Newbie Waterskiing Advice

[riden]

First of all, I tried to search the site and came up with nothing.

Bought the boat this spring and we have tubed a lot. My 17 yr old asked to try something different. For his birthday I bought some waterskis. Went to a watersports store, bought what they recommended, a little wider than normal he said, good to learn on.

Now, problem is I have never done it and don't know anyone who has.

Any tips on #1 getting on the skis??
#2 piloting the boat (16 ft boat, 90 Evinrude)
Sould I just pin it?? Will that be too
much??

Any advice would be geartly appreciated.

 

[QC]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

Slalom or double skis? If slalom, then give her all she's got. If doubles you may be able to go a little lighter on the throttle, but he'll want full pop once he gets it. As soon as he pops up, g r a d u a l l y start decreasing the throttle. Watch the spray in front of the ski(s) to start. If there is a lot of spray in front, a little too slow. No spray, too fast. Then let him tell you. When they fall, make sure to get your flag up and then go protect your skier!!! Be safe!

Remind double skiers to keep the handle near their belly button. If they hold it up, they will fall forward when the slack takes up, if they hold it lower, they will fall backwards. Wait for the boat to pull out the slack at first. It will catch up.

Slalom, remind to "climb" out, up over the tip, just don't let the ski tip go under. Once up take a pretty decent lean back to get comfortable and control the ski, then . . .

We love teaching skiers. Be patient!!! If they're done, they will tell you. Make sure they don't think they are bugging you by multiple trys.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

i've taught over 200 kids to ski in the last 45 years. #1 ski vest. get in waist deep water, you put the skis on like a pair of loafers. now let him sit there and learn to control the skis. they are going to try to turn him on his face. he has to learn this before any thing else. can be done in a pool also.
the starting position of the skier is rope between skis,pull your knees up to your chest, butt sitting on the rear of the skis, elbows lock around knees. (almost fetal postion) skis about 6-8 inches apart, and about 6-10 of the front of the ski out of the water. arms straight
when the skier is ready he yells HIT IT, the skier cac ski all day in the fatal position, just gets a little rought on the rump. standing it is a trial and error experience, balance forward and back, right and left. keep your arms straight, if you start pumping in and out you are going to go over backwards.
the weight of the person and boat performance depends on how much throttle you use , a 200lb man gets it all, a 50lbs kids gets about 50 -75 %.
there is a learned art for the driver as well. 1st you always approach the skier in the water on the drivers side of the boat so you can see him. towing the rope you make a complete circle around the skier, so he can pick up the rope, but watch the rope so you don't run over it. you will learn after you cut a couple of ropes off the prop. your spotter is responsible for helping with the rope. the drive must know his boat, the throttle has to be move very smoothly and some time in minnute increments, the skier tells the spotter wheater faster or slower, and the spotter tells you, you watch where you are going the spotter watches the skier.. thumb pointed up is faster, pointed down is slower. hand held with palm toward boat is stop .

these are the very basics, I'm 58 y/o still sking and teaching, anyone who wants to learn. be proud your son wants to learn. most kids now want to ride a toy, skiing is a skill, and a very rewarding one when fisrt learning you will be a little sore the 1st & 2nd day after usually the 3rd day you wonder what you did to your body. then it all gets better. even if you are in good physical condition. you use mussel in a totally different way i have skied on pairs, salaoms, tricks, round dics with no boots, surf boards, jumped ramps, even have an 24" long salom, that is skied on for years, just never could master barefoot.

safety first, remember the ski vest. no one ski's without one, i;ve had the wind knocked out of me more time than i can count.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

And don't do the stupid trick of thinking I'll "jerk" him up on the water by having a great deal of slack in the rope when you hit it. I once saw shoulders dislocated by a first time driver and first time skier. The poor guy was standing in his skis on the beach in water about to his knees. Fins obviously dug into the beach. The driver took off and the water literally foamed as the coil of rope unwound. The skis never moved and guy was jerked out of them. His day of skiing turned into an ambulance ride. The boat, motor, trailer, car, skis, driver and skier were all brand new. Well -- the people weren't brand new but newly experienced.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

All good advice. In addition to what tashasdaddy said. when circling the skier to get ready to pull, go slow. That ski rope can cause bad friction burns if pulled across the skier fast. Also, as you circle, look for the ski rope handle. It can help you judge where the rope is and how fast it's moving relative to the skier in the water. Just before the handle gets to the skier, go to neutral. Wait for the skier to manage the rope, skis, and handle. Then, nudging in and out of gear, take up the slack and await his/her OK(as in a nod) before accelerating.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

thankyou you both i left that out. this is the first time i've ever typed these instruction,

 

[riden]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

Thanks guys, I appreciate it

 

[Maltair]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

Me too, I was going to post a question on this very subject.

 

[79Merc140]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

Ok guys:

I teach a little differently than most of you.

