following

1) A tower or extended pylon is almost a must. You want to make the rope pretty short. I use a ski rope for the newbies, and put it at 39 off (makes the rope 36') The short rope off a tower / pylon kinda helps pull them up.

2) You (the driver) have to give a smooth, gentle yet firm pull. Don't go if she's not ready (even if she says go) Go when you see that she's ready

3) I tell the girls to push firmly with both legs against the board, as soon as the boat goes. I also tell them to hold the handle down low to the board, even as they plain. I do this, cuz most the times, gals won't hold the handle in close to their bodies. No matter how many times you tell them to, as soon as the boat goes, their arms are fully extended Laughing

4) Once the boad plains, then have them stand up. It helps if someone can yell to them stand up now.

This has worked more times than not. I've taught all my daughters friends (teenie bops) and a few wives.

The critical thing is for the driver to be smooth on the throttle. Most girls hardly need a hit to get up, and then you don't want to go to full speed for their first few rides. 15 mph, is plenty fast for new girl riders

EliteAcq2 · Newbie Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 14 City: Mesa

thanks for all the help everyone. i'll let you all know how its going when we get back out there to the lake.

shanda · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jul 2003 Posts: 132 City: Nampa

If you're still looking for help.... Be a silent example as well. Show her when you ride that you can be crouched as long as you need to before you stand up. Sometimes, there is sooo much to learn as a newbie that it is nice to see the "seasoned" riders go back to the basics so the newbies have a visual (even if overexaggerated).