Help with getting kids up surfing

[jason1973]

Just looking for any tips to help get my 10 yr old up on a surf board. He really wants to surf.

he is 5'6" and weighs about 60lbs or so. I have him on one of my boards right now that may be too big. Happy Pill designed for 200 lbs.. I am thinking the board is the problem, as he may not be able to muscle a large board out of the water. Anyone agree? and any tips on how to get small kids up and riding the wave?

[jcredible]

My kids use a kids specific board and it makes it easier for them to muscle their way to getting the board control for pulling up.(and they are 45-50 lbs)

I would recommend a kids specific board or at minimum a skim style that is easier to move around.

[MJHSupra]

Yes, smaller board will help a lot.

Teaching the correct foot placement is essential - starting and once up on the board.

One of the hardest items is teaching them to flip the board when starting. This is resting their feet on the board, then pushing the board down with their heels to get in the correct position. Kids cannot do this with big boards. There is also a method they can use with holding the board up with their hand and holding the rope with the other.

Correct driving is also needed. Having the youngster on the side of the wake so they are not directly behind the boat. Tying the wake rope on the side of the tower. Going slow as you are starting when they are getting their feet and board in the correct position

[cucv]

Personally I think you can get him up on that board. I have a cheap beginner board that is actually very large at 5'4" so it helps them go wireless quickly and it sinks easily for beginners to angle over with a touch of heal pressure making it easier to get up out of the water.
My son is 8 and is now surfing on my NSP Fish 60 which I would guess has 50% more volume than your board making it tougher for kids to get up on.
For tips: with the boat just above idle my son can pull himself out of the water on the board, then I accelerate to surf speed.
When pulling them up, turn to the surf side so the surfer is not in the prop wash when the are getting up and don't have to drop in on the wave when they get up. You can hook the tow rope to the surf side of the tower instead of the center.

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[jcredible]

I would say the difference in a smaller girl at 100-120 lbs with Phase 5 Skim vs. a bigger Liquid Force Rocket is huge in getting the baord under vs. sliding on the surface. Smaller baords with little kids make a big difference in my opinion!

[Turbinesurgeon]

Just my 2 cents but I think you can teach on that board unless the kid is super small. I’ve taught many kids to surf on out LF Rocket made for people up to 220lbs. The trick I teach kids and adults is to keep your arms straight the whole time. It really takes little muscle to get up if your letting the boat do the work. The next step to teach them is as soon as the boat powers up is to slide your heels to your rear end. As soon as there is water pressure under the board your going. The boards will flip itself and there really is no need to push it down. The next thing I teach them is to stay crouched until they get over to the wave. The bigger boards aren’t really harder to get up but they aren’t as easy for the kids to maneuver when they’re up and the board is faster with a light person on it.


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[sandm]

biggest thing that has helped us get noobs up is to tie the rope off on the side of the tower. center has a habit of pulling noobs into the middle of the wash. outside helps keep them outside the wake.

[jcredible]

I spent a week on the water with a bunch of first timers:

1) 10 year old at ~90 lbs
a. struggled to figure out initially with skim style board.
b. We used the kids board to get him used to feet placement and popping board up.
c. Once he figured out that movement...we put him back to skim and he got it every time.

2) 13 year old at ~110 lbs
a. Skim first time and no problem.
b. Moved to the bigger Rocket for 3 fin stability.

3) 15 year less coordinated kid at ~130 lbs
a. no hope in using the rocket as she couldn't get the pressure on her heels.
b. Had more success with the skim style

4) 8 year old that is tiny at maybe 50 lbs
a. She has really good success with the kids Connelly board.
b. She gets up every time...but not sure she could manhandle a full sized board.
c. I think I could pull her up by hand she makes it look so easy and is so light!


Lesson learned is that every kid once they have it can basically get under it.....but we take for granted how tricky it is to even keep the board straight the first few times you try it!

[uniwarking]

Try the aquabuddy... my 10 year old had been struggling to get up all season and was so frustrated to the point of loosing interest. Bought this bad boy and he was up right away... he only needed it one more time out before he was pretty consistent in getting up and now he doesn't want to quit! I think you could probably use another floaty or a tube but this thing is super slick and you could use it for other learning kids or even adults.

https://www.overtons.com/rave-aqua-buddy-trainer-314026.html

My son also rides the Phase 5 Scamp board... it's a solid board for kiddos all ages/size from what we've experienced.

[jason1973]

thanks to all!!! i got him up today, and one of the best tricks was just letting the board push his knees to his rear end. When i learned it was always push down with your heels but he doesn't have that kind of strength especially on a 4' 11" adult board. Just told him to let the board collapse his legs and keep his arms straight. He got up and out.. now we have to work on riding which is a whole nuther thing.. I did order him a liquid force Gromi which should work a lot better for him. Its a kids board at 3'11". thanks for the help

[jason1973]

Try the aquabuddy... my 10 year old had been struggling to get up all season and was so frustrated to the point of loosing interest. Bought this bad boy and he was up right away... he only needed it one more time out before he was pretty consistent in getting up and now he doesn't want to quit! I think you could probably use another floaty or a tube but this thing is super slick and you could use it for other learning kids or even adults.

https://www.overtons.com/rave-aqua-buddy-trainer-314026.html

My son also rides the Phase 5 Scamp board... it's a solid board for kiddos all ages/size from what we've experienced.

yep, was gonna anchor a tube and let him sit on the tube and pull him off there but he wanted no part of it. Said "i am going to do this the right way or not do it at all"..

[Zog]

We have the Happy Pill and it is way too big for a kid that light. He will not be able to flip it. Get a smaller board. One other thing that may help is to have someone in the water with him to help him a) flip the board and b) pull himself up. We had two 9 year olds learning last week and that was super helpful. The person in the water bobbed around for a while until we had someone on a jet ski go out with the crew and pick her up. Both kids were able to do super well and even dropped the rope after a couple days. After a few times with assistance they were even able to get up without any help. Good luck!

[Turbinesurgeon]

thanks to all!!! i got him up today, and one of the best tricks was just letting the board push his knees to his rear end. When i learned it was always push down with your heels but he doesn't have that kind of strength especially on a 4' 11" adult board. Just told him to let the board collapse his legs and keep his arms straight. He got up and out.. now we have to work on riding which is a whole nuther thing.. I did order him a liquid force Gromi which should work a lot better for him. Its a kids board at 3'11". thanks for the help

Works every time


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[MJHSupra]

thanks to all!!! i got him up today, and one of the best tricks was just letting the board push his knees to his rear end. When i learned it was always push down with your heels but he doesn't have that kind of strength especially on a 4' 11" adult board. Just told him to let the board collapse his legs and keep his arms straight. He got up and out.. now we have to work on riding which is a whole nuther thing.. I did order him a liquid force Gromi which should work a lot better for him. Its a kids board at 3'11". thanks for the help

Once they get up, focus on having correct foot placement. Some people do not teach riders where to put the front foot.

If they learn to hold the rope with the front-hand, they will position their shoulders/hips correctly.

Another skill to teach them before they want to be dropping the rope is the "gas" and "brake". Little ones will learn real fast how to move up/back on the wave. Plus they have more room. I have been teaching them to point with their front hand pass the tip of the board into the wave to move forward. This will move their weight forward on the board.

Another trick to move forward that works with older kids is to get them not to stand flat-footed on the back leg. If you get the back foot to stand on their toes (heel not on the board), that will also move weight forward and shoot them forward. It takes more balance but works.

[jimmsch]

thanks to all!!! i got him up today, ...

next step...barefooting!