Youngest Wakeboarder

(plhorn) · (plhorn) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 11-10-2006, 10:57 PM

I've got a two year old son and wanted to know when I should get him on a board. How many more seasons do I need to wait to get him goin'? Who's got the youngest kid wakeboarding?

(midwesty) · (midwesty) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 11-10-2006, 11:44 PM

i would think when they have enough strength to be able to turn themselves over in the water should they land face down.

(partyb) · (partyb) **Join Date: Dec 2001** 11-11-2006, 1:18 AM

We taught my friends kid when he was 4. That's getting up on his own, he was tubing and standing on the board while being held between the legs before that.

(aden_g) · (aden_g) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 11-11-2006, 2:29 AM

Parks skied when he was 6 months, or something like that :-)

(markcabo40) · (markcabo40) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 11-11-2006, 7:06 AM

I got my girls this towable boogie board. Can't remember what its called. The rope runs through the board and has a handle on it. They started out being on there knees and then learned to stand up on it and cross over the wakes. They were 4 and 6 when I got it. They loved it. Now they each have there own wake boards and love the sport.

(jamie_lamar) · (jamie_lamar) **Join Date: Mar 2004** 11-11-2006, 7:28 AM

Make sure he/she is able to swim and keep their head up if face down in the water. My little tried at 3 1/2-4 and wasn't strong enough to hold on, but the next summer hi was up and going. Try to get a smaller diameter handle with a rubber grip for little hands.

And please take you time, and don't push it, it will come if "they" want to...

(kkasey) · (kkasey) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 11-12-2006, 5:29 PM

My little one learned at 3 last year and competed in the INT events this year making it to the national championships. He turned 5 one month before the championships.

(ronnyboy27) · (ronnyboy27) **Join Date: Nov 2005** 11-13-2006, 8:00 AM

I think it was 9 months for parks. Which is crazy since my kid couldn't even walk at 9 months.

(mnwakerider) · (mnwakerider) **Join Date: Jun 2004** 11-13-2006, 8:45 AM

In the ronix Podcasts Parks makes a reference to being 6 months when he first got up. Its also in the Guniess (sp?) Book of World Records if you can find it.

(ttrigo) · (ttrigo) **Join Date: Dec 2004** 11-13-2006, 9:45 AM

I would wait till they can turn themselves over in the water. that would be very important.
I believe Parks was six months old. I think he was featured on the show 'Thats Incredible!'.

(ronnyboy27) · (ronnyboy27) **Join Date: Nov 2005** 11-13-2006, 10:38 AM

that is so crazy.

(stephan) · (stephan) **Join Date: Nov 2002** 11-13-2006, 11:20 AM

Have you guys seen the video of Parks barefooting at like 4 and just getting ruined? That was a hilarious video, little kid took a beating.

(hal2814) · (hal2814) **Join Date: Feb 2006** 11-13-2006, 1:15 PM

Physical ability is important. You child will at least need to be able pull up, hang on, and turn over. I'd make sure they can swim even though that isn't technically neccessary. But more importantly is mental preparedness. Do they want to wakeboard (without you pushing them to)? If not and you push them into it too early, then they will at best find it unenjoyable and at worst get hurt because they're not paying attention. There is no perfect age really.

(dekay) · (dekay) **Join Date: Sep 2006** 11-25-2006, 8:56 PM

I know that Jodi Hansen wanted to beat Parks so they got there son up (Trevor) when he was 4 months old.

(byrd) · (byrd) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 11-25-2006, 9:02 PM

The hardest part is being able to turn over if they go face first. If they can do that everything else is a piece of cake...

(coldlake) · (coldlake) **Join Date: Oct 2006** 11-27-2006, 5:55 AM

I'd recommend starting with something like the "Ski Skimmer" you can get at Overtons or elsewhere. Much easier start, and a way to build up their confidence. Less likely to take the kind of spill that will scare a young one off. Once they get used to standing up behind the boat and feel a little confident try the sport you're after. My $0.02
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/overtons/detail/pdetail2.cgi?r=detail_view&item_num=11204

(plhorn) · (plhorn) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 11-27-2006, 8:06 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going with the ski skimmer. Whenever I'm behind the boat I see my wife doing all she can to keep Nate from jumping in the water to join Dad. I doubt that convincing him will be tough... convincing my wife into letting him, that's a different story...