Proud Dad

[Mudharp]

Just started teaching my 7 year old son. We went out last week and he stood on his first try! He'll be outsurfing me in no time...

[Hang11]

Awesome!!

My 7yo daughter is getting stand up rides every wave now. It's a great age for them to learn.

[parrysurf]

right on!!!
we pushed into a few last summer. we'll give er a go again this summer. boy is seven. older girl is 10. my little one is yet to try she is 5. I might tandem with her this summer, if she swimming better. my rule is the kids have to be able to swim to the bottom of the deep end and retrieve a toy.

Proudest moment as a parent!

[justloafing]

Heck yeah!!!!Love it and what form:)

[alimac2411]

good stuff, can't wait to take my own son out but got a bit to go as he's only 25days old the now!

[Bub]

What method works best for teaching a 7-8 year old? Getting in the shallow white wash near the shore and giving them a push? Leash or no leash? I have an 8 year old daughter. She is really interested in coming surfing with me this summer and she can swim so/so now, but is still kinda intimidated by the ocean, the sound of the crashing waves and all that alot of children are scared of (those that only get to the ocean a few times a year).

[Hang11]

Here's a few things I've figured out...

Don't take them out when it's macking barrells My daughter had a go in 4 foot, and wasn't keen after the first pounding.

You have to make it fun for them - so I stick her on her board, and push her out holding her on the board - she loves getting some nice jumps over the back of waves on the way out.

Then I push her into the waves, and she's standing up now - I just showed her how to get to her feet, and she did it straight off.

I've been getting her to paddle as well, but still holding/pushing her at the same time.

And I got her to get the feel of standing on a board by holding her on it, and she grabbed my head, and I just walked her into the shorey a few times.

Also, I tried to get her using my 9'6" longboard, and 7'4" retro thing, and they were both too much - the board goes where it wants, and she couldn't control it, and ended up falling off all the time. So I bought her a 6'2" softtop shortboard (pink), and that made heaps of difference.

I think the main thing is, it needs to be fun. If it stops being fun, then maybe it's best to get out and try another day.

After about 6 months, going once or twice most weeks, she is consistently standing up and riding, and confident in clean 2 footers.

Definitely stick a leah on them, you can haul them up to the surface, and whitewater or small clean waves are fine.

She's a pretty good little gromette snowboarder too, so that has probably helped.

[Bub]

Here's a few things I've figured out...

Don't take them out when it's macking barrells My daughter had a go in 4 foot, and wasn't keen after the first pounding.

You have to make it fun for them - so I stick her on her board, and push her out holding her on the board - she loves getting some nice jumps over the back of waves on the way out.

Then I push her into the waves, and she's standing up now - I just showed her how to get to her feet, and she did it straight off.

I've been getting her to paddle as well, but still holding/pushing her at the same time.

And I got her to get the feel of standing on a board by holding her on it, and she grabbed my head, and I just walked her into the shorey a few times.

Also, I tried to get her using my 9'6" longboard, and 7'4" retro thing, and they were both too much - the board goes where it wants, and she couldn't control it, and ended up falling off all the time. So I bought her a 6'2" softtop shortboard (pink), and that made heaps of difference.

I think the main thing is, it needs to be fun. If it stops being fun, then maybe it's best to get out and try another day.

After about 6 months, going once or twice most weeks, she is consistently standing up and riding, and confident in clean 2 footers.

Definitely stick a leah on them, you can haul them up to the surface, and whitewater or small clean waves are fine.

She's a pretty good little gromette snowboarder too, so that has probably helped.

Those sound like some excellent tips. Thanks. I have a 7'4'' board but that might be too much. I might check the local surf shops and rent or buy a shorter soft top board that will be good for her for at least 5 years.

[Mudharp]

Took my son out again the other day and he smacked his head pretty good on the rail. I figured he would be done with it after that but he got right back out there. Turns out my neighbor has a soft-top longboard (like the schools have) that we can use. I think that's going to be the best bet. I had been using my 7' 8" egg but getting nailed in the head with that when your only 7 isn't fun!

[Hang11]

This is what I bought http://www.solidsurfboards.com/girl_boards.html

It's like a dense foam board, but an OK shape - proper rails and the outline and rocker is like a normal shortboard, but it's quite flexible. I managed to get a few waves on it, although I felt like a bit of an idiot riding a pink shortboard.

Got a factory second, with a few small pressure dings for NZ$120, so a pretty good deal.

[Mudharp]

Nice, although I doubt I could get my wife to buy off on me flying to NZ from the US to pick one up!!

[surferdude_scarborough]

jus a question hang11. did that wave behind you knock you down by any chance?

[Hang11]

jus a question hang11. did that wave behind you knock you down by any chance?

Nah, I'm a fat f*cker with a hydrodynamically perfect arse

[RJD]

Nah thats sumner, waves magicaly dissapear as soon as they reach you.

[Bub]

jus a question hang11. did that wave behind you knock you down by any chance?

Nah, I'm a fat f*cker with a hydrodynamically perfect arse

Too funny! I was thinking the same thing looking at the photo. And Hang11, that was a hilarious response as well!

[niallhills]

anyone seen in endless summer the kids from africa...pretty nifty eh

[The Fafanator]

right on!!!
we pushed into a few last summer. we'll give er a go again this summer. boy is seven. older girl is 10. my little one is yet to try she is 5. I might tandem with her this summer, if she swimming better. my rule is the kids have to be able to swim to the bottom of the deep end and retrieve a toy.

Proudest moment as a parent!

Get her on a skateboard for now. BTW, with or without goggels, because she must be able to see the toy, otherwise she will have to stay down there for like an hour trying to get her hands on it . And btw, how deep is your pool, make sure that it is possible to get to the bottom, if your deep end is anything deeper than 3 meters, no 5 year old would be able to swim down there (unless she is some sort of super girl or something. ), because the air in there lungs would keep them from getting to the bottom. Otherwise, it is a great way to test if they are able to handle it.

[The Fafanator]

good stuff, can't wait to take my own son out but got a bit to go as he's only 25days old the now!

Get him in the ocean as soon as his skin can handle it! He must learn to swim before he learns to walk, if he is exposed to water more than he is exposed to dry land then he will be so comfortable in the water and on waves he might just be less scared of a 20ft set than to a hill the same size.