Hammer
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- Apr 17, 2010
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I always told myself that one day when I have kids they will learn to water ski, it's not going to be a choice, just like how my dad told me when he threw me in the water kicking and screaming behind a blown flatty in the Parker Bluewater lagoon in the 80's, before the casino and the 5 mph zone. You see in our family group, water skiing is something you just did, and you kept trying until you were good.
Once I had my own kids I started to realize that I can MAKE them try a hobby or sport but they may not take a liking to it. There is so many other things for this generation of kids to do to have fun and keep occupied. Sports are usually on the back end...
As a boater, it was in the back of my mind that there was even a possibility that they may not even like boating, let alone hopping on a water ski. As a kid, and even as an adult I can't picture my life without spending it on the water, especially with my wife and kids.
My 12 year old son is motivated by money, he will do just about anything to earn a few bucks, I'm sure he will be a business owner or entrepreneur one day. I decided to bet him $100 bucks he couldn't get up on a water ski this summer and he was all for it, during these talks my 6 year old daughter and 4 year old son started telling me they were going to ski too! I wasn't going to hold my breath as they were young and I wanted them(and me) to be comfortable in the water behind a boat first, I figured my little guy was waay too young, but there was a chance my daughter would go for it.... Anyhow, I started off by having my 12 year old go to ski camp at his uncles private lake house as it has a slalom course and is a perfect place to learn. He got up on a single ski after a day or two at camp but he had to do it while I am present in order to get that 100 bucks....
We headed to the Delta this past week which is a prime location for water sports. He knew he had to ski this weekend to earn that fresh Benjamin Franklin.. What I wondered was he going to ski again or did he do it for the money?
Well it turns out although he was motivated by the fresh 100 dollar bill, he learned that once he got the hang of it that skiing is fun! He prefers wake boarding but says he wants to do both!
Ski Ride....
Wakeboard...
Now my daughter has always been kind of a wuss when it came to the water and being far from the boat alone, like when she falls off the tube or I go "too fast" (to be fair she is only 6 LOL) so I didn't expect her to even try once when it was time to actually do it, she didn't want to try skiing but wanted to wakeboard. To my amazement she's a natural on a wakeboard! She'd pout when I told her she had to give other kids a turn. She couldn't get enough of it all weekend. She wanted to board on Saturday but we ran out of day light, she was pissed! One of the guys was getting up at 6AM on Sunday and offered to take my daughter and his girls for one last run. I told her she has to be up with her suit on and I wasn't going to wake her up.... I barely poured a cup of coffee and was enjoying the sunrise when I hear my little girl ask if it's time to get on the boat yet.... I look at my watch and it was barely 5 after 6! I couldn't believe it!
1st time getting up after 6 or 7 pulls...
Sunday morning session before we left....
, amazing how fast she progressed in a few days!!! I'll get her on skis next
Now I have a problem....... two of the three kids now want a wakeboard boat!!
Once I had my own kids I started to realize that I can MAKE them try a hobby or sport but they may not take a liking to it. There is so many other things for this generation of kids to do to have fun and keep occupied. Sports are usually on the back end...
As a boater, it was in the back of my mind that there was even a possibility that they may not even like boating, let alone hopping on a water ski. As a kid, and even as an adult I can't picture my life without spending it on the water, especially with my wife and kids.
My 12 year old son is motivated by money, he will do just about anything to earn a few bucks, I'm sure he will be a business owner or entrepreneur one day. I decided to bet him $100 bucks he couldn't get up on a water ski this summer and he was all for it, during these talks my 6 year old daughter and 4 year old son started telling me they were going to ski too! I wasn't going to hold my breath as they were young and I wanted them(and me) to be comfortable in the water behind a boat first, I figured my little guy was waay too young, but there was a chance my daughter would go for it.... Anyhow, I started off by having my 12 year old go to ski camp at his uncles private lake house as it has a slalom course and is a perfect place to learn. He got up on a single ski after a day or two at camp but he had to do it while I am present in order to get that 100 bucks....
We headed to the Delta this past week which is a prime location for water sports. He knew he had to ski this weekend to earn that fresh Benjamin Franklin.. What I wondered was he going to ski again or did he do it for the money?
Well it turns out although he was motivated by the fresh 100 dollar bill, he learned that once he got the hang of it that skiing is fun! He prefers wake boarding but says he wants to do both!
Ski Ride....
Wakeboard...
Now my daughter has always been kind of a wuss when it came to the water and being far from the boat alone, like when she falls off the tube or I go "too fast" (to be fair she is only 6 LOL) so I didn't expect her to even try once when it was time to actually do it, she didn't want to try skiing but wanted to wakeboard. To my amazement she's a natural on a wakeboard! She'd pout when I told her she had to give other kids a turn. She couldn't get enough of it all weekend. She wanted to board on Saturday but we ran out of day light, she was pissed! One of the guys was getting up at 6AM on Sunday and offered to take my daughter and his girls for one last run. I told her she has to be up with her suit on and I wasn't going to wake her up.... I barely poured a cup of coffee and was enjoying the sunrise when I hear my little girl ask if it's time to get on the boat yet.... I look at my watch and it was barely 5 after 6! I couldn't believe it!
1st time getting up after 6 or 7 pulls...
Sunday morning session before we left....
, amazing how fast she progressed in a few days!!! I'll get her on skis nextNow I have a problem....... two of the three kids now want a wakeboard boat!!
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