I have a wakeboard School and I have gotten so many kids up and riding on their very first time. Actually for a child a little bit longer rope is so much easier. There is more turbulence and a bigger white water in closer. Let them be out just to touch longer, and once they feel comfortable and are up and riding they should be right in the sweet spot. Kids don’t weigh as much and don’t need as big a push, so make sure you teach them to ride as far back in the wave as they can. It makes them feel much more comfortable than being right behind the boat.

Yes, Stephen is my son and he has of course wakesurfed before. I have a wakeboard school and I have gotten so many kids up and riding the first time. Just follow the fundamentals and it can work for you too.

The surf gate typically doesn't deploy until you reach a speed of around 9 m.p.h. I am not sure what type of boat he is using, but on my Axis, the Power Wedge will deploy almost immediately and then the Surf Gate will open and form the wave.

Same on my boat. It is a axis a 22.

I just want to echo your concerns. My three year old was swimming near the back of the boat on a calm day. Inboard motor with a wood platform on the back of the boat. We didn’t know what was happening at the time but He inhaled CO2 from the back of the boat and fell unconscious. Thankfully my brother thought to call 911 and have them meet us at the beach so when we got the boat moving fresh clean air was able to gradually get back into his system. But He nearly died. At the time we had absolutely no idea what was happening to Him and it’s rarely ever talked about or cautioned. My family always owned a boat while I was growing up. Tons of experience around boats, but never knew how dangerous this could be.

@@troylink2887 yeah CO is no joke, I’m always very careful behind the boat after hearing stories of whole families passing away at night cause of a broken heater or something. Chills.

Hi there! Most all wakesurf boats now have what’s called “fresh air exhaust”, which is a pipe that directs the exhaust into the propeller wash, where it is dispersed about 30 feet behind the boat (and much less concentrated). You’re spot on that boats that do not have FAE can be dangerous, and people should be aware of that, but any newer wakesurf boat is typically fitted with FAE standard nowadays. :)

Axis A22

I would start a first time around around 11 miles an hour. My kids are riding at 18.7 right now but we worked our way up faster as they advanced. At 11 miles an hour if they fall it doesn’t hurt at all. As they get better you need to speed up so there is a smooth wave to jump over.

@@adventure-gang thanks so much for answering!

If you don’t have a boat with a swim deck use a swimming pool with a deck. Have your child put his wakeboard on. Prop the bottom of his board up against the wall of the pool and let him be in the pool on the top holding a rope handle. You can stand on the pool deck and pull him from the side of the pool up to the top of the pool. Should work just fine. Thanks for watching.