Kneeboarding

Kneeboarding is a water sport which comes under the water skiing category. It involves kneeling on a board, while being towed behind a boat at speed. Kneeboarding is great fun, and can actually become very competitive if you enjoy it. A knee board is similar in shape to a body board – short and wide. There is usually a carved out bit for each leg to sit in, and a strap which goes over the top of your thighs, to hold the board to your legs.

Kneeboarding is best learned when taking off from the shore, especially if you are young. Simply strap yourself into the board with the back of the board on the sand, and the front of the board floating. Grab the rope, and lean back as it tightens. When the boat takes off, you will rise on top of the water, and then off you go. Carving back and forth is done by leaning from side to side, and if you quickly switch directions you can spray water out quite far. It’s always good fun to go with more than one person behind the boat – you spray each other and have great fun.

Like other water skiing sports, it’s a good idea to find water that is flat. Whether that is a calm estuary, lake, river or dam, water skiing works best on calm waters. Generally in the morning, the water will be calmer than in the afternoons; sacrifice your sleep to get a good ride. Some tricks that can be done on a knee board include 180 and 360s, while sliding on the water, jumping the wake, barrel rolls and even back flips.

The best thing about kneeboarding is that it can be done behind a boat with even a tiny engine. If your boat can’t pull up a skier, or a wake boarder, then consider trying this. There is much less resistance, and as a result it can be done even behind a 15 hp motor! This sport can be learned fairly quickly, meaning it is great for the younger people who want to try something new.

It is difficult to learn how to get back on the board once you fall off, if in deep water, so you may have to go back to the shore if you are just learning. The trick is to hold the rope in front of you, over the board, with your elbows in the grooves for your leg. As the boat accelerates, pull yourself up onto the board, so your knees are in the right spot. Make sure that the strap is left out in front, or you will have a difficult time putting it over your legs. It’s a skill which is quite challenging, but can be done with ease after a few successful attempts. Personally, I love going kneeboarding, because it’s simple, and highly enjoyable.