Summer School is in Session: How to “Show the Ropes”

Though school may be out for the summer, meaningful lessons on the water are just a boat trip away. (Pack some tow rope, too!)

Whether you’re a wakeboarding aficionado or thrill-seeker on a pair of skis, you naturally want to share those skills with the people you love. That might be a friend, child, parent, family member, neighbor… just about anyone who could use some time on the water. Fortunately, there are many ways to do exactly that.

For our best tips on showing the ropes to water sport beginners, just read on.

Do some research

If you’re searching for the perfect water sport to teach a friend or family member, you can always start with some research. Find out what sport they might like best! You can check out Vortex’s recent blog on choosing the best water sport, or simply browse through videos to find tricks, moves and other inspiration that can help you make your decision.

While you won’t need to do a lot of research (the best water sport “training” is, often, really a matter of trial and error and practice, practice, practice…) finding a quick how-to guide from your favorite sport magazine, or an equipment breakdown, can help make the process a little easier. If you’ve always been a wakeboarder (or water skier, surfer, etc.), there are certain parts of the sport that you might simply take for granted because, well, that’s the way you’ve always done it!

Having the details easily accessible may help your “student” better understand what they’re learning, allowing them to put it into practice.

Find the perfect spot

Pick a great spot to teach your favorite sport! Consider the person you’re teaching and opt for a location where they will feel most comfortable—perhaps a big lake where there are lots of curves and coves and secluded places to practice in. Also, of course, choose a place they will like to come back to as they continue to learn!

Laugh it off

One of the best tips for teaching your favorite water sport? Embrace the mistakes along the way, and laugh them off as you go! There’s a lot to be said about celebrating those slip-ups (in Sweden, there’s even a “Museum of Failure” you can visit that does just that). It puts fun, and not perfection, at the heart of your time on the water—after all, aren’t some of the biggest laughs had when we splash into the water or mix up our own two feet while trying a new trick? These mistakes also help students better understand the mechanics of moving on the water, and how to refine technique so that they don’t happen in the future.

Give the gift of water fun

Above all, really indulge in the fun of teaching a friend or family member! It’s more than a task but a true treat for you and the one you’re showing the ropes to, and it can serve as a special occasion of its own: a birthday gift, perhaps, or even a reason to take a vacation. In fact, with Father’s Day coming up, some time on the water might just be the perfect gift for Dad.

We hope that today’s tips help you inspire an all-new league of water sport lovers this summer. When it comes to time on the water, “the more the merrier” is especially apropos—so build up a crew and hit the water soon!