Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Nolaner

Cadet
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
14
When I first started skiing it was for show skiing, and instead of the ok signal being the circle above your head it was just a wave and a smile, and they added an injured skier signal, which was crossing your arms above your head. I always just assumed it was a signal everyone knew until the other day when some friends and I were talking and I learned that none of them have ever heard of it, just using the absence of the OK signal as one.

So I started thinking and realized that show skiing is different because sometimes we don't use CG approved PFDs and the large amount of skiers falling at once (pyramids collapsing are always a classic), that we would need one because it'd be easier than checking everyone for a wave and to signal the safety boat to get there ASAP.

So I guess this is an informal poll, has anyone else heard of it? (Luckily I've never seen it used, knock on wood) And if not, maybe think about adding it to your new skier info, the more people that know it the better.
 

BigBoatinOkie

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
763
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

so the skier in the water does the signal? never heard of that.
 

oldjeep

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
6,455
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Crossing your arms above your head? Sounds like a stupid signal - that I wouldn't be able to do with my last 2 injuries.

I find screaming works well ;)
 

Brewman61

Ensign
Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
996
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Can't say I've ever heard of any signal like that.
When we ski, the person driving the boat knows to get to the skiier asap once they go down. I just assume that if someone wipes out I should get there as soon as safely possible.
When I am skiing, and elect to drop, I wave bye-bye to the spotter, and drop the rope. This way they know I'm probably okay.
 

haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Yeah, I don't see the necessity of an "injured skier" signal because in many instances they may not be able to make the signal depending on pain tolerance. Besides that, what good does it do you as the driver/spotter to know that the skier in injured? I wouldn't get back to them any quicker than normal from a driving perspective, and I'm sure they'd let me know they were hurt unless they were unconscious.

Edit: I can see the use for it in show skiing when you have multiple skiers in the water and someone may need priority, but it isn't probably useful for just one or two skiers during recreational skiing.
 

whitjohn

Cadet
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
23
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Found this concerning basic signals....no injured skier signal.
I always assumed that if the OK signal wasn't given....there may be cause for concern.....provided the skier KNOWS the signals.

I used to be involved in ski racing.......saw a few skiers get knocked out.....it would be kinda difficult to signal if that happened.
 

Thad

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
1,028
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

We were taught to hold the ski upright in the water. This not only let the driver nkow you were ok, but let other boats in the area know there is a skier down. No ski or skier swimming after it, problem.

But, I also can see the need in show skiing. But for recreational skiing, I think it would be counter productive.
 

haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Agreed, Thad. We were also taught that once you fell, you were to hold the ski up out of the water to make yourself easier to spot to your boat and to other boaters.
 

oldjeep

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
6,455
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Agreed, Thad. We were also taught that once you fell, you were to hold the ski up out of the water to make yourself easier to spot to your boat and to other boaters.

We do that if there are other boats nearby, if its just us then we don't.
 

wired1236

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
111
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

Not sure either. It's usually the loud scream that causes us to know something is wrong.
 

Wingedwheel

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Messages
1,071
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

I thought the face-down float was the injured signal.. Just kidding, God forbid if something happened to anyone while they were skiing, but if seriously injured I don't see how someone could manage to raise their arms out of the water.
 

jrs_diesel

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 3, 2010
Messages
552
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

The arms waving at the surface is a SCUBA divers distress signal, most likely stemmed from that.
 

SeanT

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 8, 2009
Messages
661
Re: Does anyone else know the injured skier signal?

When there's other boats around and I wipe out, I hold both hands up in the air so people see me. If I'm on my knee board or surf board I recline, put my legs up on top, and put my hands behind my head like I'm laying on the couch.
 
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