Little Shredders

[Steven M]

So the stars finally aligned and it worked out where I was able to get my nephew out on the water and give wakeskaitng a try by himself. I had Sprocket America/ Grainwakeskates custom make him a 34.5" skate a few years back for Christmas but due to my constant moving around I never had a chance to really take him out.

He is now out of school for Summer and I live close enough to the Delta and our local cable parks that he is going to start riding.



I took him out behind ollieshuvitz boat this past weekend and did a few runs with both of us on my wakeskate before giving him his board and just chilling in the water helping him out.






He picked it up really quick but was getting tired from all the swimming and figuring out what to do. Towards the end he had everything dialed in and was getting up and riding about 35-50' but would slip out. He had some better runs that what I have on video but they weren't recorded. It was cool being in the water with him and just helping him out and letting him start to do more on his own with each attempt. Towards the end I was just out there talking to him while he got setup with the rope, board and telling Chris he was ready.







He kept sliding out once he would get on plane so I decided he needed some a fin on the rear of the board. Running a ProShop, I had access to some extra fins and wanted to make sure what ever I drilled would give him some options. Ended up going with a longer running Obscura fin and a smaller Remote fin he can use as he develops his board control.



I'm going to get him out on the local 2.0 on one of my days off and really let him get dialed in and riding along with more trips to the Delta.

[miller]

Yeeeaaahhh Great job
Get him out there

My six year old is getting this deck from Backwoods.
I hope to have him riding by the end of summer

[Steven M]

miller, nice!

What size are you making it?

His deck is 34.5" length at 14" width in the middle.. it fits him perfect and he will be growing into it over the next few years.

[miller]

I decided on a 38" .
It might be to big but I am sure backwoods could make me a smaller one if it is required

[Steven M]

miller, be sure to post up some pictures when it is all said and done!

Here are a few of the build pictures from my nephews skate. Like I said, it's a 34.5" and probably one of if not the smallest wakeskates ever made. I've ridden it a few times just messing around it a fun little board but my regular shoulder width stance has be right on the tail and right on the nose.

I wish it was a just an inch or so narrower on the width but he will grow into it and should be able shred it for a long while until he grows into a 38.5" skate or whatever else is available in 3-4 years.

[?]

Nice, awesome custom boards there! Interesting how Grain grinds out the concave with a grinder instead of building it up like some other companies. I wonder if that makes it a more durable skate??

[Steven M]

This skate is super thin compared to normal boards so the Grinded out concave may be a one off deal for this board. No clue if they do there production skates like that and keep in mind this was back in 2011.

[Steven M]

Took my nephew out behind ollieshuvitz boat on Sunday and he had a blast. His second time wakeskating and he is progressing really fast. Has no problem being out by himself, getting the board/rope setup and popping up everytime and figuring out his edging, balance and weight placement.

He was profiencent enough for me to ride doubles with him and grab some quick clips for him to show the family. So I put together a quick two minute deal of some of his runs. just him getting up, riding and a few falls. He did have one run where he was able to edge between the wakes a few times going heelside and toeside.

One of my best days on the water forsure!

[miller]

Steven M, yes!!!!
I can see a surface 180 in this kids very near future.

[Steven M]

miller, I'm just stoaked he is into it! All he wants to do is come out on the boat and ride.

For his second time riding he did way better than I thought he would and every time up he is learning more and figuring it out. When we were riding doubles I was able to give him pointers and he would know to do it the next time. If he fell he would tell me why he fell and what he needs to fix so that was awesome to watch him pick it up and realize what he was doing and how to fix it.

[miller]

Steven M, All i want to do is be on a boat and ride

[Steven M]

Dont we all!

When are you getting your boys out on the water? Have their skates arrived yet?

[miller]

Skates are here and have got the full carpet test.
We are on the boat every weekend.
Only problem is that I blew out my knee a couple weeks ago and have been disabled with that. I am going try and ride this weekend so hopefully I can get Owen going then

[miller]

Here are those skates

[Steven M]

Bummed to hear about that knee, I've already had ACL/Meniscus surgery and know those troubles all to well.

Those skates look awesome! Love the graphics on them. I will say the small fin I added to his board made a huge difference for him control wise. Found his happy medium of speed around 16-17mph. Too slow and he would have trouble sinking, too fast and he had no control to edge around.

[miller]

Knees suck!

He can edge pretty good on a snowboard and turn his skateboard anywhere he wants to go so he should be fine finless. I will bring my wife's deck that has a tiny fin just in case.

[Steven M]

Yea, my nephew only had the skateboarding background so the edging/board control is a little different. I'm sure coming from the snowboard background your boys will pick it up quick.

My nephew actually wants to try snowboarding this year after seeing all my pictures from last season. Im pumped he wants to give it a shot and come out with us.

[miller]

We tried today but no dice

[electricsnow]

Miller, what did you do to your knee?

[miller]

electricsnow, hyper extended it which dislocated my knee cap. My knee cap now doesn't track correctly.