New Ski Skimmer....anyone have it or tried it?
 

My 15-month old is anxiously awaiting warm water and I'm hoping to get her up on a skimmer this year. She absolutely loves the water and is learning the skateboard, so I think she'll have the balancing thing down and be ready to go. I came across this new type of skimmer, and wondered if any of you either have one and have used one. I'd love your opinions as to its functionality with 'real' kids and if, perchance, your child has outgrown it and you want to sell :)

http://www.bartswatersports.com/catalog.asp?P=73074

No experience here, but I would love to see some video of your 15 mo skateboarding!

We got that last year for my niece to use behind the boat. She was using it all summer, and loved it. Pretty stable. She was able to stand up fine on it. She started using in in like July and turned 3 in the end of August. My dad was satisfied with the purchase.

I I bought this last year, it looks & I found it to be more stable for the kids than the other trainers out there. It is bulkier than I thought & somewhat tough to store on the boat but it works great IMO. My son was about 20 mos last summer and while we never used it behind the boat we did use it in the pool and around the shoreline. He loved the tubing and this year we are looking FWD to using it behind the boat this year and can't wait to see the smile on his face( as well as mine ).

i just bought one too, should be here today! The reviews are excellent, not a single negative!

a 15 month old child can ride one of those while being pulled behind a boat? holy cow.

I'm not sure she'll be able to...but I have hopes. She sits on my longboard and I pull her around on the street with a rope while she holds a wakeboard handle, and she stands balancing and holds my legs while I ride the Indo board...add that to the fact that she LOVES water and I'm hoping its a go. I mean, Parks did ski at 6 months...my girl is no Parks, but I don't think its out of the realm of possibility for her to start this summer.

Thanks for all the responses guys, I appreciate the quick feedback. I'll post pics from this summer when she (hopefully) rides.

Yeah, I have 4 kids (8,6,4,2) I have been looking at these since last year. None of my kids ski or wakeboard yet, so this may be just the thing to help build some confidence. Of those that have it, everyone likes it, it seems. $189 sucks, but for us with 4 kids I have to believe they would use it. Oldest loves tubing, but want to get her to wakeboard, any thoughts there? How to train that?

We went to OWC in mid March and Cobe had that one and one that fit a wakeboard. My friend's son tried the wakeboard one and it worked well. You can see both in the photo below. I don't know where either came from. Since he is a Obrien rep, it might be from them.

The ski trainer is a great confidence builder. My daughter started riding hers at age 6, she loves it! This year it's time for the board!

Attachment 2399

What are you riding in the picture Dave?

I've been eyeing those as well and I think the one Aaron posted looks liek the most stable / easiest to learn on. I've got another year or better though, mine just turned 8 months.

I picked one up in March. I have been pulling the kids around the yard in it , since the water is still too cold to risk putting them behind the boat. Seems pretty stable.

I bought mine at Overton's for $169 with free shipping. It just arrived yesterday and it seems very well-made. It has a plywood bottom for stability. Pulled the kids around the living room last night and they loved it! That green/purple one above is a great idea!

I was messing around in the back yard today and working with my little guy on his bike. Then I remembered this thread and thought I would try out some things. First I used a skateboard and pulled the little guy around, which worked, but turning was not possible. SO then I got thinking and used an old bike pump and a radio flyer. I ran the rubber air hose through the handle of the radio flyer so that it would pick up the steering and all of the tension is on the pump handle. videos below. BTW William is 20 months.

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Jeremy, it's an ironing board!

(No, actually it's a wakesurfer) :)

The Ski Trainer Tubes you see with Cobe there are from Ronix/Radar.

These have been amazing for kids!!! Everybody raves about them, such a good way to learn and build confidence in those early years.