Waterskiing need help!?

Question

hi ..im just wondering what the best way to waterski on just 1 ski ...i can do it on 2 skis but on one ski is proving difficult ...anyone got any tips???

Answer 1

I just started doing watersports about 3 years ago.  I can double ski, trick ski, wake board, and wake surf...

Slaloming or even just dropping a ski are still impossible for me.  I spend a couple runs trying to slalom almost every time I go and I can't seem to figure it out.  I just get frustrated and a lot of water up my nose.  But my whole family can slalom like they were born doing it.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I've been skiing now for about 25yrs and the slalom is my game.  While dropping is an effective way to learn, I don't agree with it being the best.  I have lost several skis from others trying to drop one.   Plus there is always the balance thing of transferring over to the other ski (most people fall.....a lot).  O'Brien makes a video (I'm not a big fan of O'Brien skis...I use a 2005-6 KD Titanium CR-7) but their video is very informative on all the major/popular water sports.  Best thing to do is have an experienced boat driver/skier with you to analyze your form and watch how you ready yourself in the water.  Remember: arms straight, sit in the chair, don't fight the boat, back straight, yell "Hit-it", and hang on.  It really is one of those things like riding a bike.  Once you come up the first time, you'll know what it feels like to clear the hole and be able to duplicate.  Once that happens, watch out.  In comparison, two skis are like your grandma's Cadillac on a sunday drive.  A slalom is like a Ferrari at the track, much more responsive to turning and picking up speed.  Good luck!

Answer 3

Just recently this summer I learned to slalom for the first time. I found it was harder to 'drop' a ski than to get up on only one. Just make sure you stay down as long as you can. If you try to pull yourself up you will fall every time.  You will be able to tell when your out of the water.

Answer 4

ive been water skiing since i was 8 and im only 16. and what  you should try first is to drop a ski. first when you put your skis on put the one you're going to drop on as loose as you can, then shift all you weight on to the ski that you're not going to drop the lift the other ski up and try to kick it off but keep your balance. then stick the open foot in the back pocket. make sure you keep the majority of your weight on the back foot and use the front foot for direction.

to get up on one you can either start with your foot in the pocket or out of it what ever you feel more comfortable then when you want to stand up later then you would on two skis and when the boat starts to pull you forward keep keep your shoulders back and keep your knees bent until you feel completely balanced then stand up, and have fun!!

p.s. to find out what foot you use in front have a friend stand behind you and push you a little bit forward and what ever foot you step with to catch your balance is the foot you probably feel most comfortable in the front

Answer 5

one important tip for deep water start: if you are left foot forward put your ski on the left side of the rope. and right side for right foot forward. tuck the ski way underneath you, by bring your knees up to your chest, so that you can feel the ski on your rear. the ski tip should stick out of the water but you want the ski to be sitting almost parallel with the waters surface. when the boat goes keep contact with the ski and your rear then as you go faster do a "crunch " of sorts.  don't hurry to stand up and don't pull back on the rope. let the boat do the work.(don't have a timid driver..don't go too slow but alternately, you don't want to yank your shoulders out of their sockets!)

Answer 6

Hi there! My best guess is you haven't really figure out which one is your front foot... (I might be wrong)??

This method might be a bit slow, but after a few practice you'll have a stronger and confident ride...

Try this... start off by using 2 skis (double ski), cut out of the right wake and lift your LEFT LEG... balance, then do it on the left wake, lift RIGHT LEG. Feel the difference, and the best feel/balance is the front foot.

Adjust your bindings accordingly... loosen the side you're going to 'drop'. Make sure it's safe to drop your ski... alert your boat driver and anyone else in the area.

It is the best way to start slalom ski, and getting the fundamentals right will avoid any bad habits (and frustrations) in the future.

If you have a barefoot bar / boom from the boat... try using this method last. Your initial run... use the bar (practice your body position), move on using a short rope (you can use a w/board handle, loop it around the bar)...

Again, safety first... you'll be skiing near to the boat, so gotta make sure your driver knows how to do it.