Waterskiing is a popular recreational and competitive sport in many parts of the world. In waterskiing, an individual is pulled behind a motorboat on a body of water as they hold on to a ski rope and glide on the water on skis.
Even though it will take some effort, learning to waterski is relatively easy for most people. With instruction, anybody can experience the excitement of riding the waves behind a motorboat.
While waterskiing, having the proper technique ensures you stay upright and balanced. Don’t try to pull yourself up or stand upright on the skis too early. Let the boat pull you up as you stay crouched for as long as possible to keep you balanced.
When you are up, keep your arms straight and knees slightly bent. Pick a particular spot on the boat and keep your eyes focused on it. If your eyes rove or look down at the water, you will likely lose balance and fall.
When starting, particularly on a lake or lagoon without strong currents, one way to learn is to start on combo water skis and then drop one ski after a short distance. Mark or remember the spot where you leave the one ski, and then try to come back to that position in a quick turn. Single slalom skiing is one of the fastest and quickest turns in water skiing. This maneuver teaches you slalom-style skiing. It may be tricky to locate where you leave the ski if you are on a river or ocean where currents might have carried it away.
Starting on a single slalom ski may be more challenging in deep water, and using a deep-V-handle ski rope helps. The deep V rope allows you to put the single ski pointed dead ahead and right in front of you as the motorboat moves and accelerates.
The next step is to pick the right waterskiing equipment. If you are a heavier skier, you may need longer skis, although, for most beginners, it’s better to look for combination skis. A combo water ski comes in a set of two skis that provide extra stability, better balance, and directional control than a single ski.
Waterskiing is different from many other sports or activities. You use muscles you might not even know you have. Also, it puts you in awkward and unfamiliar athletic stances. Patience, therefore, is essential as you learn how to balance on the skis and practice certain moves. The patience should also be extended to your instructor and boat driver.
Like virtually all vigorous physical activities, water sports carry risk elements such as injuries and drowning. Waterskiing, therefore, demands adherence to strict safety protocols. In your safety checklist, a must-do item includes wearing a life jacket throughout and ensuring that the equipment and boat are in excellent condition. You also must master the various signals telling the boat driver what you want them to do, only ski in designated areas, and try to fall onto your back or side when losing control.
