Kids are cool.....my two boys (8 & 11) have been riding for a couple years. I think both were on wakeboards at 6. We've had many small kids out on our boat and a couple years ago I came up with a pretty decent "method" of getting kids up. I get in the water with them on a knee board with an "aqua hook". With the hook I only have to hold on to the board, not the handle. With the other hand I hold the back of their wakeboard. As the pull starts I help make sure the back of the board gets down in the water and then steady it as they start to stand up. Once they stand and they seem somewhat stable, I let go and peel off to the side. On the knee board I can stay close enough to easily tell them directions. When they crash, I pull the handle from the hook and I'm floating there with them. That really helps the small kids from freaking out when they figure out they are out in the middle of the lake with the boat driving away. Some of the kids we've helped have been pretty small and it is tough for them to get turned on their back. Being right there in the water, I can help them get set for the next pull. I've had great success with this, and it usaully takes a couple times of getting up and then they are ready to dump the "old man training wheels". Keys to success are: knee board with Aqua hook, same length ropes, and a "smooth" driver (duh).
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