Just watched a friend teach 4 kids in the 13 yr old range to surf this weekend 2 who had not even tried to water ski. He sat on the back platform of the boat and would hold the back grab rail on the the stern. He then used his feet to hold the board vertical against the water so they could put their feet against it and we would then slowly add power and they would just pop up. On the ones who had never skied he also held the rope short and sort of pulled them around facing the boat and then slowly let out the rope "the rope was still attached to the tower he just grabbed it about halfway down and pulled them around slowly". I will see if I have a video of it and post it if I can figure out how. After around two surfing turns the previous skiers were getting up by themselves. They were all on a 5' hyperlite board and using a small triangle handle rope with knots.
2007 24SSV
66 18' Chris Craft Super Sport