Dancing With the Stars alum Lindsey Arnold has left many on edge after she shared a video of her wake surfing with two-year-old daughter Sage.
The 28-second clip shows the dancer and choreographer, 29, getting into a standing position on his board, being pulled forward by a motorboat on Lake Powell, with Sage sitting at his feet.
Both clearly had life vests on as they skimmed the surface of the reservoir, a popular tourist destination located between Utah and Arizona.
Moments later, the mother of two carefully bent down and picked up her eldest, cradling the younger child to her chest moments before the ship slowed and their board sank beneath the waves.
Lindsey Arnold, 29, took her older daughter, two-year-old Sage, out on Lake Powell for an afternoon of wake surfing.
The DWTS choreographer grabbed Lindsay to his chest after letting go of the ropes
Lindsey posted the clip on her Instagram on Friday, writing as the caption, ‘Core Memory… So proud of our sweet and brave girl! Can’t wait for these fun firsts with my beautiful daughter.’
Sweet sentiments don’t stop the naysayers from flooding the comments.
‘Are you crazy? Most irresponsible post on Instagram today,’ one fumed.
‘I think it’s dangerous to have a small child on this board. Very irresponsible,’ echoed another.
‘What were you thinking? Something for IG… so many things could have gone wrong,’ another opined.
‘Children are not props or toys to use to show off our own agility. I am personally disappointed with the decision to do so at such a young age. It shows poor judgement,’ one user shouted.
Still, many others rushed to Lindsay’s defense.
The stunt was widely criticized on social media, where users were quick to accuse Arnold of putting his daughter in danger.
Several Nasara comments flooded in to criticize Lindsay for surfing her oldest wake.
Many other fans jumped to Lindsay’s defense, praising her impressive skills
‘That’s where the hope lies. He is brave because he trusts his mother. And holy you are strong!’ A supporter applauded.
‘Many helicopter parents out there are afraid of their own shadows. Life is unpredictable at its best, love him living it to the fullest with his mom!’ Another cheer.
Fellow DWTS dancer Emma Slater also sang her former co-star’s praises, writing, ‘I don’t know about anyone else here but I’m so impressed with you for doing Lindsay with one hand and an extra little person ermmmmm icon!!!!!’
To her credit, Lindsay started taking Sage to swimming classes more than a year ago and has taken to her Instagram to document the tot’s progress, People reports.
According to Canary Island-based surfing school Surf Life Tenerife, it’s possible for kids as young as five to get a taste of surfing – with adequate adult supervision, of course.
Lindsay and her husband, Sam Cusick, welcomed their second child, daughter June, on May 3
The longtime DWTS dancer announced plans to leave the show in August 2022 after more than a decade on the series.
As the site advises: ‘Once your baby surfer can swim a little, you can take them on a longboard for the first time.
‘Make sure the waves are small, let them wear a lifejacket, and they’ll have the time of their lives!
‘In fact the final step before your little ones try surfing themselves is to let them try bodyboarding. They can start catching their first waves this way from the age of three.’
Lindsay and her husband, construction project manager Sam Cusick, 30, welcomed their second child, daughter June, on May 3.
The longtime DWTS dancer announced plans to leave the show in August 2022 after more than a decade on the series.