| In a previous article, I discussed how to teach a child to | | | | around the fact that the ski will try to wobble during |
| water-ski. Moving to the single ski, or slalom ski as it is | | | | the launch. |
| formally known is the natural progression for the | | | | To help control this wobble, I would recommend using |
| accomplished child or adult water-skier. | | | | a rope made for skiing with two skis. Such a rope |
| The first thing to understand is the rather simple | | | | usually terminates into a single handle. Ropes that are |
| physics involved. The physics that I'm talking about | | | | made for slalom skis are split about six feet from the |
| aren't college level gobbledygook. It's really quite simple. | | | | end, then terminate into two small handles, one for |
| If I weigh 180lbs and I'm skiing on two skis, then each | | | | each hand. I prefer the rope with a single handle |
| ski is supporting 90lbs of my weight. If, however, I only | | | | because you can control the wobble by pushing the |
| ski on one ski, then that one ski has to support all of | | | | ski against the rope during the launch while you are in |
| my 180lbs. | | | | 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 make | | | | Put your foot into the rear binding just after you yell for |
| the transition to one ski This goes for small adults also. | | | | the boat to go. |
| By the same token, the adult that weighs over 200lbs | | | | As the boat starts to move, pull the tail of your ski up |
| is going to have trouble getting launched on just one | | | | towards your bottom, but leave the tip out of the |
| ski. | | | | water. |
| When I wrote about teaching children to ski, I | | | | Hold the ski up against the rope to stop the wobble |
| mentioned that children are intimidated by the boat, so | | | | that I talked about before. |
| you should use a small one. When skiing on one ski, it's | | | | 3) About three seconds after the boat starts to move, |
| best to use the biggest motor that you can get hold of. | | | | stand up. As soon as you stand up, it is vitally |
| Since his weight is only being supported by one ski, the | | | | important that you lean back away from the boat and |
| boat needs to pull the skier out of the water as quick | | | | head out to the side. If your right foot is forward on the |
| as it can. The boat driver can always throttle back | | | | ski, you should go to the right. If your left foot is |
| after the skier gets up. | | | | forward on the ski, you should go to the left. Following |
| The method for launching on one ski consists of | | | | these recommendations will result in an easier, more |
| several steps to keep in mind: | | | | comfortable ride your first time. |
| 1) Have the boat pull the rope taunt while you stabilize | | | | 4) On the first tow, I would also recommend not |
| yourself in the water with your free foot. | | | | crossing the wake. Try making small turns, but stay to |
| 2) In this next step, several things need to happen | | | | the side. |
| almost at the same time, so it is a very important one. | | | | 5) When approaching waves, lean against the boat. |
| Hold the ski almost straight up and down, but do not | | | | When people approach waves on two skis, they tend |
| lock your knees. I have seen a lot of people try to | | | | to lean forward, which is okay; however, if you do the |
| launch on a single ski with their knees locked. These | | | | same thing on a slalom ski, disaster will strike, because |
| people have the mistaken belief that if they just hold | | | | if you lean forward, the dreaded wobble will start. |
| on long enough, the boat will pull them up. I've seen | | | | Remember that it is extremely important to hold your |
| people use this method many times, but I've never | | | | ski against the rope during the early part of the launch. I |
| seen it work. The faster they get going, the more their | | | | consider this tip to be the single most important step to |
| ski wobbles back and forth until finally the skier has to | | | | getting up on one ski. |
| let go of the rope. | | | | Have fun! |
| Even without having the knees locked, there is no way | | | | |