How do you deepwater start on a kneeboard w/ a hydro hook?

Question

I have never kneeboarded but I have a beginners kneeboard with the hydro hook (hook that you can attach rope to until your up and ready to take the rope). I can only deepwater start as I am on a channel and don't have a beach to do it off of. I tried kneeboarding last weekend for the first time and I couldn't strap my knees in into the board in the water without tipping over. I then tried starting on my belly when the boat was going and pulling my knees up. I finally did it and strapped myself in. Then I took the rope out of the hydro hook which was really hard to do because of the tension and then as soon as i got a held of the rope I lose balance and I fell. To pull myself onto the board and get my knees up was very hard to do, I feel like there must be an easier way. None of my friends could do that. My arms were so tired after. Any tips? How do you do it? Thanks.

Answer 1

Try starting on your belly, but ask the driver to go REALLY slow so that there isn't as much tension.  When you're up, then you can go a little faster.  

I learned to kneeboard behind a 10 horsepower fishing boat, so you couldn't go fast at all!  But as I got better, I could go behind my speed boat, but I still start really slow.  We don't have beach either so I also have to deepwater start.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The best way to get back on it in deep water is to do what you did. Start out on your belly, with the rope in front of you resting on the board's tip.  As it starts to go, when you gain your balance, you pull yourself up and into the knee slots. Keep the strap a little looser than you need it,  that way you just slide in under it, after you get your balance on your knees, tighten the strap.

Good luck! Happy kneeboarding.

Hope I helped. : ]

Answer 3

its much easier to hold the rope while the boat is going at a slow speed before you start going because the tension will help you keep balance