Name: |
fishing_graham
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 9:10:50 AM
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I am headed to the lake this weekend and wanting to get my 5 yo introduced to skiing and trying to make sure I go about this the best way. Anyone have any suggestions? I have seen the training ski and "sled" type as well. Anyone know where to buy those?
Thanks
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Name: |
LonghornBoater
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 11:37:27 AM
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I have an old set of wooden skis with a rope holding the toes together that you are welcome to try. Just email me at edcarman@atconsse.com or call me at 205-492-6412.
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Name: |
MartiniMan
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 1:03:05 PM
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I have probably gotten 20 kids up on skis the first time so I have a little experience. First of all a five year old might be intimidated being behind a boat so you need to prepare them for the pull, etc. My youngest daughter was 5 when she skied the first time and only wanted to be pulled by the jet ski until she was older. She now slaloms, wakeboard, knee board, etc. Also, make sure their pfd fits them and isn't too big. Really hard to get going when the pfd is blocking their view. Finally, find a nice quiet spot with few waves. It is really tough when there is a lot of waves.
The other thing I always tell them is the average number of tries to get up the first time is 8. That way they don't get discouraged when it doesn't happen right and the majority get up in fewer tries which gives them a boost of confidence. I also tell them up front that there are two phases in learning to ski. The first phase is getting up the first time. The next phase is staying up. I focus only on one phase at a time and I tell them that. I tell them once they get up they will pull in their arms and then they will fall. Happens every time.
Key words of advice to get up and keep it simple: keep your knees bent, tips out of the water, your arms straight and let the boat do all the work. All they have to do is hold on. Just be patient if they take multiple tries and look for fatigue. If they get tired they will never get up.
So get them up the first time and let them fall, usually backwards. When you come around after they get up tell them now that they know how to get up they have to resist the urge to pull in your arms when the rope goes slack. I tell them to keep their arms straight and stand on top of the skis and let the boat pull the rope tight again.
I would recommend using a starter ski set that has an attachment on the front that keeps the skis together. That is one of the biggest problems with the younger ones that can't keep them together.
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Name: |
lakngulf
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 2:34:09 PM
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Good info MartiniMan. Sounds like the voice of experience. My oldest grandson is 5, so I am sure the lessons are coming soon. We may come looking for you!!
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Name: |
Nancy Christine II
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids or adults? to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 4:38:09 PM
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This is good info. I am 38 and want to learn to ski. I have tried once and on the 3rd try I got out of the water then face planted and I had enough. It also may be the fact the operator of my boat had never tried to pull some one before and we both had no idea what we were doing. Maybe this will be the year I learn with that advice. Thanks MartinMan.
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Name: |
MartiniMan
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids or adults? to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 5:29:01 PM
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Learning to ski at 38 is a little more challenging because the older and bigger you are the longer it takes to get out of the water and the more effort it takes. My daughter came up so fast the first time that she freaked out and let go. After that she was fine.
If you fell forward it was probably because you got anxious as you came out and tried to stand up on the skis too soon which is face plant time or you may have gotten your weight too far forward when the boat started to pull you again. Try to keep your weight back until you start to feel the rope slacken and then stand straight up on the skis, keeping your arms straight and wait for the boat to begin to pull you again.
Its a funny sport, like riding a bike. Once you do it you can do it almost every time. With adults you will always get tired faster because it is more work so don't try too many times before you take a break but don't give up. But if you got up on the 3rd try you are definitely able to ski. Now once I get you up, I quickly try to get you outside the wake. Will be another fall either going out or coming in. I try to turn in the direction of the skier when they are coming in as that flattens the wake considerably. Hope you can do it because it is a lot of fun!!
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Name: |
Little Talisi
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids or adults? to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 6:18:04 PM
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Ulysses, I see this as a good week day afternoon, if NCII can get to the lake at that time during the week. Flat water, no other boats, a confidence builder.
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Name: |
Ulysses E. McGill
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids or adults? to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 6:26:59 PM
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I'm in. The biggest problem I have with teaching adults is keeping the beer away from them until they become proficient. I'll have her up on a surf board too.
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Name: |
Nancy Christine II
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids or adults? to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 6:35:16 PM
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Hey I am in and all for it.
If nothing other,,,,,, Just a fun time watching Heather Bust her Arss all after noon........
I know I will get some jabs for saying this, But, I trust John.... It would be fun to learn behind his ski boat. But the thing is,,,,,,, When can I get some time to come to the lake other than work. I was at the lake 2 times on Coosa 20, today and took 2 boat rides and never was able to get wet......
Sigh...... Some one twist my arm or shoot me please!!
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Name: |
GoneFishin
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Subject: |
Hey Nancy
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Date:
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6/3/2010 9:10:20 PM
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You have to agree to allow the non driver to video you, you edit it, and put it on U Tube with some music. It may well be a best seller.
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Name: |
Maverick
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Subject: |
Hey Nancy
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Date:
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6/3/2010 9:48:18 PM
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I say john c is the videophotgrapher and editor that way we get to see the whole unedited version. Nancy if you trust Ulysses after you fixed his wrecked waverunners you is crazy as you have not seen him drive his ski boat. I would suggest checking the fiberglass on the ski boat for battle scars prior to venturing out. Just a suggestion as better safe then sorry.
Ulyesses good luck as I am also teaching a very timit 40 year old lady to ski Friday. I would be willing to bet youhave better success than me as this lady gets scared riding in the tritoon when we take a bank turn at half throttle.
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well this sounds like fun. But it may be later before I can get a way. The SRV270 takes all my nights and the shop takes all my days for now... But maybe in 2 or 3 weeks we can all hook up and have a watch heather bust her bum party.. LOL mark it on the calenders. PS windows 7 blows chunks.... Got a new laptop today for my MEFI program..... but I will get used to it I guess.
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I'm thinkin' we would have a perfect opportunity on Saturday while your waiting so see if the 270 sinks.....I'll pick up Larry to run the camera and Dean can spot. BTW, I got the ebay handlebars and throttle assembly installed on the 1300 tonight after dinner....good as new!
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Name: |
William
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids to Ski
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Date:
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6/3/2010 10:48:03 PM
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I'm no expert but I think one of the most important things is to have 1 person in the boat telling the kid what to do. To me, there was nothing more frustrating to have 3 people in the dang boat yelling "BEND YOUR KNEES!! LEAN BACK!! KEEP YOUR SKIS TOGETHER!!, etc." And make sure you take him/her out early in the morning when the water is slick. Makes all the difference in the world.
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Name: |
rude evin
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids or adults? to Ski
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Date:
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6/4/2010 4:17:22 PM
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Good luck NCII...........you'll have a blast, been skiing a while, and back in 06 joined the over 60 ski crowd, and if I'm living I plan to join the over 65 ski crowd next year..........I hear Mav, and MavII just joined the over 70 ski crowd......
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Name: |
roswellric
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids to Ski
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Date:
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6/4/2010 5:16:36 PM
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Excellent. Well said. I wouldn't change any of your comments. I have a similar experience when I taught all the kids in my neighborhood how to ski at a young age. My kids at age 6-8 would drag a different bunch up to the lake every weekend and of course they had to ski.
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Name: |
Lady
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Subject: |
Teaching Kids to Ski
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Date:
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6/6/2010 8:54:18 PM
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My sister-in-law taught her kids to water ski by having them sit on a tube with the water skis on and, when comfortable, just stand up. Both nephews learned very quickly.
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