Speed & board recommendation for 8yr old

(charliep) · (charliep) **Join Date: May 2004** 07-24-2006, 10:04 AM

Borrowed a neighbors 121cm hydroslide renegade wakeboard for my 8 yr old to try wakeboarding (just learned to ski in the past few weeks) and am curious what speed I should pull him. Started off as slow as 8mph and have him up to 12 but wasn't sure what is best (Mastercraft 205V- no ballast). The wake is huge compared to his size so it is difficult to get over (wake is all wash).

Also, I'd like to get him his own board for use in our home lake but am unsure on size. He's 8yrs old, 60 lbs. I like the looks of the Hyperlite State 125 but it is $350 and I found the Hydroslide board for $150. He could use the Hyperlite for longer, but I don't want him to be overwhelmed or pay for a lot more board than he really needs while he is just learning basics.

It's such a rush to see him out there riding now. He's a good athlete, but not the most adventurous at trying new things.

Thanks!

(ghostrider_2) · (ghostrider_2) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 07-24-2006, 10:08 AM

look at the motive 109 by hyperlite, call RV or Mike at Grizzly sports I got my son his set up with binding for a VERY, I mean VERY good price..

(keith2002) · (keith2002) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 07-24-2006, 10:40 AM

Our 7 year old rides a Hyperlite Voyager 121. I got it on ebay a couple years ago for our now 12 year old. They both ride at 19.5 mph. The 12 year old wants to speed up a little to clean up the wake.

Here is an ebay link to a similar board.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hyperlite-Voyager-121-Wakeboard-with-Spin-Boots-NEW_W0QQitemZ150013803048QQihZ005QQcategoryZ47363Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(charliep) · (charliep) **Join Date: May 2004** 07-25-2006, 7:46 PM

Thanks guys! He was very comfortable on the 121 Hydroslide and I'm wondering if I should go bigger for the longer term. His boarding will be up this year in a couple of weeks and I'll probably buy after Labor Day. At what point do kids outgrow a ~120cm board?
Stopped by a shop today and the guy recommended the Jobe Sect 120 and said it would last him at least a year. I was surprised at this because I was guessing it would last several years at least.

(ghostrider_2) · (ghostrider_2) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 07-25-2006, 7:58 PM

Since my boy is only 2 and riding the 109 I don't know, I'm not sure when mine will grow out of the 109, since he is already 40inches tall and 40 pounds I have wondered if I should have gone with the 119 so it might last a few extra yrs.

But when is big to big??

Maybe we can get an WW expert to chime in....

(mitchj) · (mitchj) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 07-25-2006, 10:32 PM

19.5 miles per hour for 7 years old is hauling the freight .

(mobv) · (mobv) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 07-26-2006, 3:24 AM

I tried the buy big and let my son grow into it strategy when he was 11. We went to a hyperlite demo day and he tried a 124. There was a huge diffference in his ability to control the board. Accelerated his progression. Five years later he is up to a 135. The most he used a board was 2 seasons, most were one season. Another factor in that is the amount of use. We have averaged over 200 hours/year on our boat, plus he rides with friends several times each year. Equipment takes a beating.

robertt 07-26-2006, 4:38 AM

I started my son out at about 15mph until he was able to jump one side of the wake. Crashes hurt less, etc.

Once he could edge and jump, I bumped it up to 18mph. I kept it at that for a while, until a pro told me that 19.5 - 20 is perfect for my 12 year old.

I keep it there now, hardens up the wake a little. It took him a day to get used to the extra speed, but after that it was not an issue.

If they are just learning, I say go as slow as possible while making sure that the board is planning up high on the surface. The minimum for my son when he was about 60 pounds was 15mph. Only took a day of that though before we started cranking it up so he did not get so wore out.

(smokedog2) · (smokedog2) **Join Date: Dec 2004** 07-26-2006, 6:23 AM

ditto 15 mph

ERA 124 with CWB hindge bindings

(mitchj) · (mitchj) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 07-26-2006, 6:24 AM

If a 7 year old 45 - 65 lb kid catches a edge at 19.5 mph and face plants hard chances are he is not going to want to do it again for awhile .Most little kids can ride at 10 mph for a few days then gradualy pick it up to 15 or 16 then I guess if a kid rips then go from there .

(keith2002) · (keith2002) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 07-26-2006, 8:41 AM

I pulled our 7 year old at 14.5 the first time last year when he was 6 and he immediately charged the wake. After 5 minutes he gave me the thumbs up and we got up to 17. This year he had to go as fast as our 12 year old. He has taken a couple of good face plants and but has a never give up attitude. The kid is EXTREME with everything he does.

(innov8) · (innov8) **Join Date: May 2005** 07-26-2006, 8:57 AM

Check out the CWB Charger 119cm and the CWB Surge 125cm, both great kid boards with molded fins and all. The Charger is up to 109lbs and the Surge is up to 130lbs.

(wkbrd) · (wkbrd) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 07-26-2006, 9:25 AM

I saw this 7 year old girl at USA Wakeboard Nationals this past weekend riding a LF Star 124 board riding 23mph (yes twenty-three) doing all sorts of HUGE wake to wake 180's, grabs, just killing it. I think she won her division. She had almost everyones attention on the shore. I will try to find her name.