How to Determine Boat Speed When Water Skiing

Finding the right speed for water skiiing depends on a variety of factors. With a little bit of experimentation, and by making a few adjustments, you can find the best speed for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine what type of skiing you will do. Speeds may vary depending on the type of ski, whether you are going to slalom or use two skis, do trick skiing or go barefoot. The wind and the roughness of the water play roles.
2. Assess your experience. If you're a beginner, your starting speed will depend on your size. A 40-pound child wouldn't start at the same speed as an adult. Ten to 15 mph is a good starting point for a person on two skis. As you gain experience, increased speed will feel more comfortable. About 17 mph is a comfortable speed for many recreational skiers. If you choose to slalom, increase the speed. 23 mph is a good speed to start with. Men generally ski a bit faster than women.
3. Know hand signals. Make sure your boat driver and the spotter in the boat also know the signals. Thumbs up is the universal signal for speeding up, thumbs down is the signal to slow. Patting the top of your head tells the boat driver to go home.
4. Common sense prevails. Don't get caught up on a specific number because some boats don't even have speedometers. Whatever is comfortable for you is the right speed. If you feel like you're being pulled down by the water or dragging behind, speed up. If you feel like you're going to fly forward and are struggling to hang on, slow down.