what advice you got?

[kko]

im taking my daughter (almost 7) and niece (almost 16) out this weekend and they both wanna try the wakeboard (that xpjim1 gave me a killer deal on thanx again jim). whats the best way to get little/newbs up? thanx

[rollem wake]

patience!

[mtnsmith]

Find out which foot they should ride forward by finding out which foot they kick a ball with, that will be the back foot then. We always just have people keep their knees in their chest and their arms around their knees to hold the handle. Then let the boat do the work is the big tip we always give. They are both small enough they will probably be able to stand right up. Luckily two of the people that go with us regularly used to teach skiing and wakeboarding so I generally let them give the lessons. We have yet to not get someone up the first trip out. Good luck, enjoy!!!

BTW, my speedo started working again and the liquid comet worked great, thanks for the tip.

[ragboy]

not to disagree, but my kids are all right footed, yet 4 of 5 are goofy footed, 1 too young to know yet.

Another way to figure it out, have them slide on the floor in there socks, which foot is back?

Or, have them stand with feet together. Gently push them backwards by the shoulder, which of their feet naturally goes back to stablize them? That is the correct back foot. Getting the back foot right is important, to help them feel more natural.

Pull them up real easy, and stay around 11-15mph. 11 for the 6yr old, and 15 for the 16. The slower speed will help them not catch an edge so easy and fall. Have them get up and not worry about turning the board right away. When I teach kids, they always try to turn the board to fast, and fall. At the slower speed, they can be up with the board sliding. Tell them to get up, then after they are standing, then gently turn into position. Once they get used to getting up and turning into the right position, you can slowly gett them up to WB speeds. I wouldn't take the 6yr old past like 14 for some time. The 16 yr old should be ok at like 18, but no need to get up to 22 unless they want to start going in and out of the wake.

Hope that helps.

[mtnsmith]

We do the pushing thing too, and that has always been the same as kicking, there are probably a dozen different ways/theories on finding which foot goes back. I had a snowboard rental guy have me hop on one foot and then the other one time, I just figured that might be a little tough on the boat

[billspin]

The young ones that we have gotten up usually find what is comfortable for them once they get up. I tend not to put too much into their minds until they actually have the feeling of getting up. Which foot forward usually has just happened the first few tries. I usually use the speed to help get them up by watching and adjusting to get them on top of the water their first tries. It is a great feeling seeing any youngster board any distance the first time. After a couple of up and running on top of the water we work more on the direction and board control. The most important thing I concentrate on is what rollem wake said. Patience! and be sure to make it fun for them at all times.

[kana12]

dont tell them too many things at once.. tell them one step at a time so they dont try everything at once. they are gonna be nervous and will concentrate wat to much .. just tell them to relax and when they get up they will figure out realy fast which foot they need foward... good luck and most importantly.... have some fun

[wannabewakeboarder]

I kick with my left foot but ride right foot forward(regular)

[ragboy]

We do the pushing thing too, and that has always been the same as kicking, there are probably a dozen different ways/theories on finding which foot goes back. I had a snowboard rental guy have me hop on one foot and then the other one time, I just figured that might be a little tough on the boat

I hear ya, but my kids all kick with the right, and only one rides regular.

The young ones that we have gotten up usually find what is comfortable for them once they get up. I tend not to put too much into their minds until they actually have the feeling of getting up. Which foot forward usually has just happened the first few tries. I usually use the speed to help get them up by watching and adjusting to get them on top of the water their first tries. It is a great feeling seeing any youngster board any distance the first time. After a couple of up and running on top of the water we work more on the direction and board control. The most important thing I concentrate on is what rollem wake said. Patience! and be sure to make it fun for them at all times.

Thats why I tell them to just get up and slide the board, then they naturally turn the board the most comfortable way. Every once in a while, I get a kid that can go either way just as comfortable.

[ragboy]

One more thing, make sure everyone else on the boat knows only ONE person coaches the kid, everyone else just cheerleads. Its the worst when everyone is shouting out what to do. Pick one person to teach, everyone else zip it.

[billspin]

One more thing, make sure everyone else on the boat knows only ONE person coaches the kid, everyone else just cheerleads. Its the worst when everyone is shouting out what to do. Pick one person to teach, everyone else zip it.

Very Good Advice!

[dogbert]

All good advice.

A couple of last items. Make sure they keep their arms straight out in front of them and have them slowly start lowering the rope handle to hip height. It makes it a lot easier to balance. This is especially true when they start going outside the wake.

A couple of tendencies we've seen based on everyone we've taught over the years:

- pushing against the board while getting up
- standing up to early (need to stay in crouched position until the board is floating)
- pulling the rope handle close to the chest after getting up (usually fall backwards when that happens)
- rope handle held too high (slowly get them to stick their leading hip forward and push the rope handle down to hip level)

[TeamAllen]

I have found using a shorter rope length for beginners helps alot.
They are not 20 miles out to sea and the steeper angle of the rope, from the tower helps them pull up and out.

[talltigeguy]

I have the video Detention and put it on my video Ipod. It seems to really help to have them watch the section on getting up and then 2 minutes later they are trying it. Most videos have plenty of good tips, but anything that can show them from right above the rider will help. Watching from 70 feet away never seems to give the right perspective to what is happening.

[dogbert]

I gotta do that. My iPod was stolen on a recent business trip so I got a new one on Friday. 160 Gb...plenty 'o room for some videos. I was hesitant to put them on my old 80 Gb because I couldn't get all my music on there as it was. Part of my deal for getting the home theater with media center PC was that I would pack up all my CDs and put them in storage. I had to come to grips with the fact that I had 1000s of them. I really like the idea of having all my music with me whereever I go.

Anybody find a good portable screen that you can take with you and plug into your iPod? Seems like it would be good for long car trips as well.