What age do you start kids on stand ups?

[PWCMX]

I was riding oceanside this past weekend and there was someone out there with a couple kids riding. I'm guessing they were about 10 years old. I was told there is an age restriction in California so I hadn't thought about getting my son on a stand up yet. After seeing them I am getting excited to get him out there. He is currently 8 years old. What age has other people started there kids and is there an age restriction. Thanks as always.

 

[augustaf]

In a lot of states it's 16 minimum plus a test with certificate. I suppose you could consider a youngster to ride in a remote area- illegal nonetheless. I have seen 8 year olds have fun on a stand up, they are so light the ski does not know they are on it which makes it too fast for them.
you could adjust the throttle cable for less throttle opening.

 

[makejetskiinggreatagain]

wasn't there a stand up ski maker catering to young kids? I forget the name of it

 

[McDog]

My son started at 8 by himself. I taught him throttle control on a couch with us both on it. He only goes out when the lake is dead and I am out with him on another ski. He is 10 now.

 

[CD155MX]

wasn't there a stand up ski maker catering to young kids? I forget the name of it

Force

 

[Scorn800]

We sometimes ride a private lake and we ride with our kids on our skis. I've had my daughter riding my sxr with me on it, last summer at age 4. She stand ups and kneel behind her. I use the throttle but she has great balance. My friends do the same this their daugthers too. He did about a 10 min ride with them last summer. This summer we all bought Kawaski's 300sx for them. All 3 of us found pretty much bone stock 87's. My boy Joe paid the most at 4 hundo but his is pretty much the nicest. Mines the worst but runs and got it fot 2. So far this summer Joe's daughter can stand on ski not running and balance. He doesn't think she is ready to ride solo yet. I haven't had my kids to the lake yet, but I'm going to hold for maybe till next summer. On a side note, all 3 of our girls ride solo on 50cc mini mx bikes.

 

[Vumad]

Legal age by us is 16, but that didn't stop one of the guys from letting his 5 year old bump his SXR into everyone's stuff (kneeling). I have more of a problem with the 16 rule than the 5 year old riding, but the 5 year old on a stock SXR with no governor of any kind on a busy day bumping into parked skis was bothersome.

Personally, if I had access to a private lake and a small ski that I could govern, when I do have kids, they would be riding the moment they could stand. I don't have a problem with the age, just with how parents go about doing it.

I think the 16 rule is really lame. They tried to make such a law for atvs / bikes but it got shot down. Shame kids have to be protected from the ignorance of their parents, and families like mine have to suffer for it. Although, thinking about it, banning kids from riding ATVs is a very good way to indirectly attack the community.

 

[lanmine657]

Most states its 14 with a boater safety course, my son started at 7 on a quiet lake, kinda makes you mad when the kids can be standing up at dead stop

 

[D-Roc]

My son is 9 and just started riding. He started on cattle dogs sxr but last weekend was ripping the superjet.

 

[SJ Thumpa]

There was a thread on here recently where someone built a real nice ski for his 2 young sons. I did the same as scorn until BMX took over. Man I miss those family days. Nice vid D-Roc.

 

[PWCMX]

Nice video. All the lakes around here are too busy for it to work. Maybe havasu during the off season or the ocean. Thanks for all the input.

 

[wanderer1]

You aint gonna like the fine if something goes wrong.

 

[rhugo21]

No kids haha but have a younger brother whose 14 years younger than me. We used to go double on my sxr when he was like 5. At age 7, Taught him to ride a 550sx by himself in our pond. He's 10 now and I take him out on the lake around 830-9 and he rides one of our big 4 stroke sit downs. On the lake my parents live on in , he just has to pass a boaters test at age 12 and he can ride. Promised him his first standup for his 12th bday if he passed the test. Probably will get him a 550 and adjust the throttle cable, but he wants a Superjet like me haha

 

[frankv510]

My son started at age 6 and my daughter at age 12. They both ride a 300sx. He has to have the throttle governed.

 

[AZRIDER]

i was riding an X-2 solo by the age of six and a WB-2 and 1200's when they were brand new at around 10-12
I'm 28 now and my dad has owned one of each since they were brand new
X-2's are slow and great for kids!
I grew up on a lake in florida where the cops have been on once EVERso it was never really a thought my X-2 has run tags from 96 till i brought it to AZ last year

 

[Sospikey]

My daughter started this year when she turned 15. She rides my X2. I didn't want to push her, she suggested/asked if she could try it on her own this year. I tag along with my Superjet, to keep her out of the traffic.

 

[HolyDiver]

I was just having this discussion with my buddy yesterday. His son is two and will ride with me on my sxr. Someone should make a mini aftermarket hull to cater to kids. Maybe be set up to accept kawisaki 440s and 550s since there a dime a dozen everywhere and just not very powerful. That darn age restriction limits it though.

 

[550/440]

wasn't there a stand up ski maker catering to young kids? I forget the name of it

EME Micro!

Seriously though, the age limit is a real killer for getting kids started early. 12 is the limit in AZ, that was one of the many reasons I brought my family down to the desert. Both of my kids have been riding solo since they were 7-8 though, and were catching rides with me on the skis since they were big enough to fit in a life vest.

 

[227]

http://www.boat-ed.com/california/boating_law.html

I always wondered this, so I just Googled it, For CA It says children 12-15 can operate a sit down watercraft as long as an 18+ adult is with them. For Stand ups the minimum is 16. IMO that's a pretty conservative law, Christian Young was back flipping at 12. My 10yr old daughter is just starting to get the confidence to ride one of my stand ups. I let her ride only when no one else is around, and I'm riding right next to her. She can handle the ski OK, her biggest problem is that she's so light, she can't offset the weight of the gas so the nose wants to submarine. She can really only ride when the gas is so low it's on reserve.

 

[McDog]

Lol. My son has the same problem. He kills himself trying to get the nose up to jump.