Jack and I rode today with neighbor Dave.  Good stuff as always, video and pictures sometime in next day or two.

I took a fall to the face, broke my sunglasses.  Good pair, had them for over a year  :)

Jack and I stayed over night at the lake after a little 5 Guys (really 4 guys and one girl) with the family and then we all went to see Harry Potter #77777777777.  Decent enough movie, not as clumsy or dark as some of the others.  Jack and I hit the water in the morning, Jack got some nice clean water for a change.  No video as the camera man was driving.  Jack got his first 180 jump...but, no video, never happened!  A few nice face plants as well.  Kid is trying new things pretty aggressively, gotta give him props.

After lunch we went back out and Neighbor Dave joined us.  Jack got his 180 jump on video (see Bluemedia page or latest video - soundtrack was removed by youtube BBBBOOOOO).  I continued my quest for good jumps.  First few I had made mental notes about trying some things differently to increase the air.  After a few, all my previous (bad) habits snuck back in.  Video of some of the better attempts (better jumps or better carnage).   In the afternoon, the water was angry as you will see in much of the videos, lots of boats and a pretty high wind for a 90+ August day.

videos and pics

Hit the water both days this past weekend, lots of good sunshine.  Jack continues to progress nicely in wakeboarding.  He is getting sharper with his cuts on the driver's side (both out and in) and going out on the off-side.  He still hesitates coming back to the wake from the off-side, not ready to commit to that toe lean against the boat with your back completely turned.  His jumps are starting to take life and he even completed three surface 180s this weekend.   Video and pictures are up on the Bluemedia page.When I go out on the boat on weekends, I generally take my two sons with me and the rest of the family stays at home or has things to do.

My oldest son, Jack, as I often write, has tried skiing and now wakeboarding and enjoys it immensely.   My younger son, Sam, is autistic. He is reasonably high functioning and we don't limit much with him but he usually just sits in the boat, partakes in some discussion when asked questions but generally keeps to himself the whole time. It wouldn't always be his choice to go on the boat but it is ritual now.

Sunday, for some reason, Jack and I were talking smack to Sam about how it was time he try kneeboarding (figured it would be the easiest discipline to get him riding). His responses were not overtly negative so I continued to state it matter of factly that he would be doing it after jack's first run on the wakeboard. He was visibly nervous and some of his autism ticks were in high gear. So when Jack finished up we dropped a kneeboard into the water and got Sam in as well. After explaining how to ride on his stomach at first and how he would get up on his knees we gave it a try. Just in idle mind you, he let out a shriek like bloody murder was happening. So we decided that I would get in the water and steady the kneeboard and get dragged behind until I was convinced he could stay up on his own and then let him go. This would let him start on his knees and not have to transition from laying flat up to being on his knees.

Took a couple of tries to get him to understand to lean against the rope/boat to stay up but he got it. They took a couple laps around this small area of the lake we were in (no boat traffic) and after one lap Sam was ready to join me in the water where he left me but I told the driver to keep going one more lap. He did it and we all praised him wildly. Not sure we'll get him to do it again anytime soon but it was something fun to see. Very proud moment for us.



There is a short excerpt video on the Bluemedia page of Sam taking his first ride on a kneeboard.

Seems like forever since hitting the water, hope to go out Saturday if the thunderstorms hold off.