4 year old wants to shred

Ky · Pop Shuvit Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 120 City: Houston

I was hanging out with my 4 year old nephew and he started asking me how I got some scars on my legs, so I showed him a few wakeskating videos Very Happy

He was totally into it and getting stoked. He made several WOAH's and OOH's and HE'S SO COOL's. He even said I should marry them because the guys look fun and he wants to ride with them haha

So my question is for anyone who has experience with little kids, how would I go about getting him into wakeskating? I don't have a boat, I just go to a cable park, so should I try to start him on a 2.0 with wakeboarding? Or is he old enough to straight up start on a wakeskate? I'm going to work with him on the ground too with a skateboard. I'm so excited, I can't wait to get started Very Happy

supermanotorious · Backside 180 Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 518 City: Phoenix

Take it from the winchmaster 5000 who has successfully winched 1, 4, 6, and 7 year olds. Did you ever waterski with your skis tied together, the rope tied to the skis, and the handle tied to the skis? The idea is that the pull is against the skis, not the arms of the child. The child uses the handle for balance and learns a feel for the physics of hydroplaning. So here's how to convert to skate: remove the front fin, from the bottom of skate insert 1/4" button head female bolt as long as needed (with nylon washer), on the top of the board screw in a 1/4" male eye bolt. Now stand the kid on the board, measure from the handle in his hands to the eye bolt and tie the handle to the bolt. Best to have someone hold the board at water level while the kid balances on it at the start of the run. You can do this with a boat but it will be far easier and less stressful with a winch.

Steven M · Posted: Jul 17, 2011 4:04 pm Post subject:

I'm kind of in the same boat. My nephew will be 5 in December and has been begging since the end of last summer for me to take him. He can skateboard fine (for his age) so I'm just waiting till his swimming lessons are done and his comfy swimming in a life jacke by himself. ZBut I'm just gonna have him in the water with me on my board riding like that for a bit till he gets used to It then let him go from there.

He loves all the wake videos I've given him.

supermanotorious · Backside 180 Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 518 City: Phoenix

I forgot to mention, I pulled my 1 year old thru the grass with this set up before hitting the water, it helped her learn what we were trying to do, I was inspired by the Parks documentary

Ky · Pop Shuvit Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 120 City: Houston

supermanotorious, that looks like a really excellent idea!! Unfortunately my only option is a cable park, so I wouldn't be able to use a configuration like that :/

Steven M, my nephew will be 5 in December as well, have you tried having him on the board with you before? Do you think he would be able to stand up well without you being in the way?

Steven M · Posted: Jul 17, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject:

I'll be taking him in august when i go back to California for a week. But he will be fine. This is just to get his stoke up and focus on skateboarding for Practice till I move back in June. Then he will be ready to shred all summer and I'll have him out there all the time with me.

jeff · Posted: Jul 17, 2011 8:52 pm Post subject:

get on a boat with a boom. getting kids that young up on skis or board is really hard unless they really wants to learn.. Let them try a knee board first, it'll be easy for them and they will get really siked on it.. and then get the skis that are attached.

the board with the eye hook,, what happens when the kid falls and doesnt come out of their binders?? Seems to me like you would be dragging them?? Am I missing something?

supermanotorious · Backside 180 Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 518 City: Phoenix

It works on a skate just as well as a board, yes on a board they'll get dragged so winch driver needs to be experienced, on a skate they are completely free when they bail, "Father daughter winch day" on YouTube

marco · Posted: Jul 17, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject:

I drove the winch for this 6 year old at a beach near my house. I was helping a buddy out give a wakeboard lesson and we thought this would be the eaisiest way to get up.

Here's a link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgqdhcThmwg

miller · Backside 180 Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 2394 City: Regina

My little dude is 2 years old. He loves boarding and watches vids all the time. He snowboards, skateboards and carpet boards with a wakeskate. His balance and board skills are getting better everyday.

He tubes right now but I am going to give him a couple more years before getting him on a wakeskate. I know that once he starts wakeskating he will dominate.

yookyle · Backside 180 Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 1002 City: Reno

I've seen 12 year olds give up on the first try. Kids this young gotta be very ready. If I was 6 I would be scared as hell trying to wakeskate.

Steven M · Posted: Jul 18, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1426601738346

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1575921351243

These are from When he was 3 - 3.5 years old. He has gotten way more comfy and balanced on a board. He rides my home made indo board too.

Ky · Pop Shuvit Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 120 City: Houston

Steven M, the links don't work, it says they have either been removed or aren't visible due to privacy settings

Thanks for all of the input guys, I think I'm going to start him on a kneeboard to figure out if he's actually interested in doing it, or if he just likes to watch videos. I'll also try pulling him on a wakeskate in the grass/carpet so he can get the feel of it, and once ready, move him to the water Smile

Sagittorious · Posted: Jul 20, 2011 10:12 pm Post subject:

first things first take him to a pool and just chunk him in if he freaks out he's still too young, if he comes up laughing saying again again give the little guy the handle and tell him to hang on! lol Twisted Evil

Ky · Pop Shuvit Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 120 City: Houston

haha, I already do this with him, my brother has a pool so he's very comfortable in the water

hguthrie · Ollie Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 89 City: nsb

i have 7 and 8 yr old girls...we have tried with a jet ski and they made it up for a few but coulnt keep the rope from pulling them forward.
I m going to try that 0 hook ..seems like this could work.thanks for that idea Idea

..hope it works my girls realy want to wakeskate Exclamation