Kneeboarding for Amputee

[riptide09]

I am a left leg amputee. Very mobile for my condition and a lot of people while knowing that I walk with a limp, don't realize that I have a prosthetic leg. I am fairly athletic and in good shape.

Last year I tried to learn water skiing and then wakeboarding. To be honest the whole experience was humbling and extremely frustrating. I just don't have enough control over my prosthetic leg to get up and maintain for any length of time. Also if I wipe out there is better than a 50/50 chance my leg is coming off instead of coming out of the binding. That is really bad cause my stump can get seriously hurt that way.

I want to try kneeboarding this year. I am pretty sure I can do it without wearing my prosthetic leg. I think it will be safer and more enjoyable for me.

My basic question, any suggestions for a board, strap and tow rope. I am 6' even and weigh 185lbs.

Thanks in advance.

 

[samm835]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

That's cool your not letting your condition keep you from the water! I like to kneeboard, I can't suggest a board for you but I would go by a local shop and see if you can try on of their wider lighter boards. If you try it on at a shop atleast you will know which strap will fit you better. I don't know from experience but I would imagine getting up on a kneeboard would be safer and easier than wakeboarding ......again zero experience.....just thinking out loud. I have two kneeboards and both are very light and ski total different, when I get home tonight I will take pics and post them and give you what I think about each. Good luck on your find!

Check out this link, let me know if it helps any finding what your looking for.
Kneeboard Buyers Guide and Instructions | WaterSkis.com

 

[akorcovelos]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

Don't give up on wakeboarding, you just need to find the right setup. Check this kid out, pretty inspirational.

Sean Reyngoudt Amputee Wakeboarding and Kiteboarding - YouTube

Kneeboarding is awesome too, depending on where your leg ends a normal board/strap setup would work fine.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

There is a guy who rides a modified wakeboard on our lake (J Percy Priest in Middle Tennessee) and his wakeboard has something built up on it that he seems to strap into. I can't say more about it, because I have only seen him one time. If I see him again I will ask him about it.

With the kneeboards I am mixed. I almost wonder if you might want one of the less buoyant ones so that you can actually pull it under the water and position it under your knees just as you start? The more buoyant ones you just lay on and them pop up onto your knees after underway.

Heck, you might try contacting HO Water Sports since they have both types and try talking with them.

Anyway, please report back. I look forward to seeing you up and having a good time on a kneeboard!

 

[OneFoot81]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

Nice!! I am an amputee as well (BKA) and wakeboarding is great, stick with it. not sure what kind of setup you are using, I use an Alpha suction seal and liner, but that may be contribiuting to your leg coming out when you fall? You want to be TIGHT, I actually wear one size down on my seal/retention system than is usually comfortable day to day. Note how the rider (in video poted above) lays on the duct tape. Do that too. One other thing that helps me- you want to have your knees bent, toes ducked out- Raise you toes up all the way, and I even put a couple of lifts under just my heel, to make sure its easy to keep my knees bent, and roll over onto the toe side...lit a flexed ankle.

 

[riptide09]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

I also am a BK, left leg. I use an Iceross Dermo with suction fit. For my water leg I am using an older Flexfoot Mod III. Unfortunately no toe adjustment and no ankle on a Flexfoot. I am going to try a few more times with the skis before I give up. I don't actually own a wakeboard and that is part of the problem as I borrow one from one of my friends. I really feel like I had more and better control of the wakeboard than the skis.

I was looking at a kneeboard because I am sure I can do that and the kids, aged 7 and 9, could also start learning on it and graduate from the tube.

 

[OneFoot81]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

Last summer i upgraded to the Flexfoot lp rotate and i love it. For the water, i have been using a basic sach foot. I have an older flexfoot i want to modify to be a wakeboarding foot this summer. I agree about the skiing vs boarding. On land, i tried on the skis,and did not like how heavy it felt, am super nervous about being able to have enough control of it. Along the lines of going with snowboarding over skiing after i lost my leg ( and sowboarding was just gettingto be the cool thing then). I tried to get up in slalom stance a few times, unsuccessful so far.

I think a kneeboard would be a good idea to get a feel for being pulled, and looks like a good time. My GF is having trouble getting up on a board, so I have also beenlooking out for a kneeboard. Thinking Iwould definetly go without the leg, and hoping it would not feel lopsided, or require too much leaning back on the stump, which i am nervous about since you have to ratchet down the strap over your thighs? hoping to pick one up on the chep to check it out...

 

[riptide09]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

I had a Flexfoot Ceterus from 2005 - 2010. I loved that foot. I literally wore it out. I have been using a Freedom Innovations Renegade since early 2010. To be honest I am not a big fan and will most likely move back to a Flexfoot when it is time to replace it. With the exception of this foot I have been using various Flexfoots since 98 and I have never had any complaints.

If you want an inexpensive Kneeboard look at Over tons. They have several in the $150 price range that include rope and case.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Kneeboarding for Amputee

Awesome to hear you're going for it Riptide!

One of the guys that used to frequent one of my local lakes was a national champion kneeboarder and he used a medium sized ball under his butt. I've tried it and found it very helpful. You can inflate the ball to the appropriate firmness and size so that when you cinch down the strap, it presses your butt against the ball, not the backs of your legs. It also works as a shock absorber on landings. It can be difficult to get up on the board with the ball, but I think its worth it. A lot less strain on the hamstrings IMO.

Keep us posted with your progress, no matter what you decide to pursue.