Wakeboarding had been on our list of things to do in KL for quite a while. One of the kids had been invited, with a small group of friends, to a birthday party and thought it was super good fun – and she was right – it was.
We made a booking through Putrajaya Waterski School for a lazy Sunday afternoon and headed out to Putrajaya lake. It was a good thing we booked in advance because apparently slots fill up.
We were a little confused when we registered about what our board riding options were, but after a few questions we established we were able to take both a wakeboard and a two kneeboards out at the same time. There are also waterskis available, but at this stage I thought that may have been a bridge too far.
Wakeboarding vs. kneeboarding
We started with the kids kneeboarding, but after one round on the lake both girls decided to give the wakeboarding a go. It takes a bit more balance as you have to get up on your feet, and it is a bit trickier to master than the kneeboard, but it is well worth the effort.
And here they go:
Safety
The boats are modern, very comfortable and well-maintained. We had an information lesson as soon as we got on the boat from our driver, and instruction on the water. Our driver was professional and safety conscious, but could still manage to have a good laugh at our antics. He was very patient with us all.
Life jackets are supplied and made sure to fit everyone in the boat. They must be worn at all times. As soon as one of the kids fell off the driver stopped the boat and came around to either pick her up or to make sure she could get back up on the board. He was also strict with his timings, which makes sense as there is only in hour in which to have maximum fun. As we had a couple of riding options the girls could ride in tandem which meant the best use of the hour.
Time on the water
We hired the boat for an hour as we were really only going for the girls. In hindsight, for a family of four, if you all want to have a decent amount of time on the water, I think two hours is a better option.
For us, this was a real treat, as it is not a cheap way to spend an hour at RM520 per boat. But it is super worth it for the fun factor! If you like being outside, and on the water with a bit of speed, and you don’t mind the lake water at Putrajaya, then I would definitely recommend giving this a go.
If you are looking for something even a bit more challenging, check out flyboarding, also available here at the Marina Putrajaya. And if you want to turn it into a staycation, the night, the best option would be the Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside (read our review here).
Birthday party on the lake
This is what friends and my daughter who attended a birthday party here recommend for the party experience: all you need are two boats, two adults – one in each boat – and eight kids for an hour’s party, or one boat for two hours. Friends did this and ordered pizza (delivered) to the beach. This was a huge birthday party success! But make sure the kids are strong enough swimmers to be confident in water.
What to bring
- Swimwear
- Rashtop – the life jackets can rub
- Sunblock
- Towel
- Sunglasses
- A sense of humour
Things to consider
- Don’t be late, in fact arrive at least 15 minutes before your booking.
- Do read the cancellation and terms policy – if you arrive late they will not change your slot and will charge you for that missed time.
- I hesitate to put an age bracket on this. I know young kids who have kneeboarded no problem and older kids who won’t even entertain the idea. Simply put, kids have to be able to follow instructions, not be afraid of the water and falling in – because they will – and hold on tight.
MARINA PUTRAJAYA
Waterski Counter,
No. 1, Jalan P5/5, Presint 5,
62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Tel: +6012 387 7115, +6012 272 1948
