Buford Danger Tests the O'Brien Platform Trainer

[Horton]

[Bruce_Butterfield]

That's the way to get them started!

[Razorskier1]

I'm guessing @Horton will need a couple days rest after all that cardio.

[Chef23]

My kids started on that when they were 3 or 4 and had a blast. It got them comfortable behind the boat so the progression to skis was easy.

[rfa]

Brings back great memories...Enjoy!

[acmx]

ended with crying.....not good

[markchilcutt]

Fantastic!

[skidawg]

@Horton 's new weight loss plan in action

[jhughes]

Tried the same approach with both of our kids, neither of them want anything to do with the sport. Oh well.

[Horton]

@jhughes This scares me because I need her to drive the boat

 

 

[mwetskier]

it scares me because she wants to use a racquetball paddle for tennis. she keeps going with that agenda and her left arm is going to be the size of horton's thighs.

 

[Chef23]

We also used to take my kids out on a tube when they were 2 or 3 with me in the tube with them. Both of my kids were excited to ski when they were 5 and 6. It only really took with my son, my daughter can ski and is capable of running the course but doesn't ski much.

[Horton]

Buford Danger is going to have to use the boat before too long. My bad ankle is on fire today as a result of running cockeyed in the lake yesterday.

[Chef23]

Definitely get behind the boat with her before you put her back there alone. She will have fun with you and associate that with fun behind the boat. Once she has fun doing stuff with you she will be excited to get behind the boat on her own.

[mwetskier]

not mentioned but important -make very sure she is comfortable floating in water with a life vest before adding a towed activity. a small blunder in the water that scares her at this age could have a lasting negative effect later on.

[ToddL]

Here's what worked for my son. He liked the idea of becoming a skier, but wasn't too sure about that loud fast boat. Here's the path we took to get him to loving skiing.

 

 

Stage 1: Grass/Lawn skimmer - we pulled him around the yard. Some have recommended a golf cart or tractor to get accustomed to the engine noise. We never did that.

 

Stage 2: We started in the neighborhood pool. Mom at one end, and I was on the side at the other. Mom held the skimmer up as if almost at plane. I pulled the rope hand over hand. This was sufficient to easily ski him across the pool. Just remember to stop a few feet from the end so that the skier can gently drift down into the water without risk of coming into contact with the side.

 

This is us playing with "big boy" skis in the pool. Playing is key to success. Laughter is success.

 

Stage 3: Same situation, but this time from the shore to a dock out in the lake. It really helped that everyone was floating out by the dock, so that the ski ride was towards friends and family. They also could "catch" the skier at the conclusion of the ride. It was during this stage that my son discovered how to edge the skimmer to steer it to one side or the other depending upon which family member/friend he wanted to ski towards.

 

This is him skiing completely via dad hand over hand rope power out to the floating dock where family is floating, too.

 

 

Stage 4: Same situation, but this time from the shore to a floating boat's platform. This one is tricky and safety is of concern so take every safety precaution. The boat has to be running and bumped into idle gear for a bit of the time while the skier is pulled in hand over hand. This is so that the force of pulling in the skier doesn't get the boat slowly drifting backwards. A big heavy boat drifting slowly will continue to drift and encroach upon the skier. Just keep everything at a safe distance. Again, have a friend/swimmer near the end of the ride area to "catch" the skier. As the skier approaches close to the boat, turn it off as if you are preparing to have a skier enter/exit the boat. Another safer option is an anchor if you have one. However, having the boat motor running is part of the preparation for the next stage.

 

Stage 5: Same as Stage 3, but slowly leave the boat in idle for longer time and pull the rope in less - such that the skier doesn't perceive a change in rate of skiing. Then, after a couple of these, just leave it in idle. The skier will then be fully underway via the boat's pull. When pulled by the boat, Dad or the rope helper should stay near platform and hold the rope with any excess free and clear. Should the skier bailout or fall, the rope is released by hand, and the helper jumps in and quickly swims to the skier. The skier pops up from the water to find the helper right there alongside.

 

This is what we did to "trick" my son into skiing behind the boat. The first time we kept the boat in gear, his eyes got a big as saucers for a split second of fear, but then the biggest grin quickly took over. I will never forget that face.

 

Matt edging the skimmer to steer.

 

 

This started a whole year of skimmer rides off the platform with me on the rope and my wife at the wheel. We got so good at it that I could launch him off the platform, reel out the rope, he'd ski, then indicate when done, I'd reel him in until the nose of the skimmer was over the platform, step on it to secure it and help him into the boat. His hair never got wet.

 

Once he mastered the skimmer, we switched to "big boy" skis (screwed together in skimmer fashion).

 

Then, the buoy addition began...

 

[Texas6]

looks like fun!

[Horton]

Ok all you guys thanks for the advice. I was raised in a water ski family. I promise all of you I have no plan to push my child to ski. Until the day I am paying for Pro Coaching she will ski as much or as little as she wants. Skiing is a lifetime sport and there is plenty of time.

[Fine409]

@ToddL - how old was he when you started him out on the skimmer?

[ToddL]

@dtm8119 He was 3.