First of all, I start them off deep water. I'll put the skis on and show then in the boat and then have them do it in the water. I rarely give them a second ski, but if I did, then I would have them hold the handle and rope between the skis and put the motor in gear and pull them at an idle for a while letting them get the feel of being pulled through the water and controling the skis. Most of the time, if they can control the skis in the water, they can control them on top of the water. And REMEMBER that with doubles, you don't need much power to start. I have them put their knees to their chest, arms straight, but relaxed. I give it about 1/3 to 1/2 throttle depending on the size of the skier and once they are up on top of the water, then bring the throttle back so that the boat isn't accelerating anymore and holding that speed as well as possible (This will come with thime). Don't go that fast. The spray at the front of the skis is good advice.

With single skiers, I have them put the rope on side that they have the foot in the back of the ski or opposite of the front foot. Put their knee to their chest and pretend that they are sitting in a recliner, ski at about a 45 degree angle and about 6 inches of the tip out of the water and again I'll tow them at an idle till they get the feel for it. I also tell them to stay in that position until they aren't getting wet anylonger and to then stand up.

As for when they either fall or let go of the rope. I get the boat back to them as fast as possible and stay near them so that other boaters will have a better chance of seeing my boat rather than taking a chance that they won't see the skiers head in the water, ALSO have the skier take the ski off and hold it as far up as possible til you get back to him/her with the boat for better visibility.

If at all possible, practice with a "No Wake" bouy getting the rope handle to the skier. It's not fair to make them swim for the handle with skis on. :'(

Anyway. that's what has been working for me for 20 years. Hope it helps.

Craig

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

First couple of times take along an experienced driver if you can find one. A good driver can help the novice skier get out of the water by his boat handling techniques. It makes all the difference in the world. Watch him and learn what and why he is doing.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

8)...........Never land on your arse feet extended in a up right position...........:'(

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

Didn't follow all the posts, but on your life jacket, get a crotch strap. Purpose it to keep the preserver from riding up the child's body in an accident (falling off the skiis). BTDT with my (young at the time) daughter; didn't have a strap and almost lost her.

Mark

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

Another coupla cents worth here.

Watch those turns. If you aren't used to pulling a rope that long you can misjudge and slam your skier into docks and rocks. A kid died that way at a camp my dad was at when he was younger.

Never back the boat toward the skier. Even idling beside a skier makes me nervous. I usually keep the engine off.

Watch where you are driving. Let the spotter do their job.

Be considerate of people on the shore. Don't ski by the same dock 37 times. They don't want the noise and wash.

If your skier is using two to get up then dropping one to go slalom, make sure you don't run over it later. It never hurts to point it out to your skier if you are going anywhere near it.

Always, always have a spotter in the boat and never, never ski past sunset. I've seen people break both these rules...at the same time.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

First timers, and youngsters in particular, have a tendency to want to do this right the first time and in an attempt to please you, tend to hang onto the rope if they fall or don't get up right away. Instruct them firmly to let go and keep their mouth shut. The inrush of water into an open mouth can drown you instantly. An adult family friend lost his life in that manner.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

If you have kids, have them practice putting on the skis in a swimming pool before you go to the lake. After they get a hang of that, you can pull them by pulling the rope by the side of the pool.

My dad taught all of my brothers and sisters that way. Got up very first time at the lake.

 

[evin268fs]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

90 hp is plenty of motor, but you may want to check your prop pitch, a 15 is best if slaloming for beginners, 17 if just double skiing. Remember to trim the motor all the way down, wont go anywhere if its not trimmed down. For beginners on two is is best to ease the trottle steadily to full, don't slam it for beginners, gives them time to steady themeselves on the way up. then back off, usually once they get to the swirls they will be up, and you should start easing up. Propping it down will allow for easier speed control. Nudge the trottle back just a little thu tight turns if they are on the outside of the wake, It gets quick out there thru turns. If they are caught on the inside of the wake entering a turn shut it down, slack in the rope can cause a faceplant as the skiier sinks the the rope tightens and jerks them hard. Agree on your hand signals before skiing, faster/slower/finished turning left/turning right.

Most Importantly, assume the other boaters out there are idiots, there are enough of them that get too close, cut you off or try and follow you, or yeild to the tow boat as they should, watching for other boats, obstacles and the shoreline should be your main concern, leave watching the skiier to the spotter, that is their job.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

Seams to me this should be a new post since the Topic Started has not been back Since JULY 16 2006.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

I knew it seemed strange that this was being asked in February.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

I am 13 and learned at the end of the summer. The most important thing, IMHO is to keep knees bent and arms straight on the takeoff. You wont get it unless your knees are bent and arms straight. I tried for months with nobody telling me that. After they told me, I got it first time. Make the person chant it over and over while they are in the water. "Knees bent. Arms straight. Knees bent. Arms straight."

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Newbie Waterskiing Advice

bass boy1, sometimes you amaze me. with what you come up with. good chant.

thought it was time to bring this back to the top.