How to Introduce Your Children to Waterskiing

You've enjoyed the thrill of gliding on the water, the wind in your hair, and the sun on your skin. Now you want to share that joy with your children – but how do you introduce them to the exhilarating world of waterskiing? It’s no secret that, at first glance, watersports are a daunting prospect…but the payoff for investing that time, energy, and bravery into learning the basics is very high.

Whether you have attempted the sport or not, it's easy to see that waterski is a technical sport that requires knowledge, skill, and practice. At Volcano Watersports, our instructors are the perfect people to get your child working through those first-time fears and getting confident on the water.

There are so many benefits to getting your kids interested in watersports. So, before you book your watersports vacation, here's a step-by-step guide to help you ignite their passion for this fun and rewarding watersport.

Step 1: Start with Water Comfort

The first step in introducing your child to waterskiing is ensuring they're comfortable in and around water. Regular swimming lessons are crucial, and even recreational swimming can help develop a strong water foundation. It's also vital they learn basic water safety rules, such as wearing a life jacket and never swimming alone. But building water comfort is not as easy as throwing them in the water and hoping they'll like it; you could create a fear of the water. Here's how you can build water comfort.

Early Exposure: Introducing your child to water at a young age can help to alleviate fears and build comfort. That could be as simple as having fun with water play in the bath, paddling pool, or garden sprinklers.

Swimming Lessons: Teaching your kid to swim is a significant next step. That will not only make them comfortable in the water but also teach them the essential skill of swimming. Group swimming lessons can be a fun social event for children, making them associate water with enjoyment and companionship.

Regular Water-Based Activities: Regular visits to swimming pools, beaches, or lakes can further enhance their water confidence. Encourage play and exploration in water. Family swimming days or water games can help create positive associations with water.

Teaching Water Safety: Understanding water safety is essential. Teach your child the importance of always having an adult nearby when they are in or around water and the necessity of wearing a life jacket when participating in watersports.

Exploring Underwater: When they're ready, encourage your children to explore underwater, first by opening their eyes underwater in the pool, and later, perhaps even snorkeling. That gives them a whole new comfort level with water.

Encouraging Independence: Gradually encourage your child to become more independent in the water. That could be letting them paddle without support in the shallow end of the pool, encouraging them to swim between two points, or, at a more advanced level, introducing them to diving.

Step 2: Introduce them to Other Watersports

Before waterskiing, there are a few other watersports that can help children get a feel for balance, coordination, and the sensation of moving on water. Each sport introduces unique elements that can aid in a smoother transition to waterskiing.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP): SUP is an excellent introductory watersport for several reasons. Firstly, the pace of paddleboarding is slow and controlled, which can be less intimidating for a beginner. It also provides an excellent workout for building core strength and balance, two crucial aspects of waterskiing. Lastly, SUP is versatile. You can do it on a calm lake or waves at the beach, introducing children to different water conditions in a controlled manner.

Bodyboarding: Bodyboarding is another good starter watersport, particularly for children who are not yet strong swimmers. Riding waves on a bodyboard can give kids a feel for the momentum and speed they'll experience when waterskiing. Moreover, it's a lot of fun, which helps maintain their interest in water activities.

Wakeboarding: Wakeboarding is similar to waterskiing, making it an excellent preparatory sport. The rider stands sideways on a single board (like a snowboard) and is towed by a boat. That helps children get used to the sensation of being pulled on water and the basic mechanics of balancing and steering.

Surfing: Surfing is a bit more advanced, but it's an excellent sport for developing balance, strength, and coordination. Catching and riding a wave also demands timing and quick decision-making. Surfing helps build the proprioception skills (body positioning and movement) necessary for waterskiing.

Knee boarding: In knee boarding, riders kneel on a buoyant, finned board while holding onto a handle on a rope. This sport is excellent for children as it has a lower center of gravity (making balancing easier), and the falls are generally less intimidating. Like wakeboarding, knee boarding familiarizes children with the sensation of being towed.

Step 3: The Dry Land Introduction

Before your child ever straps on a pair of skis, give them a dry-land introduction. Use this time to familiarize them with the equipment, showing them the skis, the tow rope, and how to wear a life jacket properly. Practice the proper body positioning and explain how the boat will pull them up and onto the water.

Any professional will tell you this is the best way to get used to the feel of skiing and how to find balance. Diving straight into the water will be nigh-on impossible for them to master. At Volcano Watersports, our instructors are used to working through those first-time nerves, so don’t feel discouraged.

Step 4: Choosing the Right Equipment

Having the right gear is key to ensuring your child has a positive first experience. Choose skis designed for beginners – these are generally wider for better stability. A tow bar or boom attached to the boat can be helpful for those very first attempts, as it reduces the pull and offers more control than a long rope.

At Volcano Watersports, we have all the equipment first-timers (or returning pros) could need to get their confidence on the water. It’s all packed on the boat, and ready to go.

Step 5: The First Water Attempts

Start in shallow water where your child can touch the bottom. As the boat moves slowly forward, encourage your child to lean back, keep their knees bent and allow the boat to pull them up onto the surface of the water. The key is to start slowly.

Step 6: Practice and Patience

Mastering waterskiing takes time and practice. Encourage your child to try again after each fall, and celebrate their progress, no matter how small. Make sure the experience remains fun and not frustrating.

Step 7: Progress at Their Pace

As your child becomes more comfortable on the skis, they can begin to learn new skills, such as turning and crossing the wake. Always let them progress at their own pace, and never push them to try something they're not comfortable with.

No matter how long you’ve been practicing watersports, or how experienced you are, even the basics are fun.

Step 8: Enroll in Waterskiing Camps or Lessons

If possible, enroll your child in a waterskiing camp or lesson. Instructors with experience teaching children can often provide tips and guidance that parents might not think of. Plus, learning with other kids can make the experience even more fun. Here at Volcano Watersports, we offer a boat rental service that will take you out onto the glistening Lake Arenal for the day with a team of professionals who can help you guide your children towards waterskiing mastery.

The Perfect Location To Begin The Journey

It just so happens that, at Volcano Watersports, we have the perfect location for teaching children to waterski. The waters of Lake Arenal are generally calm, providing a smooth and stable surface for beginners. That makes it much easier for children to maintain their balance while reducing the intimidation factor that can come with choppier waters. Costa Rica is also known for its warm climate, and the waters of Lake Arenal are no exception.

The warm water can make the learning process much more comfortable, and the sunny weather will make the experience enjoyable for kids.

Learning any new skill can be a daunting task. The beautiful surroundings of Lake Arenal, including the view of the Arenal Volcano, can make the experience of learning to waterski more enjoyable and memorable. The spectacular scenery can also encourage children to appreciate nature and the outdoors.

You'll also find a variety of watersports here, which means children can take to the water in any way they wish before trying waterskiing. Our highly skilled and professional instructors are on hand with the best equipment to ensure your children have the best experience.

Introducing your children to waterski is about more than creating future waterski enthusiasts – it's about imparting life skills, fostering a love for the outdoors, and creating cherished family memories. It might take some time, and there will certainly be some falls along the way, but with patience, encouragement, and the right approach, you'll set your child up for a lifetime of passion for waterski.