Aquatics Camp Recount  

Knee boarding at Aquatics camp - Lila Braley

We were getting our life jackets and wet suits on and I was a bit nervous. When everyone was suited up, we made our way to the boat. We chose our kneeboards hopped in the boat and whoosh, we were off!  When we reached a little mini beach, where we would be doing the knee boarding, everyone was asked to hop out of the boat so we could listen to some instructions. Then we got the kneeboards ready, after some time it was finally my turn. Everyone got the kneeboard ready for me. I saw the rope starting to move I was getting more nervous SPLASH! I lost my balance and almost fell off but saved myself.  I got the signal to let go of the knee strap and lift up the handlebars that I was holding. I was still going and I couldn’t believe it.  I had made a full lap without falling off. Everyone else had some more turns then it was time for doubles where 2 people went at a time. The other kneeboard got pulled out so did the other handle and after a wait that felt like forever it was finally mine and Immy’s turn to do doubles. Everyone was helping, tension was building, and we were both a bit scared. The ropes started moving and we flew across the waves laughing and chatting, and moving our knees trying to control the boards. I let go with one hand as Jobe urged me to and I almost crashed into Immy. I had to hold on with the other hand again. The boat started to slow down we got told to let go so we fell/got off the kneeboards. Then we swam them to the shore while the boat got parked. We were sad it ended but happy to go and eat lunch.  

The day I overcame my fear - Layla

I went on aquatics camp and my favourite activity was knee boarding. When we first jumped on the boat, I was a bit nervous but it turns out that it was so fun. We went to a bank on the Murray River and started from there.  Maddi went first and I held up the board for her. She took off and she was no longer seen. She started to head back in and she was visible again. Next up it was Ruby’s turn. When Ruby went nerves were rumbling in my tummy. It was my turn, off I went! I was feeling comfortable but I fell off. When I fell off, I had to start in the water then pull myself up onto my knees and I was going again. Later I did a double with Bria and we didn’t fall, and that was lots of fun.   

Knee boarding on the Murray - Maddi 

It started when we all stepped onto the boat, I was fizzing with excitement. We took off and it all began. After everyone got off the boat, we got out the knee boards. You could smell the fresh air from the willow trees nearby and feel the cool refreshing water. The water was glistening with the sun. I climbed onto the kneeboard and whoosh off I went the boat pulled me along. I saw my instructor, Andrew, who gave me the signal to lift up my arms.  Then Andrew turned the boat around. I went outside the wake as far as I could go and came back over the wake and my board lifted up off the water and I did a small jump. When we started to slow down I knew it was almost time to let go.  When I did, I was sad it was over because I wanted another turn, but it turns out I didn’t have to wait long because before I knew it, it was my turn again. I walked over to Ruby and asked “Do you want to do doubles with me?”. Doubles is when you go with someone else on the kneeboard, so there are 2 people going together. Ruby said yes. We got prepared to go together when Chris (Klara’s dad) handed Ruby and I   the ropes. My hands went white because the ropes were tangled and I thought when we were going that we would both fall off and then the boat started.  My heart started pounding. Then Andrew took off and we both wobbled a bit but we were ok. We went around in a loop and when we got to the end Ruby went outside the wake and I stayed inside of the wake. My goal is the do a 360, which is when you spin around on the kneeboard. I was so close to doing it, I was about 10cm off going around the whole way. I did try and that is all that matters. 

KNEE BOURDING ON CAMP - KLARA                                              

It all began when I knelt onto the knee board. The tiny waves hit the edge and splashed up at me. The rest of my group were holding my board steady. My heart was pounding as my dad passed me the handle. I held it tight in my hands. I was the last person in the group and everyone else who had gone said it was great.  I hoped that was true! I was very nervous, mainly because I thought, “ What if I let go or couldn’t hold on, even worse if I flipped and couldn’t get back up?” Then someone shouted, “ 3,2,1 GO!” I was off! I closed my eyes terrified, but I couldn’t help but open them. Before I knew it, I was smiling, a full-face grin. It was AMAZING! I was turning and going over big waves. I was still smiling when I got out of the water. It was great! You should definitely try it! 

