Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

[tmh]

Hi. I have a 19' I/O boat with the pop-up ski tow mounted on top of the back of the boat so it's not raised. . I doubt i'll ever get a pole for wakeboarding or the like so i'm wondering just how difficult wakeboarding is when the tow point isn't so high up?

My kids are 8,10,12 ...how hard for them to learn to wakeboard (with my current setup) compared to learning to water ski? The two older ones are very beginner water skiers (got up a few times last summer) and the younger one will be trying it new this year.

 

[tommays]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

IMHP getting up on TWO water skis is the easiest thing to learn because you do not have as many balance issues when you get up and there is really only one way to do it


Wakeboarding is not that hard BUT you get into issues about which foot is forward ,how the boots are set on the board ect


You can get up on a wakeboard like a salmon ski BUT most people start sideways and then turn the board after they get up with the left foot forward being natural and the right foot forward being called goofy


Tommays

 

[RC]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

Do they skateboard or snowboard? Either of those two and they will have no issues learning. I would start them right with the wakeboard. It is easy, a few tries and they will be fine. Absolutely no problems with your current set up. You don't need a tower or a pole or a nice inboard to be a good wakeboarder. Just get them out there and have a great time.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

patience is the main thing, they will get frustrated enough, don't yell at them. especially if one can do it, and the others have a problem getting the hang of it. actually the one that can do it, can give his siblings the best advice.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

Your current setup will be just fine especially at this stage. Towers help a bit on startup but were really designed for big air. When jumping high the tower pulls from a lot higher angle, not trying to pull you back down to the water like a stern mount tends to do. When getting kids up on skiis use the ones that have a rope or bar at the tips to control the skiis from doing the splits it helps a lot. Plus if you can have a few people in the water, deep enough for skiis but shallow enough for an adult to stand with head above water they can help those first few times to get the feel. Make sure the skiier isn't too eager to stand up the lower you can stay at first the better it keeps the skiis under you better. Let the boat do the work always if you try to do too much you will fall and get frustrated quickly. As for wakeboarding the best way I have found to get people up is to get the board on on the swimdeck cause they can be very awkward to get on in the water esp. for a beginner. Once they have the handle have them get into a ball with their knees touching the insides of their elbows. Have the edge of the board about 1"-1 1/2" out of the water, pull slack out of rope, stay leaned back, when they say hit it I like to put the hammer down just to get them up then back off slowly. Once up 14-20 mph is plenty for kids and beginners. Don't worry about the board once the water starts to push against the fins on the bottom it will automatically turn it straight. Once up it's just practice, practice, practice. You can't really teach balance but kids are good at figureing it out rather quickly. Good luck, have fun, most importantly always be safe and remember the person behind the boat is in control you are just the driver. Oh yeah make sure everyone knows hand signals and uses them to tell you what they want.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

With a light 15' trihull, how my hp outboard does in take to bring up a wakeboard.

 

[tmh]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

Well, with boating season finally on the horizon here, I wanted to re-visit this Wakeboard or Water Ski question. Lots of good ideas above, but I still can't decide whether to focus on wakeboarding or water skiing with the kids this year.

My #1 thing is them getting up and having some success. Also, I wonder if water skiing is so "out" compared to wakeboarding....although my kids are young enough still that they won't care much about that.....yet.

Also, my older boys are approx. 85-95 lbs so I assume the same skiis or board. Th younger is closer to 50 lbs so i think he'd need different equipment, correct? Would the bigger and smaller kids be better off with wakeboard vs. skis or visa versa?

Lastly, getting the equipment on correctly and laying in the water for the start.....I find especially younger kids struggle with this on skiis, what about wakeboards. any easier?

Thanks.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

In my experience with younger kids they naturally want to kick their legs, very hard to do with a wake board they usually end up thrashing around so much they are spent by the time everything is ready to go. Biggest key is a good jacket and keep telling them to RELAX and lay on their back. This is when you the driver really comes into play need to get that rope to them and slacked out quick so they can concentrate on what there doing not swimming for the handle etc. I guess I'm too old school but I have been competative slalom skiing my whole life so I like skiis. Either way you go they kind of tie togather in that the kids need to get the experience of being up on the water and moving and realizing that when you fall its not all that bad. Once this experience is gained then they will progress quickly on anything they do behind the boat. Even though as you say skiing is "out" theres nothing prettier than watching someone who can rip hit the lake early morning or at sunset throwing up those water walls, man I'm stoked just thinking about it. Also there are still alot of university's that support slalom teams and have lots of guys and gals on the team. As far as your equipment the skiis might be a bit big for the youngest but might not, if his feet will cinch up in the boots I'd give it a go. Have some adult friends,wife,relatives, etc in the water at first to help with the getting up it makes a big difference. If you have a hard time keeping the skiis on try an old pair of tennis shoes on then put skiis on it helps. When I was real young my first time on the water was in front of my dad he used two slalom skiis, I was in the front boots and he in the rear we took off from the beach it was awesome. Whatever you decide on have fun and keep encourageing them some get it first couple of tries some take a bit longer. Kids also really enjoy knee boards the ones now have the aqua hook which makes getting up almost automatic.

