Wakeboarding without a vest

[dogbert]

Always with a vest, Pop's rule is if your under 12 you have to wear one in the boat too, Somtimes my friends moms want them to wear one the whole time out.

Been caught staring?

[ragboy]

Even on the dock, if they are under 12. My kids under 12 don't take them off, from launch until we get off the water. Then when they turn 12, in order to get to take it off, they have to swim under the boat without it, while I watch in the water. If they can't swim under the boat, they keep it on. But they all have. Don't worry, they swim under well in front of the gorilla fins.

[dogbert]

Might want to be careful with that out in CA

[G-MONEY]

Always with a vest, Pop's rule is if your under 12 you have to wear one in the boat too, Somtimes my friends moms want them to wear one the whole time out.

Been caught staring?

milf!!!!!

[G-MONEY]

Even on the dock, if they are under 12. My kids under 12 don't take them off, from launch until we get off the water. Then when they turn 12, in order to get to take it off, they have to swim under the boat without it, while I watch in the water. If they can't swim under the boat, they keep it on. But they all have. Don't worry, they swim under well in front of the gorilla fins.

You should make them swim across a cove with out one on.

[Ruune]

as far as lifejackets- never ever wakeboard/skate without them.

Helmets. This is conditional. At wakeboard speeds, the drag of the helmet when you hit the water is enough to give you a severe concussion. You can argue all you want, but I've seen it. However, if you're in shallow water and/or on sliders its as important as a lifejacket.

For those that wear helmets with ear protection, you're better off wearing earplugs.

Typically I'm all for helmets, but in this case water can catch in the helmet and turn what would be a normal fall into a head injury.

[da.bell]

Ruune,

I think the helmet thing is one of those "Damned if you do, damned if you don't" kind of things..... Too many variables in this to even have a good discussion for either way.

[G-MONEY]

I smell a heated discussion about helmets cooking.............

[ragboy]

You should make them swim across a cove with out one on.

I already know they can swim good. They are afraid to go under the boat. If they can calm themself to go under and keep their wits, I let them take it off. My thoughts when I did this, is they can use their head when afraid.

[da.bell]

Very good idea. Being a former SCUBA instructor, may students freek out and get themselves into trouble if they react. You are teaching them to think first and that will be the best idea. IMHO.

[da.bell]

I smell a heated discussion about helmets cooking.............

Not from me.... That discussion isn't worth my input becuase I can already see boths sides very clearly.

[ragboy]

Very good idea. Being a former SCUBA instructor, may students freek out and get themselves into trouble if they react. You are teaching them to think first and that will be the best idea. IMHO.

Right, I already know they can swim like fish. I want to know they can overcome their fear, at least a little. The are VERY afraid to go under the boat, and it usually takes a long time staring at it before they do it. But it has become a tradition now. If they can't overcome the fear, they leave the jacket on. They don't have to swim under the boat, but they also don't get to remove the jacket. When they do it, they come out the other side like the just climbed everest. Its pretty funny. They never forget it either, and it puts a note in their head of the responsibility of not wearing a vest.

Anyway, it works for us.

[dogbert]

Right, I already know they can swim like fish. I want to know they can overcome their fear, at least a little. The are VERY afraid to go under the boat, and it usually takes a long time staring at it before they do it. But it has become a tradition now. If they can't overcome the fear, they leave the jacket on. They don't have to swim under the boat, but they also don't get to remove the jacket. When they do it, they come out the other side like the just climbed everest. Its pretty funny. They never forget it either, and it puts a note in their head of the responsibility of not wearing a vest.

Anyway, it works for us.

I'm pretty liberal when it's just my kids, but they know when they have friends, they and their friends better don life jackets or we're not leaving the dock. I've had to turn around a couple of times just to reinforce this so now they know it's not optional.

[switchme]

The other night my neighbor was taking his 6 year old surfing without a life jacket. My wife just about swam out to him and kicked his ***! Man was she pissed at him. Really a stupid thing to do. We have had several kids drown in lakes around here this summer, mostly swimming but why risk it.

I bought my son one of the non CG approved vests that he uses, it still has plenty of float to it.

[wannabewakeboarder]

milf!!!!!

???? whats that?