Nothing is quite as exhilarating as hitting the water for the first time on your skis. The feeling of the wind on your face and the water beneath you is incredibly empowering and exciting.
The best this about water skiing is that as long as you’re comfortable in the water and on the skis, it does not matter how old or young you are. You can hit the water gliding at almost any age.
What is the best age to start water skiing? The best age to start water skiing is around 5 to 7 years old. A child as young as 3 years old can learn to water ski if they are comfortable swimming and have good leg strength, but 5 to 7 is a safer bet. Children can be taught to water ski slowly; once they are comfortable, they’ll be attached to their skis forever.
If you are a water skier yourself or just an enthusiast of the sport, you might also find your child excited to try it. Keep reading to get tips on teaching children to water ski and the best child-friendly equipment you can buy.
What Is the Best Age to Start Water Skiing?
To start water skiing, a kid needs to have three skills and abilities:
- able to stand
- confident in the water
- understand and follow the rules of water skiing
Kids can start water skiing as young as three years of age. But we would say that the best age is around 5 to 7 years old after your child has had enough time to get comfortable participating in a water sport, such as tubing, to get a feel of the activity.
Do Kids Need Water Skiing Lessons?
Children who want to water ski should be given formal lessons. The lessons should be specific to children to ensure they get the most out of it.
There will be water skiing lessons for children at almost every water ski-popular lake. But whether your kid needs water skiing lessons or not depends on your ability to teach them. If you are not a skier yourself, then it’s recommended that you give your kid water ski lessons from a professional.
On the other hand, not everyone who can ski can also teach. So, if you feel like you can’t teach your kid or they might get more from lessons, then it’s best to give them water skiing lessons.
How Quickly Can Children Learn to Water Ski?
There is no specific period for kids to learn to water ski; it differs from one child to another.
A kid can take a short two day training course on land and then be ready for the water. However, once they hit the water, they may stumble and take a long time to feel comfortable.
On the other hand, other youngsters can take a long time on their basic training. Eventually, when they start skiing, their instincts and training kick in and they start to quickly master water skiing.
A child’s ability to water ski comes from training and basic knowledge. Learning it faster than other kids does not make them better by any means, so let them their take their time to learn.
How to Teach Your Kid Water Skiing?
Before you put your kid in skis, you need to get them comfortable with the basics of skiing.
Starting on tubes can help your kid get comfortable with the idea of being tugged behind the boat. It can also help them start to learn to stand up and hold into the handle with the rope while being safe in their tube.
Kids usually have a hard time being separated from their parents, and being on the skis behind the boat alone can be scary to them. Once they’re comfortable on the tube, you can start letting them do it alone. With a short rope tugging them, they can still feel comfortable seeing their parents but getting tugged away slowly.
Once you get the fear out of the way, the real training can start.
5 Pro Tips for Teaching Kids Water Skiing
Start on land.
The kids’ training should start on the beach before you take it to the water. Teach them how to put on their skis and the proper technique to crouch and stand up. It’s a lot easier and clearer to teach technique on land.
You can also show the right way to hold onto the rope and how to signal the boat when they need something.
Begin on shallow water.
Once your child has learned the basics of land, you can move them to the water. Starting on shallow water will help your child use the techniques they’ve learned on the water while still being in a safe space.
Make them practice the start position and how properly bend their knees and hold out their arms. You can also hold onto the rope and tug them around the water.
Start in a quiet area.
It can be quite intimidating to see the boats and skiers shoot past the lake can be quite intimidating. Your child can also feel pressured to get up faster to not look like a beginner.
Starting on a quiet area of the lake or even a small lake will help your child take their time learning the basics and feel more comfortable in the water.
Start with a short rope.
When your kid is ready to be on their skis behind a boat, don’t just tie a rope to the end and leave them to their devices.
Make sure you or another adult are in the back of the boat. Start short and then gradually lengthen the rope as your kid gets more comfortable gliding.
Be their biggest fan
Kids live on praise. When they feel like they’re doing well, they will do better, so always encourage them and use positive reinforcement to help them improve.
Water skiing is a fun activity, and your kid needs to know that first and foremost. When they love the sport and feel your pride, they put all their effort into it and learn faster than you can ever imagine.
What Size of Water Skis Is Best for Kids?
Now that you know all about training, you will need to buy your kid their very first water skis. But before we go into brands and specific recommendations, you need to know the best size for your child.
As a rule, the best size should be between the kids’ chest and nose. The 40 to 50 inches water skis can be used for most children under 80 lbs, and 50 to 60 inches can be more suitable for children up to 120 lbs.
The Best Water Skis for Kids
| Rating | Brand | Size | Skier weight |
| Best overall | CWB Connelly Super Sport Water Skis | 55 inches | Up to 120 lbs |
| Best combination | O’Brien All-Star Junior Combo Skis 2022 | 46 inches | Up to 85 lbs |
| Best for beginners | O’Brien Simple Trainer | 53 inches | Up to 85 lbs |
CWB Connelly Super Sport Water Skis – Best overall
These 4-pound skis are designed for maximum stability for children. It has a strong base that makes it very stable on the water, helping your kid get that perfect start.
It is also incredibly light and easy to carry around. However, these water skis are only suitable for kids smaller than 120 lbs.
O’Brien All-Star Junior Combo Skis 2022 – Best combination
Suitable for skiers up to 85 lb, the O’Brien All Start Junior is a great ski for kids. It features a dual tunnel design and a stabilizer bar that prevents kids from splitting apart. It also features a trainer handling a bar to help kids get their start safely.
O’Brien Simple Trainer – Best for Beginners
This inflatable trainer water ski is the best option for kids just starting to get used to the sport. It has a soft surface with a rope that connects the trainers to the boat.
Your kid will not have to worry about splitting apart with the skis or falling off them as they are basically in a small boat.
Are You Ever Too Old to Start Water Skiing?
It is never too late to learn to water ski. It’s a great sport that can be learned at almost any age. However, you must keep in mind that the older you are, the more physically challenging it will be.
Water Skiing is an incredibly physical sport that needs a strong body that can endure the challenge. The older you are, the sorer you will be after skiing and the bigger chance of any injury.
But if you really like it and want to try it, do not think too much about it. Pick a quiet area and learn to water ski. It is the most fun you will ever have.
Related Questions
Who Is the Youngest Person to Water Ski?
Rich Humpherys is the youngest water skier in the world at only 6 months old. His parents posted a video of the kid water skiing at Lake Silver in Florida in 2016. Sports news outlets immediately called him the youngest water skier in the world and celebrated his big achievement.
Can A 3-Year-Old Water Ski?
3-years-olds can definitely water ski if they are comfortable enough in the water. No one is too young to learn water skiing, not even 3-year-olds. With proper age-appropriate training, a 3-year-old can learn to water ski on double skis and eventually even slalom skis at some point.
Can A 1-Year-Old Water Ski?
A 1-year-old kid can learn to water ski if they already know how to stand and balance their weight. However, for most 1-year-olds, standing up and balancing are not among the age-appropriate skills they have. Instead, you can start to make them comfortable with the water at that age.