A kneeboard is a water-skiing tool that is used for surfing on water. The reason it’s called kneeboarding is specifically that surfers ride on a kneeling stance on water. They surf on the ocean, river or even lakes while being pulled by ships or boats. It’s a major thrill for surfing lovers who loves going wild on water. Of course, it comes with a lot of risks and is by no means a hard task for beginners. But getting a hold of it is like unlocking a great joy of adventure. When the kids become tired with tubing, learning how to kneeboard is typically the natural “following stage” in terms of water sports. Some youngsters call it kneeboard surf. This sport has been around for a long time. But it still fascinates people like it was invented yesterday. Although for a lot of people, kneeboarding might seem overly difficult. But you can never deny that a pro kneeboarder always seems cool to watch. I’ll give you some basic information on how you can get on a kneeboard, the procedures to follow and the matters to look out for. If you’re a total beginner in this sport, then this one’s for you. I’ll tell you about some great kneeboarding hacks for complete beginners and how to get on it without any problems.
How to Ride a Kneeboard?
- Start by floating behind the boat’s centre while lying flat on your stomach on the kneeboard.
- With your elbows lying on the kneepad, grip the board on either side. From the rear of the board, your feet should be hanging in the water.
- Start by connecting the towrope handle into the hook if your kneeboard has one (which many modern kneeboards do). If your kneeboard doesn’t have a hook, push your thumbs down on the towrope handle while grasping each side of the board.
- Check that the towrope between you and the back of the boat is taut and stretches out.
- As the boat begins to move forward, bring your knees up the board until they reach your elbows and centre them in the kneepad.
- Once you’re at ease, you may tell your driver to pick up the pace. The proper riding speed is measured by the weight and skill level of the rider. For example, if the boat speed is 5-8 MPH, then the weight of the kneeboarder should be less than 50 lbs. Similarly, for 8-12MPH is 50-100 lbs, 12-16 MPH is 100-150 lbs, and for 16-20 MPH is more than 150 lbs should suffice. Drivers must be aware of their speed when towing a kneeboarder, depending on the size and ability of their rider.
- Reposition your body in a riding position by shifting your weight back onto your heels. Grip the handle with both hands from the top when you grab it. Make sure your thumbs are beneath the handle and your hands are wrapped around it.
- Pull your towrope from the board’s hook and grasp the handle with your knuckles up and arms stretched out in front of you. For kneeboards without a hook, the same method should be applied.
- If your kneeboard comes with a Velcro strap, make sure you wrap it around your thighs to keep yourself firmly on the board.
- Point your head and shoulders in the direction you want to go when steering the kneeboard. This will turn the board’s front end and allow you to steer by applying pressure to the board’s edge.
Equipment for Kneeboarding
Apart from a boat, the equipment isn’t excessively expensive. Although some high-end boards may cost quite much around 400-500$. However, if you’re not opting for a luxury touch, you don’t need much to get started.
To kneeboard, you’ll need the following equipment:
- Kneeboards
- A safety jackets
- A towing rope
Most importantly, you’ll need a properly fitted personal flotation device (PFD). Because children can fall off a kneeboard and wind up floating in the sea, they should wear a life jacket that stays put. There are hundreds of options, but bright colours are preferable for children since they are easier to see in the water.
Keep in mind that the driver is primarily responsible for the kneeboarder’s safety. The boat driver must be aware of everything in all directions at all times. Imagine a head on a circle to understand the idea. A kneeboarder generally swings out widely against the direction you’re turning, so keep an eye out for shorelines, docks, trees, and other boats. When towing youngsters on a kneeboard, the less traffic on the lake, the better.
A kneeboard rope is required to pull the rider, and they are offered dependent on the number of up for towing. Most of the time, you’ll just be pulling one kneeboarder per rope. Tube ropes, like ski ropes, have a little “bend” to them. Some tube tow ropes include a “bungee” function, although they are unlikely to be practical or safe for towing kneeboarders.
That leaves the board, which comes in several brands and variations to choose from. Some kneeboards, for example, are made to make the transition from kneeboarding to stand-up water sports like wakeboarding easier. Soft shin cushions and a wide strap with hook-and-loop fastening strips are standard features on the best kneeboards. The good news is that there are hundreds of options when it comes to choosing a kid’s kneeboard. You can choose a lot from different retailers from the market for your little kneeboarder.
Boats Used for Kneeboarding
Kneeboarding is popular because it can be done on nearly any style of boat. Bowriders, deck boats, ski and wake boats, and cruisers all function well. Wake boats are best for experienced riders because of the tricks they can do off large wakes. however, pontoon boats are fine for towing kids on kneeboards. but you’ll need more than a 25-hp motor to guarantee your riders can pull off a deep-water starting. Pontoon boats will fall short as riders mature and advance, so be mindful of this upfront.
Selecting the Correct Kneeboard : Competitive VS. Recreational
A recreational kneeboard will be used by the majority of riders. The soft, broad borders of this kind of kneeboard are created of rotational molding. Recreational kneeboards are often thicker and airier than competition kneeboards, which helps in flotation in the event of a wipe-out. These boards are ideal for beginning riders and small children since they are considerably easier to manage.
On the other side, competitive kneeboards are more concerned with speed than with comfort. Compression molding gives competitive boards better edges and a thinner, lighter shape. Because these boards are less buoyant than recreational kneeboards, advanced riders may make deep-water beginnings. The term “rocker” refers to a slight curve on the bottom of some competitive kneeboards. It’s simpler to spin a board with a high rocker, while a board with a low rocker is faster. If you’re looking for a more demanding encounter, a competitive board is the way to go. But you need to get more experience first.
Several kinds of kneeboards are designed based on experience and age groups. Kneeboards are created for different riders, which has an impact on the materials used and the layouts altogether. Let’s take a quick look at them.
Rookie boards are typically constructed of redraft plastic and have specially designed bottoms.
Center boards often have a stiffer compression molded construction.
The experienced, or professional, boards contain wood stringers, a CNC-machined foam core, and a sandwich construction that stores the energy released when it departs from awake.
Over the years, the construction techniques acquired on skis and wakeboards have made it’s way to kneeboards. There’s a lot of science involved. There is no such thing as a specialized kneeboard rack for storage, although wakeboarding racks with an extra-wide fork that can hold a kneeboard are obtainable.
Kneeboarding Boat Speed
The simple answer to choosing the right boating speed is “anything your rider is comfy with,” but still the type of boat also plays a role. As the boat speed increases, the size of the wakes on the wakeboard boat decreases, thus going faster isn’t always better. For small children, keep it under 10 MPH or the minimum, smoothest pace at which they can make a deep-water start and stay online.
the correct measurements of speed according to age.
- 5-10 years: 10 miles per hour, only off by a few miles per hour
- 10 to 15 MPH for children aged 10 to 13.
- 15-20 MPH for 14–17-year-old kids.
- Riders aged 18 and over are preferred.
Conclusion
Kneeboarding is one of the most user-friendly kinds of water sports. It’s simple, to begin with, but it’s also enjoyable to advance and even learn the basics and some tricks along the way. It’s a huge pleasure for surfers who enjoy going crazy on the sea. Of course, there are many difficulties involved, and it is not an easy undertaking for newcomers. Getting a grip of it, on the other hand, is like unlocking a huge thrill of adventure.