How did you get your kids started surfing?

[JohnnieMo]

My son just turned 6 and has FINALLY asked to learn how to surf. He's been afraid every summer up until now (despite having him in a boat at six weeks old).

He's done some tubing but that is about it. I expect if I tried to tandem surf with him that would freak him out for another couple summers.

I've discovered these two devices which look like a good transitional boards.



This one is called the EZ Ski. It's really just for water skiing but you get used to being behind a boat.



This is the Zup board. It allows you to sideboard, belly board, wake board or surf. Seems like a cool device I just don't know if it's as good as it sounds.

I think he needs to start with something other than a surf board to get the feel of being back there.

So what tools and techniques do you use?

[bsreid]

Get a big board and take him out with you. Sometimes they can be a lot more comfortable with someone they trust next to them. Once they're comfortable with that, have someone helping them get up in the water and another person on the platform encouraging them.

Not sure if you meant to post the picture of the engine.

[JohnnieMo]

Get a big board and take him out with you. Sometimes they can be a lot more comfortable with someone they trust next to them. Once they're comfortable with that, have someone helping them get up in the water and another person on the platform encouraging them.

Not sure if you meant to post the picture of the engine.

Of course I meant to post a dirty engine pic instead of this!

[Frosty_Power]

Get the ski trainer JohnnieMo! My kids used it only for a year when they were 6 and 4 to get them comfortable with the water and being pulled and they used it a lot that year. That thing was a hit with all the young kids. That and a knee board similar to the Zup. My daughter tried surfing when she was 6 but it took a bunch of us in the water to hold the board up. She's 8 now and still has a hard time without help getting the board down when she starts(kids Phase 5 Scamp). She never wanted to try for the longest time but she was excited to try when she was ready. Son was the same. Loved knee boarding but wouldn't try surfing for a few years. Now he wants to be towed all day. Start him off on those first and he will be surfing in no time.

[skiguy]

I would recommend not weighting the boat while the kid learns how to get up and control the board.


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[Paul Middlemore]

Watch this video and duplicate; anyone can get up. In case the link doesn't work, it is called "Carloynn tube surf"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w105eJ54iKU

[trevor]

I wish i took video of what we did this week with my 6 year old. We used a wake skate for him, and started by having one person hold the board for him tight off the platform and one person hold the rope tight. Took maybe 5 tries. Once he got the hang of it i took the wake skate and rope to the pool and taught him to flip the board up with one hand once the boat is in gear and get up the right way as he isnt sttong enough to just push it up with his feet. We ordered him a kids wakesurfer that will be in this week.

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[TeamAllen]

Save you the clicking.

[BCRider]

^^^^ Using the tube helps a lot. Saw someone else mention it before and tried it with my niece last year. Was a lot easier. If you have a large enough tube you can leave a second adult on there to help.

[JohnnieMo]

I've seen the tube approach before. Nothing short of brilliant. I also have a small wake surfer I bought on the cheap many years ago that I think would work. However my concern is putting him behind the boat all alone the first time. The last thing I want to do is scare the life out of him. It's a lot to handle the first time. The good news is he is just starting to go off diving boards and water slides on his own. So he is used to going underwater.

Going tandem is possible, however I think that might be even more scary. I think he needs to learn how to "fall off" a few times and realize he's still okay before I put him on something real. The EZ Ski is nice because it is inflatable. He is used to inflatable things. And if he falls and hits it, it won't leave a mark.

Does anyone have a video of getting up tandem? Any tips?

[Wakeman22]

We have done the tandem thing a few times. Most of the kids love it. It is not as easy as it sounds but still very doable. We do not have big boards so we use the regular ones so space is a little limited. You will find that once up they will be hanging around your front leg for stability and they will be leaning forward a lot. I will look for and post a video.

[Paul Middlemore]

I agree, tandem isn't as easy as it sounds; mainly because the weight of the two riders and confidence of the little one holding onto the legs. I have used that technique with both of the little ones, but alas both were a bit older.
I would recommend using the tube assist with the tandem (also with a larger board). That way everyone is comfortable and out of the water. Easier on you and easier on the little one.

[Dan C]

Friend of mine teaching my daughter's first ride. Empty ballast. No perfect pass. Just start as slow as you can.
6yrs old first ride last year
She now stand up alone. Just need to
Get stronger on her leg and she'll be good to come closer







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[JohnnieMo]

Great pics and greet feedback guys. (and Dan I see you are friends with John Snow).

I went and looked at the Zup board today. That thing is massive. It is larger than any other board I own. The thought of making room for that galunkalop on the boat every day is enough to convince me to pass. We have a friend with one so I think we will just borrow. You also need their special $100 rope.



I decided to start with the EZ Ski. It's much more affordable than the Zup and is an easier start IMHO. He's already loving it in the yard (note pulling it around the yard is a serious workout)



We will try this and see. There's a lot of little kids coming up in our group so this will get some use. I'd still rather tow this than a tube too

In my youtubing I also came across this gem. Back before he was famous..... and ya gotta love the growl of that Ve.

https://youtu.be/W4PYyUKfAFs

[jimidemo]

20170609_114905.jpg

Although I was working on wakeboarding with my 7 year old daughter I believe the concept of comfort is the same. My daughter is a great swimmer and comfortable in the water but I thought the board, rope, and boat could be a bit overwhelming even though she has two older siblings and had been on boats since she was one. I put her in our pool and used a surf rope with a wake handle attached (see pic) and just got her used to the pull and coming up. We practiced rolling over (ninja roll) which can be scary face down in the water.

I believe the same thing could be accomplished back at the beach or wherever it is shallow just getting the little ones used to what to expect. I think that trainer you bought is spot on for sure.

I never pressed the issue on our last outing and finally on the 4th day of 5 she wanted to go for it. With me in the water she was able to get up and ride for short 25-50yd increments. I believe if she had been out in the morning when it was calm things would have been even easier. She is all about it and she says she's a "rider" now.