Could your son be growing fast? Or maybe just his feet? It sounds to wakeboard expert Joran Van Lange, of Boardsports in Toronto, as though his bindings are too small. Wakeboard bindings are designed to let feet slip out when you take a fall, an important point for safety. If his toes are curling over the end of the foot bed, it's time for bigger ones.

Lace-up bindings offer better support and feature a quick-release lace lock. At the lower end they tend to be adjustable, up to men's size 14. At the top end, they offer more support and are more size-specific (for when those feet finally stop growing).

In correctly sized bindings, when you raise your heel and wiggle your ankle, the heel should slide out and the rest of the foot should follow. The best escape technique is to slip the back foot out first so you can use it as leverage to free the front foot.

If he continues to have trouble, your son could try using a binding lubricant. Van Lange says they're more for getting into bindings than getting out of them, but are also good for lubricating and protecting the pricey little devils. Newt Juice and Loogie Boot Lube are two brands on the market. But be sure to use sparingly, since any large amounts may ultimately have negative effects on the lake.

Alternatively, your son might try wakeskating. A wakeskate looks like a mini surfboard and doesn't have bindings; you stand on the foam top, usually wearing runners for extra traction. It's fun, says Van Lange, and cheaper than wakeboards.