| In a previous article, I discussed how to teach a | | | | way around the fact that the ski will try to |
| child to water-ski. Moving to the single ski, or | | | | wobble during the launch. |
| slalom ski as it is formally known is the natural | | | | The skier needs to overcome this tendency to |
| progression for the accomplished child or adult | | | | wobble by using the same rope that he used |
| water-skier. | | | | before with two skis. Such a rope usually |
| The first thing to understand is the rather simple | | | | terminates into a single handle. Ropes that are |
| physics involved. The physics that I?m talking | | | | made for slalom skis are split about six feet from |
| about aren?t college level gobbledygook. It?s really | | | | the end, then terminate into two small handles, |
| quite simple. If I weigh 180lbs and I?m skiing on | | | | one for each hand. I prefer the rope with a single |
| two skis, then each ski is supporting 90lbs of my | | | | handle because you can control the wobble by |
| weight. If, however, I only ski on one ski, then | | | | pushing the ski against the rope during the launch |
| that one ski has to support all of my 180lbs. | | | | while you are in the water. |
| This fact of physics means that a child that is | | | | Yell for the boat to go. |
| accomplished on two skis can probably easily | | | | Put your foot into the rear binding just after you |
| make the transition to one ski This goes for small | | | | yell for the boat to go. |
| adults also. These same physics mean that the | | | | As the boat starts to move, pull the tail of your |
| adult that is heavy is going to have great difficulty | | | | ski up towards your bottom, but leave the tip out |
| in getting up on the slalom ski. | | | | of the water. |
| When I wrote about teaching children to ski, I | | | | If you press the ski up against the rope as you |
| mentioned that children are intimidated by the | | | | start to move, you should find that you can |
| boat, so you should use a small one. When skiing | | | | control the wobble of the ski that I mentioned |
| on one ski, it's best to use the biggest motor that | | | | earlier. |
| you can get ahold of. Since his weight is only | | | | 3) Just after the boat starts to get going, it's time |
| being supported by one ski, the boat needs to pull | | | | to try standing. As soon as you stand up, it is |
| the skier out of the water as quick as it can. The | | | | vitally important that you lean back away from |
| boat driver can always throttle back after the | | | | the boat and head out to the side. If your right |
| skier gets up. | | | | foot is forward on the ski, you should go to the |
| The method for launching on one ski consists of | | | | right. If your left foot is forward on the ski, you |
| several steps to keep in mind: | | | | should go to the left. Following these |
| 1) Have the boat pull the rope taunt while you | | | | recommendations will result in an easier, more |
| stabilize yourself in the water with your free foot. | | | | comfortable ride your first time. |
| 2) In this next step, several things need to | | | | After you get up the first time, don't complicate |
| happen almost at the same time, so it is a very | | | | things by trying to cross the wake. Try making |
| important one. Hold the ski almost straight up and | | | | small turns, but stay to the side. |
| down, but do not lock your knees. A lot of people | | | | 5) When approaching waves, lean against the |
| try to get up on one ski by locking their knees in | | | | boat. When people approach waves on two skis, |
| the water and then try to let the boat pull them | | | | they tend to lean forward, which is okay; |
| up. These people have the mistaken belief that if | | | | however, if you do the same thing on a slalom |
| they just hold on long enough, the boat will pull | | | | ski, disaster will strike, because if you lean |
| them up. I've seen people use this method many | | | | forward, the dreaded wobble will start. |
| times, but I've never seen it work. The faster | | | | Remember that it is extremely important to hold |
| they get going, the more their ski wobbles back | | | | your ski against the rope during the early part of |
| and forth until finally the skier has to let go of the | | | | the launch. I consider this tip to be the single most |
| rope. | | | | important step to getting up on one ski. |
| Even without having the knees locked, there is no | | | | Have fun!!! |