southernextreme Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 My 4 year old child is currently learning to slalom on an old pair of Obrien Jr Amigos and doing well. By 5 years old, she should be ready for a new slalom ski. Does any one have any recommendations on what ski to buy or what size of ski she should use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted October 29, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 29, 2013 I would leave her on the Jr. Amigo for a year it should be plenty for a 5 year old. Stability will be key at that age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MattP Posted October 29, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 29, 2013 I've seen a 8 year old take the Amigo through the course in tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernextreme Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 I am glad to hear we are on the right track with the Obrien Jr Amigos. We are only borrowing these skis and they are no longer available to buy. Does anyone know where I can either buy some used Obrien Jr Amigo skis or can anyone recommend another similar ski that is available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted October 29, 2013 Baller_ Share Posted October 29, 2013 Try this or google. http://www.wateroutfitters.com/O'Brien-Jr.-Amigo-Junior-Combo-Water-Skis-With-Bindings/41721P,default,pd.html I would strongly recommend keeping her on 2 and running the course instead of pushing slalom too soon. She can start at 10mph and go up to 18 or so, then the transition to running the course on 1 will be very easy. She can stay on a single Amigo all the way up to 25 mph (I saw a G1 run 25 at a nationals on a wide slalom). She will learn to run a lot of passes that way! If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RLW Posted October 29, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 29, 2013 All 3 of my sons slalomed with a Jr. Amigo until they could run the course at about 23-25 mph. It's a great ski for learning. I put a Wileys junior rubber binding on it and it worked great for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GregDavis Posted October 29, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 29, 2013 I witnessed a young girl skiing in the Regionals. Girls 1, ( on two skies), I think she started at 16 MPH or so, well she made about 6 passed, ( in the Regionals, on two skies). I was thinking, that was really neat. The basics are the same, one ski or two. Then the following year, I looked at the regional results, and guess who won Girls one. Yep, same little Girl, however that year she was on one ski. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernextreme Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 Great advice! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skihart Posted October 29, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 29, 2013 I bought a great ski for my 8 year old. They are on special at Overton's and Gander mountain. The O'Brien JR Elite for $199 with bindings! Not sure how long they will last. http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=OBrien-Jr-Elite-Slalom-Ski-With-X-9-Binding-Rear-Toe-Plate&i=756534 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buski Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Two skis at long line? Is a junior line worth it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RLW Posted October 29, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 29, 2013 My sons skied the course initially with 2 skis until they learned to slalom. They skied long line until about 28-30 mph, then switched to 15 off. And finally, the lighter junior line is great for the young ones who don't weigh much because a regular rope seems to drop in the water when they turn around balls. My seven and nine year old still used the junior line this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted October 29, 2013 Baller_ Share Posted October 29, 2013 The normal 80 strand ropes will drag in the water and catch the wakes, especially at slow speeds. You can either get a 60 strand kid rope or go to Home Depot, buy 100' of 1/4" nylon rope, cut to 70' and attach a normal handle. You can easily splice in 15, 22, and 28 off loops when the time comes. My 11 yo son just switched from the Home Depot line this year. If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted October 29, 2013 Baller_ Share Posted October 29, 2013 Wish they had the thinner line when mine was younger. Traditional tournament ropes caught the water all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JohnN Posted October 30, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 30, 2013 Thumbs up on the Jr Amigo and a lightweight line. The key to Jr Amigo happiness when they're small is to move the toe loop up closer to the front binding so the kid isn't doing the splits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted October 30, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 30, 2013 @JohnN good advice on the toe loop. I forgot I had done that with my kids when they were small. It was always a struggle to get their feet close enough together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernextreme Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Does anyone have Obrien Jr Amigos for sale? They are discontinued. Is the Obrien Jr Vortex a good alternative? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted October 30, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 30, 2013 From the picture I could find I think the Jr. Vortex would be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller davemac Posted October 30, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 30, 2013 Both my daughters learned on the Jr Vortex. Their friends (and small adults) have also had a really easy time learning on them. I added some tail weights to assist w/ the starts. My older daughter began slalom deep water starts on the Jr Vortex around 8 or 9yo (w/ help of a deep vee handle). She was a big kid and I found the ski was only good up to about 18mph. After that, it looked like it wanted to "speed wobble"...probably due to the plastic fin. I quickly got her on a dedicated slalom ski. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MattP Posted October 31, 2013 Baller Share Posted October 31, 2013 @southernextreme here is a link to the ligheweight line http://www.masterlineusa.com/Masterline/Pro-Series-Slalom-Ropes/P10-75M_2.html#.UnEcoCuKLNU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcityskier Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I used to ski with a great young skier whowas small for his age. He rode an O'Brien Amigo, but it was very different than the Amigo shaped combos I see now. I could be way off but it seems like these would be tough to use as a slalom for anything more than learning to cross the wake. Are there other skis I'm missing? Found my daughter a good condition used HO Revolt years ago. Nice ski and got a decent trade on it when she was done with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernextreme Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 I love all the advice! Thank you. Not in a million years could I have figured this out by myself:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.webp.c1d9c97f9cd6aed3eb2f057593d2bd42.webp)
.webp.fe2f8a07724aa0b030c317bb8c02956a.webp)
.webp.a30f66e5f4553a0ea06e4fe12520951c.webp)
.webp.8497384650ada8a3e4f1fd5dd6c3fb2a.webp)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now