[Music]
hey everyone my name is Sean Murray
four-time world wakeboard champion and
father to some beautiful kids now
introducing people especially children
to the sport of wakeboarding could be
really tricky so I encourage you to
follow these steps to help your kids
fall in love with the sport knowing
children can be scared to try things at
first I related learning to ride a
bicycle to the wakeboard now once they
overcame that fear they pretty much
asked every day if they can go ride
getting your equipment sorted out is key
in the most important piece Coast
guard-approved lifejacket that fits well
is not gonna ride up on them now boards
120 to 130 centimeters are good for most
kids four feet in under and 95 pounds or
less do not exceed a one-inch fin as too
much fin can cause an unnecessary edge
catch putting your kid in the wakeboard
and just putting them into the lake is
not necessarily the best way for a lot
of kids some are brave enough but what I
encourage you to do is get them just to
swim around in a pool with their
lifejacket on them once they're
comfortable with that get their
wakeboard set it up on the pool deck and
have them just stand in the board and
see what it feels like to be locked in
for the binding after they get familiar
with that sensation either lower them
into the water with their bindings on or
get them in the water and then put the
boots on their feet let them swim around
for get comfortable with it when they
float on their stomach for the first
time it might initially feel like their
face is gonna get held down but they'll
quickly learn that they can easily swim
around this way
have them learn to flip over by reaching
up high with their one hand so their
upper body rolls over first smaller kids
with bigger boards might fight this so
feel free to help them for a while
next teach them the concept of keeping
the line in between their feet have them
move the rope from their left and the
right sides and learn how to keep that
line over their toe side edge
lastly practice a starting position tell
them to focus on keeping their arms
straight and their bottoms on the board
pull the rope a few times make sure they
aren't standing up too soon knees bent
is key
now let's address that front edge catch
back on land put a towel under the board
so that it can spin and show them how to
go from riding sideways to riding with
one foot in front next show them the
proper riding position a front hip to
the handle chest up arms straight and
leaning back slightly now it's time to
put them behind the boat
with the board facing the back of the
boat help your child get into the
bindings with their lifejacket already
on have them squat down and hang on to
the rope and ease them into the water
hold on to the rope rather than
attaching it to the tower and let it out
about 15 feet let the children know that
they can let go of the handle any time
if they need to and you'll be right
there to get them move the rope to the
tower and put it out between 40 and 60
feet
ask him if they're ready to go and then
ease the boat into idle and remember
kids can ride and go less than 10 miles
an hour so keep it slow be sure to
encourage them especially after Falls
when they're successful yell clap honk a
horn and makes a world of a difference
to their experience
[Music]
you