Water skiing - how to deep water slalom start (please read text below)

Описание: Having been someone who didn't start water skiing until 50+, I thought it might be helpful to others to pass on a few tips after FINALLY managing to do the deep water start consistently on 1 Ski with both feet in the bindings. There seem to be a few different methods but the notes below is what works for me.

** Please leave a comment if this was useful and/or if anything doesn't make sense and could be better worded. **

The main problem I had getting up on 1 ski was making the adjustment (in my head) from the technique used for a 2 ski deep water start. It is totally different.

The most common question you hear and is one that I asked a number of skiers is "Is starting on a slalom ski easy and does it take lots of strength". The short answer to these two questions is yes and no respectively ----- once you get it right :-)

Having said that it probably took me about 40 attempts and it wasn't until I got some good advice that I succeeded.

I ski left foot forward because this is my more stable, stronger & better balancing leg. I also have my right foot in the rear binding the whole time.

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When in the water I am concentrating on
-getting low down "on" the ski

-arms straight & outside my knees

in a ball or 3 point crouch BUT different to when on 2 skis. ie the crouch is not as tight and your body position is more towards the back of the ski.

-pulling the rear of the ski up with the rear/right foot so that the ski is not pointing straight up at the sky. ie the closer to horizontal, the less pressure on your arms when the boat takes off - realistically I would get this to about 40-45 degrees just as the power is coming on.

** the next 2 points were the key for me getting up ***
I only stay in the 3 point crouch for about 1-2 second after the boat goes to full power and I make sure the boat doesn't pull me forward towards the front of the ski during this time.

I then start pushing down against the force of the rope/boat with my left/front foot. This keeps the ski pointing at about 30-40 degrees up from off horizontal. I hold this for a few seconds until the boat is up to about 28 mph and then settle into my slalom skiing position. For me this is leaning back a little more then I would on 2 skis. ie the ski is not sitting as flat on the water as is the case with 2 skis

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Once up on the slalom you need to gently experiment with your balance by adjusting your lean and seeing how much weight you need on you rear foot - I am probably 65% front 35% rear.

If you go face forward when trying to get up you are possibly in too tighter 3 point crouch or you are letting the boat pull your body position forward on the ski or leaving it to late to push against the force and begin the standing up process.

If the rope gets pulled out of your hands you probably have the ski to vertical (ie to much resistance) and or you are not pushing down at the right time. ie probably too late

If you have trouble keeping the ski straight when the boat is slowly pulling you forward before the power comes on, you could trying point it slightly off the centre of the boat and angle it slightly so the ski surface is not quite parallel to the boat - it should straighten up as soon as the power comes on.

A few other suggestions....

If possible spend the money on a good slalom rope with a deep V - we use the Proline Quickstart deep-v with a 15" handle - great for keeping the ski straight when you are sitting in the water and the wider handle seems to help with balance
don't try & learn on a narrow ski, get (or borrow) a modern wide body ski if possible
-make sure your boat is powerful enough, we have a 5.3m (17.5 foot) boat with a 115HP 2 stroke, which has ample power
don't have any more people in the boat than you need ie 2 is good :-)

So that's it - hope this helps and that someone will benefit from all the face plants and swallowing of water I did when I was learning :-)

(Video was taken on the Manawatu River in New Zealand)