The I rode the waves! - Tilly

When we went knee boarding at Aquatics camp, I had a lot of fun! On the ride to the spot we were doing the knee boarding I sat in the back of the boat with Klara, Kathy -our instructor- was explaining different signals that she was going to give us when we were out there. But before we even started, we had to attach a strap around our knees and we had to have two people holding us up just above the water so we didn’t get stuck on the sand as we were tacking off. Once we had started, she would give us a signal by pointing to the right and then we would try our best to move to the right by gently swiveling our body in the direction we were going. Then she would point the other way and we had to try and do the same thing in that direction. When she thought we were ready she would lift her arms up and then we would lift our arms up off the board. By this time, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all these instructions but she assured me that it was fine and that she would be there helping us the whole time! When we got there, we all got ready. At first it was a little nerve-racking and I was feeling a little wobbly but as soon as I started all I could feel was the wind in my hair, the motor of the boat, and the elation of doing something I’ve never done before! We were lucky because our group only had four people in it so there were more time for turns, meaning we got to do three goes each! On our first turn we did a single (which is when we go on our own), and we started in the shallow water, just to get used to the rhythm. Next, we did a double (when two people get towed behind the same boat, but they are on different boards and different ropes connect them to the boat). I did my double with Klara. It was good because it was the first time for both of us so I didn’t feel pressured to do to well or be better than I was. Before we started, we were making sure our rope around our knees was tight (but not too tight!) and was in the right position. Then suddenly Kathy said that she was about to go and we zoomed out of the shore and had lots of fun!  By the time everyone had gone the water had gotten a little rough so we moved a further the river for our last turn. After that we did another doubles but we started in the deep water. Klara and I didn’t fall of and we enjoyed every moment! 

Knee Boarding - Ruby 

When we got onto the boat I was so excited because I got to knee board with my friends.  I was steaming with exitment as I got of the boat because although I have done it before it’s just so fun so I couldn’t wait to do it more. When we got to the bay we got taught how to do a dry start. A dry start is pretty much when you sit on the board on your knees and two people hold the board up. When the boat goes the people let go and you hold on tight and than you gather your balance and you are up! In the middle of my turn I tried a trick called a 360 it’s when you do a 360 turn with your board, but I fell off. That was fine because than I just did a deep water start which I have down quite a lot so it was not that hard. For the last bit of my turn I went over the wake and did a jump. After my singles I helped others by lifting their board up. Guess what? It turns out we had spare time so we got to do doubles! Maddi and I chose to do doubles together. It was so fun because we have both done it before therefore we some did funny things like spraying each other and going over the wake. Knee boarding was even more fun than I imagined.

Knee boarding -  Bria 

 When we had arrived at the knee boarding spot we went through a few expectations and instructions because I hadn’t been knee boarding before. I was a little scared of falling off the board. It did take some trial and error to get the lean and angle right but after a couple tries of falling off the board , which was a bit nerve-raking especially also having water splashing in your face, I eventually succeeded and didn’t fall off the board. I even achieved doing doubles with Layla. Doubles are when you are knee boarding but there are 2 ropes and 2 knee boards. Layla was also kind for giving me a little tip to lean back going around in circles.

KNEE BORDING AT CAMP - Alyssa

My thoughts were in a tangle and my belly felt sick, as I knelt down on to the board and did the straps up. I felt excited but nervous at the same time. What if I fell off? What would I do? “Are you ready?” Klara said. I wobbled as I said “Yes I think so.” They threw me the handle. I gripped the handle so hard that I could fill my fingers tingling. The boat started and I could see the rope tightening. Any second I would be off. The rope got tighter and tighter until, off I went gliding on the waves. It was so wobbly I thought that I was going to fall off but I didn’t. I looked up and saw the instructor signaling for me to try turning.  I wobbled but I managed to do a little turn left and then right. Then instructor said to hold the handle up I it was very bumpy I all most fell off this was way harder than I thought but I managed it. There I was soaring on the waves, this was awesome. “Woo hoo.” The water splashed my face as I looked over at the big green willows reaching down to touch the glittering water. Before I knew it the boat was slowing down. The instructor told me to let go of the handle, so I let go and undid the straps. I swam over to the shore where my friends were shouting my name and cheering for me. I felt so happy I couldn’t wait to do it again. 

My Knee Boarding Experience - Harley

I was so scared to kneeboard, but I was eager to try it. The whole time I felt my heart was beating really fast like it was going 120 beats per minute.  Luckily no one heard me scream because of the noise of the boat and water. I fell off many times but I did not give up.   I got a lot of water in my mouth when I fell off, which tasted awful.  Once I started it was such a great time skimming on the water. 

The Deep - Gus

The days at Aquatics camp were different. Waking up at six, knee- boarding double mayhem, and get back home at five. Madness! In and out of the water, Catamarans, small boat driving, kayaking, knee- boarding. Knee- boarding was last, and everyone said it was awesome. When the time came, Tilly, Klara, and Alyssa, all made me go first. We were told to hold onto a knee strap with a handle on top. Our group got out of the boat and got into position, with Tilly and Klara holding up the board. Kathy, our instructor, tossed us the handle, counting down from 5. Before I knew it, the board was being pulled slowly forward, and I could feel the wind rushing against my face, the spray of the water against my legs and the knee slapping of Chris, Klara’s Dad as he made a joke! After a minute Kathy told me to slowly lift the handle of the strap and hold it in the air. After we all had a go, we moved to do doubles. Alyssa and I were paired up, and it was awesome! At the end, after we all had turns doing doubles, we pulled the boards in, with the handles, and we left.