Kids Learn to Ride !!!!

parky · Kickflip Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 3193

Hey,

Over the past couple years, I have had the chance to teach a few people to learn how to wakeskate or wakeboard... but this past Saturday I had the opportunity to be a part of one of the most rewarding events I have ever taken part in...

Every year North Shore Waterski Club (out of North Vancouver) hosts a Kids Learn to Waterski event at a local pool.... they rent out the local swimming pool, built a pully system that incorperates two handles (one for the rider and one for the runners) ... We had kneeboards, two skis and a butt load of kids vests.... 15 kids from the age of 3-7 attended ... I couldn't believe how some kids were so stoked to try out some of these sports that they have never done before..... the theory behind this event is to get them stoked on the sport early with out putting them through the atmoshpere of cold and wide open ocean riding which most of these families take part in riding in Deep Cove... It was really cool for me to see the smiles on these kids faces when I caught them at the end of the pool and giving them high fives when they were stoked for getting across for the first time on two skis...

Well the best part, something I never thought was going to happen ... these two 7 year old girls started playing with my wakeskate in the water and wanted to try.... with out thinking twise that they would even be able to get up, I showed them the normal drill, knees bend, arms staright.... and bamm, like first try both of them were rippin it across the pool...... for me, it was like if I had a kid and i was watching it take its first steps.... so proud! haha

I would like to thank Scott (deepcove) for inviting me out to this event...

check out these photos.... thats me in the second one raising the roof for Paige!!!

edrex · Backside 180 Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 1020 City: NorCal

That is awesome!! Congrats on being part of something those kids will remember as a great part of thier childhood!
Can you give some more details on how the pulley system worked? It's a great idea to start kids in the pool, and if its not too hard to set up I could try it at a local pool.

Jordan Sprague · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

thats so sick dude i would love to have been in your shoes during that those kids are prolly so stoked thanks to you

-=AlexXx=- · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 8:36 am Post subject:

little rippers!!!! gj parky, giving to the community rawks bro. really great you took time outa your day to do this. getting kids pumped about the sport we all love.

conwest · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 8:42 am Post subject:

parky, thats so awesome. Those girls will probably go pro now because of you haha

deepcove · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 9:20 am Post subject:

Raven · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 10:48 am Post subject:

That girl looks so stoked, good steez parky.

VonBoggin · Backside 180 Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 1666 City: Austin

YES!!! i love teaching new people. I kinda had the same story once when i was teaching a little camp. same age group and kids a bit older. all of them wanted to learn how to ski/wakeboard/kneeboard. More than half of them after they got up were wanting to try out my bi level. I of course didnt know what to tell them but go for it. most of them got up their first try. and almost all of them told there parents they wanted one as soon as we got to the docks. most rewarding experience ever

awesome job you guys Very Happy

Jeff_Knox · Backside 180 Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 712 City: J-ville

damn this is sweet... i am the manager of a local pool and we have all kinds of camps and swimming clinics and stuff... i wonder what the supervisor would say if i wanted to close the pool for a few hours for a wakeskating clinic behind the winch... that would be so sweet

GOLD!en · Backside 180 Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 505 City: Edwards

oh man thats so awesome! what a great way to help promote watersports. i wish more people were doing this in my area.

TannerC · Backside 180 Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 1694 City: Nanaimo

Thats super sick guys, congrats.

Deepcove,Parky: Ill be your third anytime, give me 2 days notice and ill be over here. Im here everyweekend right now. Im a 2 minite walk away from deepcove right now actually. The water is Butter. 250-739-3097 call me, we shall wakeskate sometime soon.

Thats sick though keep it up.

tribal · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 11:44 am Post subject:

Deepcove Are you going to hold another one of these this summer?
Or how do I find out about next years event so I can get my son there.

parky · Kickflip Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 3193

thanks for all the props guys....

tribal, they only do one of them a year.... but pm scott and he will give you what ever info you need because his kids attend.... the next will be around this time next season....

deepcove · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject:

BB · Backside 180 Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1706

how exactly did you keep the kids from hitting the other side of the pool, just stop them and let them sink?? and you deep started them or started them sitting down on the edge like at a cable park??

parky · Kickflip Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 3193

bryanbryanbb08, one person would be at the other end ready to stop them... it might sound difficult but it was quite easy to stop them... at the starting end one of the Dads would hold them up in the water so it wasn't a full on deep water start but more so than sitting on the side...