how to start 5yr old without death or freaking out my wife

kcox · Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 31 City: belfair,wa

Hey, I just bought a boat! I pick it up next weekend. It's a sterling 21' open bow 5.0 mercruiser. it doesn't have a tower and that will come in some time. I only have so much cash available it would seem a linemans pay doesn't go as far these days. I have been wakeboarding with friends for 2 years and I do ok for an old man. The newbie question of the day is How do I start my 5 yr old son wakeboarding without freaking him or my wife out. he swims and is comfortable in the water and I don't want that to change. so the old throw him in the lake and he'll figure it out won't fly. Some freaks of nature suggest that. I also have 2 daughters 10 and 11 that want to get involved as well. The smallest board I can find is a 125. is that too big?I'll post pictures when I pick up the boat. thanks kenny

Colclough999 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 410 City: Boston

for the 5 year old ive heard of parents having their kids inbetween their legs/on their laps. while getting up in the water they just hold the kid on and allowing him to stand on the middle of the board. i cant really remember how big a 5yr old is so im not sure if this is a relevant tip.

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

I got my son on the board at 3.
He was comfortable with the water, but very afraid to be alone.

What we did was...

a) have him sit on the board.
b) hook the rope's handle on the front boot.
c) I would hold onto the back boot on my stomach in the water.
d) start to idle and speed up to whatever speed I could hold on.

Due to his dexterity and low center of gravity (of which I have none) he could then easily stand up and ride the board surf style.

t b d · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 60 City: Coral Springs

I've seen people using a barefoot boom to teach small children. they are right beside the boat so you can coach them and you can drive super slow untill they get the hang of it.

surfersarah · Posted: Jun 25, 2005 5:14 am Post subject:

heres an inspirational vid, better than me n shes @ leat half my age!!http://photos.wakeboarder.com/showphoto.php?photo=9563&cat=500&page=1

revelation · Outlaw Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Annapolis

frostymcwake · Criminal Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 65 City: Tampa

That was friggin' cool! My son is five and I'm gonna get him started soon too. I was planning to do the "between the legs" thing but that way (the video u linked) is cool as crap. I just wish I had a nice boat like that to do it with. Smile

That kid looks like 3 or 4 years old. Wicked!

Cool

Ride Hard

Kampus-slide · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 527 City: Tucson

If you dont want to freak your wife out do it behind her back

Landon126 · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 168 City: Louisville

Word of advice:
I'd advise against doing it the way the little girl does in that video. There have been a few deaths from people holding onto the swim platform while the boat is going. They die from the carbon monoxide fumes (odorless/colorless) coming from the exhaust right under the swimplatform. That girl was likely breathing that stuff in. I have no idea how long the people held on (how much they had to breathe in) who died, and I'm no expert, but it just doesn't seem like a good chance to take.

Crying or Very sad

maxum89 · Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 6 City: austin

I taught my son at about 5 pretty easy. What I did was took him to shore in about knee deep water and pulled him by hand running up and down the shoreline till he caught on and then took him to deep water in the boat and he got up first time. Mom was very comfortable with that and so was he. I am going to try and teach my daughter this weekend the same way.

Landon126 · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 168 City: Louisville

Wow maxum89, that's love. I'd love to see a dad running up and down the shore doing that haha. That's awesome! Very cool very cool Very Happy

maxum89 · Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 6 City: austin

LOL........It wasn't pretty but worked

jamboddie1978 · Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 20

LOL........*maxum passed out from runnin*Sons screamin do it again daddy*

kcox · Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 31 City: belfair,wa

Hey you guys, we just got back from vacation and now I'm a boat owner! no more begging for rides, i know try to stay calm! I thing all ideas are great but the running on shore deal takes it. That is more my speed. I will check out the video and send more later thanks.

downsideup · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Jul 2003 Posts: 344

I taught my daughter last year when she was 6. She did have some experience snowboarding, so that helped. I taught her by standing in shallow water (on the edge of a sandbar, boat pulling towards deeper water) and holding her in position until the boat started to pull. After she did that a few times, we got her to get up by herself. After a couple weeks she was able to get the rope and get back up by herself and ride for a pretty good distance. Just this last week, she started to get a little bit of pop off the wake, even clearing half the wake on one particular jump. I guess that before I did any of that, I rode around with her between my legs on my board. She enjoyed that. Here are some pictures:

wkbrdr · Posted: Jul 07, 2005 9:50 am Post subject:

i have pull my little cousin just by running on the shore...so they are very shallow and they get the feel of it

kcox · Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 31 City: belfair,wa

hey , I just got back from vacation and picked up the boat, I'm sure most of you realize what I'm going thru now, my first boat and all! Finally no more bumming rides. I like the pulling from shore idea. It would be a good start. I do need to know what size board to get him. the smallest I have heard of is a 125. I will try to take pictures of the first event then I will post. I couldnt get the video as we only have dial up out here and is it ever slow. Taht girl is really something you should be proud, I can't wait to teach my Kids. thanks for all the advice, kcox

cracka_barrel · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 409

another thing that may have been slightly overlooked. that little girl was being pulled behind an Inboard, not an I/O. Man if you have an I/O pleeeeeeease don't try to pull her from directly behind the boat. ughh Sad

Kampus-slide · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 527 City: Tucson

damn she rips harder then I do Crying or Very sad

downsideup · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Jul 2003 Posts: 344

Get a LF Nemesis 118 or 124 with Mighty Elements. The package should be about $259. How big is he? I'm not sure off hand how tall my daughter is, but she weighs about 50-55 pounds and rides the 124. She had last years 118 with last years Micro bindings, but she says that the Elements are way more comfortable.

AirProfile · Addict Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 602 City: Brookfield

Landon126, i do agree with you about carbond dioxide it is extremely bad for healther but anyways i still go teaking and me and my friends can hold on for a good 15 minutes with out getting light headed (teaking is holding on 2 swim platform haveing boat moving , we are also going fast enough the fumes pass right by and also there's side exaust on newer boats for saftey reasons like that

basically i'm trying to say yes it is unsafe but i do not think those 10 seconds are going to harm your child.
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ANDALUCIA COOKING