 

[shorts&chanclas]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

Younger kids often need some ski technique practice on dry land first. Get them geared up, show them the form, let them grab the tow rope and pull them up. do that a few times. Skis are a little bit harder to control before start. it may help if you have someone in the water behind them holding the back of the skis.

for wakeboard the only technique i can think of is keep the board horizontal and as the board pushes you up on plane you point your toes slightly and kick the proper foot forward and let the boat pull you to your feet. The Board is probably easier to control while in crouched position because you have both legs to control one piece of fiberglass.

having a tower doesnt make much difference at this stage. water conditions, driver experience, and the length of your tow rope will probably have a bigger impact.

Who cares if skiing is out. Once they taste success and climb back in the boat grinning ear to ear everything will be "in" to them. I strap on my old learner skis just for the pure enjoyment and forgiving nature at least once during a lake day.

How much HP? depends on the skill of the rider, weight, prop, external conditions, how many people in the tow boat. Between purchasing a new motor or a few noseplugs...guess which i would try first?

 

[flatbudget]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

My experience, I would first drag your kids and let them feel the boat and the torque before pulling or putting the hammer down. After a long break you want to get them back slowly. My advice on skis, slalom: Put the rope against the tip ( side ) of the skis to where the ski wanders. In other words, if the ski wanders to the left then put the rope on the left side of the skis. If right just the opposite. For dual skis: Tuck is the magic word. You would want to tuck yourself both legs and hug your knees with both arms straight. This keeps the skis together. As the boat pulls just lean back. As for wakeboard, keep the wakeboard horizontal to your chest. Wake boarding is all about upper and lower body strength. As the boat pulls, you want to twist your hips to the direction of the boat. This would get the wakeboard to plane a lot faster. Fighting the board while it is horizontal and being pulled by the boat is tough unless you have some guns in your arms.

 

[amynbill]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

I may be in the minority, but yea, skiing is kinda out and wakeboarding is the replacement, same as snowboarding is replacing skiing. Personally, I find skiing completely boring next to boarding whether on snow or water.

Just my opinion on this one aspect. Every person I know from 25 or so yrs old and down snowboards and laughs at the "old people skiing", same as wakeboarding vs. waterskiing.

However, whichever THEY decide to do is the most important aspect of it all. Let THEM decide. One of my daughters wants to wakeboard, the other ski, and I made no such input either way.

 

[WanabeBoater]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

Really good info guys, our boys will be wakeboarding for the first time this year. Now my only question is what length is good for wakeboarding...75ft as for skiis or should the length be longer or shorter?

 

[amynbill]

Re: Wakeboarding vs. water skiing from transom pull

Really good info guys, our boys will be wakeboarding for the first time this year. Now my only question is what length is good for wakeboarding...75ft as for skiis or should the length be longer or shorter?

Usually it depends mostly on where the "sweet spot" of the wake is. What a lot of people do is throw the rope out into the water without the rider (make sure you have a floating handle!!!) and let it out or pull it in until it is in the meat of the wake, and then mark the rope. Obviously you dont want to be too close to the boat. I have heard of ranges from 50-70 feet.

Keep in mind before marking the rope:

Speed should be around 18-24 mph. For beginners closer to the 18 mark or so.

The meat of the wake, if possible, should have very little to no whitewash. It SHOULD be a crisp wake. THis may be difficult with anything but specific sport boats, so play with the trim of the boat. This usually dials in the wake a bit. You could also consider getting fat sacs, or weights for the boat to place in the bow and/or stern to create better wakes.

THis will give you a generally good idea of rope length. It can always be adjusted by a few feet here and there day to day.

As well, the driver needs to learn how to take off and drive, and to set speeds...learn hand signals between all of you (rider to spotter to driver) and most important is BE AWARE when driving the boat. The driver is NOT involved in watching the rider. The driver MUST drive safely: avoiding swinging the rider into docks or obstacles, being aware of other riders/skiers/tubers, people diving, driving other boats etc...

Be safe. Have fun.