My 8 year old wakesurfing....

[AJR1977]

Lots of people on here tubing with their kids and using the various kids learner boards...
Heres a video of one of my sons who's 8 waking surfing. This is his second summer of water sports, maybe 10 outings per summer? Last year he figured out how to wakeboard which is a little easier to get up due to the board not floating away. This year he decided he wanted to surf. I wasn't using any external ballast or a wake wedge in the video. I think if I was he might have been able to drop the rope? But he's having the time of his life back there and building huge amounts of confidence and self esteem!!!!!

 

[Scuba_ref]

Awesome! If you slow down a little he could go rope less without ballast or wedge!

 

[AJR1977]

Awesome! If you slow down a little he could go rope less without ballast or wedge!

Interesting.... That's about 10.2-10.5 when I use the wedge and ballast bag that's pretty much the sweetspot for me to cruise ropeless. You think without the wedge slower than that is better?

 

[Scuba_ref]

Earlier this year I had three teenage girls in the boat - two daughters and a friend - one of them had been wakeboarding and we were a ways from base camp when she finally tired out. I suggested that someone wake surf back and I filled zero ballast and don't have a wedge.

I let the wake show me what speed to go and she was able to go ropeless. I don't recall the speed now, but it was below 10mph. It wouldn't work for someone larger - she is barely over 100 lbs, and she couldn't do any tricks but she could ride about a mile back to camp.

 

[dan144k]

My 6 year old started kneeboarding this year.
I had to stand in the river to stabilize him and drag behind him for the start, but he stayed up well. He is not willing to try surfing yet

 

[swatski]

My 6 year old started kneeboarding this year.
I had to stand in the river to stabilize him and drag behind him for the start, but he stayed up well. He is not willing to try surfing yet

Or try ZUP 2.0
check post #1520
https://jetboaters.net/threads/one-picture-of-your-last-outing.7387/page-76#post-325597

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[SCP1]

7! I don’t have great pictures but he has had slack in the rope. At the rate I’m going he will be ropeless before me as I never have a driver and he always has one!

 

[MGoMike]

Lots of people on here tubing with their kids and using the various kids learner boards...
Heres a video of one of my sons who's 8 waking surfing. This is his second summer of water sports, maybe 10 outings per summer? Last year he figured out how to wakeboard which is a little easier to get up due to the board not floating away. This year he decided he wanted to surf. I wasn't using any external ballast or a wake wedge in the video. I think if I was he might have been able to drop the rope? But he's having the time of his life back there and building huge amounts of confidence and self esteem!!!!!

Sweet! What is the board he is riding? I’ve got a couple boys around his size and want to try them wakesurfing. Of course, all of this hinges upon me getting our first boat... planning on a 2019 212x in the spring.

 

[Jgorm]

5 and 7yo. Tubes suck.

 

[SCP1]

Not sure what he likes best. As much as I want to master surfing I get a lot more enjoyment out watching this. This is why why we have a Yamaha, from this we pull up to the sand bar and let the kids play on the sand.

 

[AJR1977]

Sweet! What is the board he is riding? I’ve got a couple boys around his size and want to try them wakesurfing. Of course, all of this hinges upon me getting our first boat... planning on a 2019 212x in the spring.

Its a Ronix powertail kids board (or certainly the smallest one they make)

 

[Scuba_ref]

Awesome! If you slow down a little he could go rope less without ballast or wedge!

@JDRacing - Not sure why this quote needed a "Bummer Dude" rating.

 

[JDRacing]

That was a mistake from big thumbs and small icons on my phone while reading this thread. Sorry about that.

 

[DavisAR195]

Just ordered my daughter a wake surf board from WakeMakers taking advantage of their black Friday deals and the Yamaha discount code for an extra 10% off. Cannot wait for summer and getting her started after all it's all about creating memories for the little ones.

 

[Scottintexas]

Just ordered my daughter a wake surf board from WakeMakers taking advantage of their black Friday deals and the Yamaha discount code for an extra 10% off. Cannot wait for summer and getting her started after all it's all about creating memories for the little ones.

Two thumbs up for this! it's about memories but it's also a great confidence builder, have they wakeboarded before? not a prerequisite but would be helpful, just feeling of being towed, if not maybe try to get a ride with somebody close by so they can see it in person and know what success looks like before they try it, even if they just sit on the board and get towed around to get the feeling, keep it a positive experience!

 

[swatski]

Just ordered my daughter a wake surf board from WakeMakers taking advantage of their black Friday deals and the Yamaha discount code for an extra 10% off. Cannot wait for summer and getting her started after all it's all about creating memories for the little ones.

Which one did you get?
We have literally been using one single board - by my entire family, lol, a 59” Hyperlite Quad. It is an unbelievably good board but... just a little unfair to the 12yo..., lol.

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[DavisAR195]

@Scottintexas She is only 4 1/2 but she has already wake boarded with me the last two summers and tubed on her own. I really thought about starting her out on her own wake board but after considering two factors, #1 it will be difficult for her to flip the board on her own in the water while strapped in and #2 the higher speeds of wake boarding compared to wake surfing. I plan on starting her on her knees and then moving to close starts with me on the back deck helping her.

@swatski Since she will only be 5 next summer I wanted to start her out on a smaller board, so I picked up the Hyperlite Gromcast 3' 9" for $214.19.

 

[swatski]

@Scottintexas She is only 4 1/2 but she has already wake boarded with me the last two summers and tubed on her own. I really thought about starting her out on her own wake board but after considering two factors, #1 it will be difficult for her to flip the board on her own in the water while strapped in and #2 the higher speeds of wake boarding compared to wake surfing. I plan on starting her on her knees and then moving to close starts with me on the back deck helping her.

@swatski Since she will only be 5 next summer I wanted to start her out on a smaller board, so I picked up the Hyperlite Gromcast 3' 9" for $214.19.

We have had amazing success with 5-6 yos on the ZUP2.0. I think last season my wife has been responsible for at least 4 families ordering one after she showed them what to do.
It is also amazing for adults with no experience, regardless of physical shape and ability.



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