Get the Kids out on the water.

Could very well be the thrill of my lifetime. Definitely up there w/ my first solo.

Skiing w/ my daughter.

Very nice, I'm working with my girlfriends kids now. I ordered a EZ Footer yesterday to help out with the learning curve.

What a difference a year makes. Both wakeboard, both now slalom, girl is up on one trick ski and learning and now footin' ages 11 & 8

Haven't been on here for a while, but thought I'd post this one of Matthew at the wheel. He loves the boat - it's a 30 mile drive to the marina and the whole way it's "boat, Massyou, drive".

Katy and I got married at the end of June as well. We had the reception at a hotel by the lake so managed to go wakeboarding on our wedding day.

Terp wrote: Could very well be the thrill of my lifetime. Definitely up there w/ my first solo. Skiing w/ my daughter.

Whay to knock it down with the kid. no headpackers either. good barefooting water you got there!

LakeBoy wrote: Whay to knock it down with the kid. no headpackers either. good barefooting water you got there!

Educate me, haven't heard the term "headpackers" before.
That was the best water I've ever seen on that lake. There was glass anywhere you went. A weekday w/ overcast threatening weather so only a handful of boats and no wind. It was very hard to call an end to the day.

Can't beat the smile on your son's face. Few things make you feel better than seeing that.

Hey Guys,
I joined the fun this summer with my 7 and 5 yr. olds. Here are a few photos from last weekend.

Evelyn, age 7:


Noah, age 5:


-Keith

Those are great pictures Keith!

I wish I had a boom… This is the first summer Makayla has been brave enough to try skiing. I bought a U-shaped ski trainer, thinking that would be easiest for her. We were on vacation a couple of weeks ago and tried the ski a few times, but she’s having a little trouble getting up. (She wants to keep her legs straight. She denies it, but I think she closes her eyes.)

I tried to coach her, but – as you can imagine – it is difficult when she is so far behind the boat. A couple of snoots full of water and she lost interest.

On a side note… My father, who is almost 70, got up on my combo skies a couple of weeks ago. That was pretty awesome!

Kyle

don't get me started on the tube. in a moment of weakness I bought a new one earlier this year, since our old one gave up the ghost. At times it is the only thing they want to do. I would rather them ski, foot or wakeboard any time, than tube.

66Skylark wrote: Those are great pictures Keith! I wish I had a boom… This is the first summer Makayla has been brave enough to try skiing. I bought a U-shaped ski trainer, thinking that would be easiest for her. We were on vacation a couple of weeks ago and tried the ski a few times, but she’s having a little trouble getting up. (She wants to keep her legs straight. She denies it, but I think she closes her eyes.) I tried to coach her, but – as you can imagine – it is difficult when she is so far behind the boat. A couple of snoots full of water and she lost interest. On a side note… My father, who is almost 70, got up on my combo skies a couple of weeks ago. That was pretty awesome!Kyle

I don't know if you have a swim platform on that Skylark. The easiest way I have found to get them started on the ski skimmer (absent a boom) is to stand on the platform in the bindings. Put the boat in idle, and slip them off the platform. Not sure how young your kid is, but for the kids who are only 40 or 50 lbs, you don't have to go more than 4 or 5 MPH. hold the front of the board up with the rope until they are off the platform and on plane. BKH

bkhallpass wrote: 66Skylark wrote: Those are great pictures Keith! I wish I had a boom… This is the first summer Makayla has been brave enough to try skiing. I bought a U-shaped ski trainer, thinking that would be easiest for her. We were on vacation a couple of weeks ago and tried the ski a few times, but she’s having a little trouble getting up. (She wants to keep her legs straight. She denies it, but I think she closes her eyes.) I tried to coach her, but – as you can imagine – it is difficult when she is so far behind the boat. A couple of snoots full of water and she lost interest. On a side note… My father, who is almost 70, got up on my combo skies a couple of weeks ago. That was pretty awesome!Kyle I don't know if you have a swim platform on that Skylark. The easiest way I have found to get them started on the ski skimmer (absent a boom) is to stand on the platform in the bindings. Put the boat in idle, and slip them off the platform. Not sure how young your kid is, but for the kids who are only 40 or 50 lbs, you don't have to go more than 4 or 5 MPH. hold the front of the board up with the rope until they are off the platform and on plane. BKH

Hi Brian,

We were trying to get her up behind the 176 which does have a platform. Makayla is 8 and a little under 60lbs.

I’ll have to try your trick next time.

Thanks for the tip!

Kyle

I've mentioned it before but found with our kids a large boat can be intimidating. The menthod we used (and actually myself) is to use a small fishing boat and then yes out of real shallow water. Both kids had ne problem with the little Alumacraft with the 15 on it.

Nothing like getting the kids up on skis. The skills and having fun on the water will be with them the rest of their lives. Not sure who gets the most enjoyment the adult teacher or the kids. Keith great pictures Evelyn looks to be having a ball.

8122pbrainard wrote: I've mentioned it before but found with our kids a large boat can be intimidating. The menthod we used (and actually myself) is to use a small fishing boat and then yes out of real shallow water. Both kids had ne problem with the little Alumacraft with the 15 on it.

Agree 100% 12 foot fishing boat withe 15 hp. The kids think its a special treat cuse none of the grown ups can do it.
And as stated its not as scary.

Keith, check your link on "Noah" it's just reloading this page. Great pictures & video of Evelyn. You just cannot beat the smiles on their faces.

Roy, great video of your family!

Necessity breeds alternatives. Not having a small fishing boat to get our daughter started behind, we had no alternative to the Whaler and deep water starts. And go figure, they don't make barefoot booms for Whalers! We started by having me in the water w/ our daughter to help her keep her skis straight, manage the rope and verbally coach her. As she became more adept I did less and less for her. This summer, I moved back into the boat and she's done very well on her own. We never push her to do more than she wants. This summer my 11 yo nephew from Kansas came to visit and I used the same technique with him, using a pair of 59" trainers. Within 10 pulls I was back in the boat w/ everyone else and he spent the afternoon lapping the dam end of the lake.