Teaching Kids to Ski

[jwroblew]

My daughter started riding a knee board off the swim platform when she was 3. We taught her the correct position while on the knee board, shoulders back arms straight hips up, etc. Moved to 2 skies tied together, her holding on to the rope, when she was 4, with an adult in shallow water. I think she got up on her second or third try. Her form was good right from the start. When she was 5 we had her get up on a slalom ski with my buddy on a set of jump skis around her to teach balance, below is a photo of April Coble Eller doing the same. She is 8 now and is working on running the course at 23 mph, and trick skiing.

As said before make sure your kid is looking up when trying a deep water start, stand up in the boat and wave at them and have them look at your hand. Also try to keep them from standing up to early. And pulling from a tower at 28 off works real good to, if you don't have a tower, and your kid is small and light, stand up in the back of the boat and brace your legs against the seat with the rope over your shoulder. Good luck.

[madcityskier]

Originally Posted by 03 35th Anniversary

Right now I'm trying to keep her feet up high enough she can't get them in the water for that reason. I'm just getting her used to the speed and being out there.

US Gear makes a Swing that I am waiting on before i start having her put her feet down. Only trick/tip to the way it is rigged up here is to make a sharp right turn when you stop so it lifts them out of the water while the boat comes to a stop.

I learned this swing trick from Keith StOnge. I'm sure if you call him (like I have planned to do) he can give you some good pointers.

On a sharp right turn the back of your boat will swing out to the left. Saw a guy get hit by the side of the hull once. Id let them get dunked and call it part of the fun rather than have the prop headed in their direction. You could always have someone move to the drivers side as you slow to keep them up if you want.

[DJ 50]

Ok, so we have moved on to the trainer skis that are tied together. My 5 year old was able to get up on the second try with someone in the water helping her hold the back of the skis down. We tried to do it with nobody helping her and we ran into a probelm. The skis float so well and she is so light, that she can't keep the skis from going to the side of her and then flipping her over. It's usually just the 3 of us at the lake so we can't be in the water to help her most the time. We thought of getting this but it just seems that this would take to much away from learning. Any one have this problem or have any thought?

http://www.bartswatersports.com/cata...8262/index.asp

[madcityskier]

Originally Posted by DJ 50

Ok, so we have moved on to the trainer skis that are tied together. My 5 year old was able to get up on the second try with someone in the water helping her hold the back of the skis down. We tried to do it with nobody helping her and we ran into a probelm. The skis float so well and she is so light, that she can't keep the skis from going to the side of her and then flipping her over. It's usually just the 3 of us at the lake so we can't be in the water to help her most the time. We thought of getting this but it just seems that this would take to much away from learning. Any one have this problem or have any thought?

http://www.bartswatersports.com/cata...8262/index.asp

Try weighting the backs of the skis. Works like a charm. It'll help get the kids more control as they're floating and kept the tips pointed up.