Daughter got up on the board but need advice for my son

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

My daughter got up on her second try today on a motive 119 (age 11) I was almost in shock and she rode it for about 5 minutes without falling. She did great and loved it.

My son (age Cool

did not do so well, when I was pulling him to get up he was sinking

Also how much pull do you think I should give him on the start - I have a 225 crownline with a 350 mag 21p prop

I was telling him to bend his knees and not lean forward.

Any advice or tips I would appreciate

Are there any good videos on-line that I could show him

thanks for help and info

Chocoholic · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 363 City: Dubai

He's sinking? As in the board is going under the water? First off make sure he has a life vest that gives him decent flotation, this will help.

Getting him to point his toes forwards, so the board automatically wants to come on top of the water will help.

His heels need to be as close into his bottom as possible, almost in a crouching position, arms straight and you want him to 'roll' up out of the water and not push or pull with his arms or legs.

If you have a tower on the boat, shorten the line as much as possible, so that the line will also assist slightly in pulling him upwards.

If you have a platform on the back of the boat, I find that doing the 'roll up' here first helps people alot - you lean the wakeboard against the platform and pull them up, demonstrating the feel of getting up, do this several times until their position is correct - everyone we do this to finds it invaluable as they know what to expect.

cheesewizz · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 231

good luck here you go guy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdeBWB2GdBY&feature=related

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

Thanks for the reply and the help

no tower just using ski ring on the back with new wakeboard rope. I did have him float in the water and I pulled on him to give him the feel but did not tell him to have arms straight out.

I think I can use my small platform to give him the feel.

thanks for the link to the video also

OuachitaWaker · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 577 City: Hot Springs

in my experiences with getting new people up, girls always seem to nail it first or second try. They dont resist the pull and let the boat pull them up. Guys are another story. They have more upperbody strength and tend to want to use this. Try to teach him to keep his arms very straight and to not use them at all (just a tight grip and hang on). Tell him when he pulls in on the rope that he isnt pulling the 3000 lb boat closer to him, he is actually pulling his upper body over the board.

Hope this helps!

patoloco · Posted: Jun 25, 2010 7:56 am Post subject:

My daughter started at 4 or 5.... She was light enough for me to hand pull her to get the initial feel of it for practice

Then when she tried deep water starts, I actualy sat behind her in the water to get her going and get the feel of it.

After that, I just kept yelling "stay bent" i.e. knees bent, almost sitting on the board, until she was up on top of the water, then I would motion for her to stand...now it just comes naturally to her.

I've taught dozens of friends how to get up behind my boat and every single one of them, kids included, trys to stand too soon. The most telling sign of standing too soon is sinking and falling forward.

kent2010 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 281 City: Needles

yup, patoloco is probably right, if he is sinking then he is standing up too soon most likely. tell him to stay down low and get up slow.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 25, 2010 1:22 pm Post subject:

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

How should the board be positioned in the water, at a 90 deg angle to the boat or tilted at a 45 deg angle

one more question - I am reading your comments to him and he asked if the water should go over the board

thanks again for all the replies

isuckatwakin · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jan 2010 Posts: 185 City: Pompano Beach

your board should be sideways in the water with your rope and handle in the middle of the board, once your getting up you slide the board to riding position.

matt1808 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 1981

Tell him to sit in a tight ball, with his elbows outside his knees. Board should be angled ~45 degrees towards the boat. Have him roll forward with the pull of the boat, but stay in the same position. Don't have him stand up until you signal for him to.

This way seems to really only work for kids, but they can ride forever like that without standing up.
Edit: I just notice patoloco pretty much explained this same way also.

For adults this method seems to work best though-
After the rope gets tight and you are in an idle, have them push the board under water. When they do this they should be leaning slightly back, and positioned like they are sitting in a chair. Board should be angled ~10-15 degrees up towards the boat. Once they are in this position you should be able to accelerate very gradually. There is no need to pull them out of the water fast, if they are in the correct position there will be hardly any strain. After they get used to the feel of getting up you can start pulling them out faster.

using this method with a couple visual descriptions I have been able to get most people up first time, and I don't think anybody has taken more than 3 times.

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

Will water be rolling over the top of the board until he is up

AaronATX · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Posts: 136 City: Austin

If it's pulling him under water he's probably resisting too much. Have him really suck his knees to his chest. It seems like when they're not tucked in enough, when the boat starts pulling the body naturally tenses against the pull. If he really pulls his knees in then he will be less likely to resist and fight the pull. Chances are he is trying more to keep the board out of the water rather than get in the right position. I say this because I had the exact same problem for a while. If he is in the correct position it doesn't matter as much if the board isn't sticking out of the water, when the boat pulls it will pull him out of it.

Medina · Posted: Jun 27, 2010 1:37 am Post subject:

Now youre son is pissed that his sis beats him!

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

yeah he was not to happy, but he is willing to keep trying

thanks everyone for the help and replies

we plan to go out tomorrow after work

JoeyJojo · Posted: Jun 27, 2010 7:19 am Post subject:

Guys are always the hardest to get up. I tell them to get in the water with knee bent like they were sitting in a chair and to hang on w/ arms straight out. Then I tell then to keep focused on keeping their back straight, and really, really think about keeping it straight. It seems to work really well because they don't fight the boat so much, but it may be because everyone I have helped is just too dumb to think about 2 things at once =)

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

One more question

When I hit it how much pull should I give him, when he is on a kneeboard I barely give it any gas. But the wakeboard has me thinking that I need to give it more gas to get him up which I did last time and he did not get up.

mucksoup · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2009 Posts: 120 City: eugene

this is what i tell every new be on my boat.

sit in the water with your legs bent like your in a chair. As soon as you feel the boat pull, sraighten out your front leg, and twist your hips so your front legs on top.
And youll pop right up.....

Works everytime.

mucksoup · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2009 Posts: 120 City: eugene

Most people are gonna say give it alot of gas, I can get up slow and fast.
I'd say the big thing is how you "punch the gas"

Roll the throttle, dont slam it... If that makes any sence

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

yep - that make sense to roll the throttle

thanks for help

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

No luck today - it was like he was plowing the water. took a short video clip

is there a DVD that anyone is aware of that would help us

faceplant920 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Apr 2010 Posts: 178 City: Brookhaven

The Book is a good choice. You could just buy the first one. It seems like he is keeping his legs to straight. You should be able to hold a grip a piece of paper with your bent knee. And yes, some water will come over the board. Just tell him that as the water pushes against him, let it push the board to his butt and keep his arms straight. As he comes up dont be in to big a hurry to stand up. Also when I was learning I liked a very slow roll on the throttle getting up. It makes things a lot smoother.

Edit: I just notice this but it seems like he is trying to pick his upper body out of the water. Tell him to just lay back and the boat will pull him out of the water. He doesnt have to do it himself.

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

Thanks for the info

I hope he keeps trying - I think I will buy the first one of the book

matt1808 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 1981

Try accelerating slower, and make sure he keeps his knees tucked up to his chest as much as possible until he is on top of the water. At his age you shouldn't have to go very fast to get him on top of the water.