I was out surfing late this arvo at Greenmount when I saw a mate of mine pushing his 7 & 10 year old boys onto waves out the back. Has to be the best thing I've ever seen , seeing these kids getting the turbo boost they needed to get onto these waves early , there boards were super small and the kids were so light they just glided across unbroken waves , they just ripped and the whole crowd was hooting as they surfed through the pack into the walled up sections .It was 4 foot and the kids were so small it looked like they were on triple overhead faces.

It's made me think twice in how I have got my kids into stand up so young and maybe I should be putting the early years in on the short boards. Both my girls 9 & 13 are now paddling onto waves on sups but they soon get over it when they come off with big board attached and it's hard for them to get back out , so I generally push them back out.I only do this 1 to 2 ft surf. After seeing what I saw today I'm to thinking they would be better off on shorties or mini mals... what are thoughts.

The only down side is justifying to the wifey having 4 stand ups , everytime I down size I just say it's for the kids

Rob

I have 3 girls (5,7 and 9) and they all love the water, I have started them all off by pushing them into small reforms at age 4-5, My eldest (9) is now paddling out by herself and catching reforms/whitewater and is now starting to look at turns and cleaner waves, she is a strong swimmer. All of them I have started on a 6" foam fish, wide fat and stable and not heavy or hard if they take a knock. My advise is to let them go at there own pace I pushed the eldest to fast and she went off the surf and sea for a year or two, now she luvs it again but I let her decide, my middle girl loves nothing more than ridding a surf mat and trying to run me over. All of them love the boggy boards. They are all stoked on surfing after watching the Girls ASP tour here a few weeks ago

Great shots & great advice Sparx , this is a shot of my youngest Bonnie practicing her kick turns on my mal.

9 and 7

Honestly Piros, its all good. The kids allways find a way to suck maximum joy from any situation no matter what their surfing and providing they take us for the ride, life's sweet.
Cheers
Sparx

I think you nailed it there Sparx.

My young bloke and his mates can have fun sitting in a gutter for an hour. You can't push them as if they are not having fun the won't continue. I try to give them a taste of everything and see where the interests lie. For my boy it's a nipper board, he is not interested in stand up or surfing). That's cool. he out there, he's fit and active, learning about the surf and we have a great time together.

Shane

Its got to be one of the best things you can teach your kids, A real healthy sport that they will meet up with like minded friends and pass it onto their kids.

I've had a blast with my son on trips to Bali ,Hawaii and up and down the east coast of OZ. They grow up fast my son is 17 has a car and we dont surf together often
now days,from pushing him in, to him calling you in when your thinking of not going.

Enjoy it while you can because they grow up fast, we talk story in the arvo around the BBQ and soon the little grom will have a beer in hand

mac

Noted.

Just counting the days until my 4yo girl begins. Got her first board today. A killer pink Micro Lite tri fin Coolite. I'll shape her next one.

She's been riding my skatey a lot lately so there's hope yet.......

Nothing like a day at the beach with the kids. you always walk away so much better for it.









If only these days would last forever.

Phill

This morning I packed the family off to the alley and took my 5 year old out for a few sliders and he was loving it.

Couldn't quite get the 3 yr old daughter out yet.

Waz