How to Get Up on One Water Ski
Drag behind the boat with one foot in the ski and the other dragging behind it. Freeze as the boat speeds up, and let the boat pull you up. Put your back foot in the ski, and you're up and riding on one ski.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Put on your slalom ski with the foot of your slalom leg (your strong one) forward and snug in the binding.
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2
Pull the knee of your slalom leg up to your chest so that the tip of your ski is pointing up out of the water in front of you. Let your other leg hang down behind you with toes pointed out.
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3
Grip the ski rope with the baseball-bat grip (knuckles on opposite sides).
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4
Have the driver pull you at a slow idle to get the feel of being pulled forward.
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5
Yell, "Hit it," to have the driver accelerate to regular speed (correct speed depends on skiers weight and skill, see "How to Drive a Ski Boat"). Freeze in your present position as the boat is accelerating. Make no unnecessary movements.
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6
Keep your rear foot dragging behind you until your ski is planing and you are out of the water. Avoid trying to stand up. Let the boat do the work.
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7
Straighten your back, and place your rear foot in the back binding.
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8
Relax your arms, and lean back on the rope.
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9
Release your grip on the rope, and sit back into the water to stop.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you fall to the side during your start, it is because you are not keeping your weight directly over and behind the ski.
If you fall forward, you are not crouched up enough. Pull your ski closer to your chest, and lean back more during the start.
If you fall back, it is because you are leaning back too much. Relax.
Always wear a life vest.
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Comments
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dad65
Jun 21, 2009
With the new skiis or competition skiis that have full bindings on both feet, when do you put the back foot in the binding, after or before take-off? -
Aug 08, 2006
Dropping a ski. Go just outside the wake opposite the ski you plan to keep (right ski head left). Let the drop ski on the water and press down and back with your toe. Once the heel is free, lift the toe. You now look like a stork on a ski. Do not put your foot in the rear binding. You'll fall soon enough without trying this. Stay up on one, do small maneuvers outside the wake. Experience the responsiveness of the ski. When you fall (probably soon at first) the boat will go back for your drop ski. The driver remembers where you dropped it. After you drop about three times and you can ski for at least 1/2 mile on one, try the rear binding. That'll change the balance of the ski. It'll become more maneuverable. Now that you have some experience you'll be able to handle it.
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Jul 31, 2006
I really recommend using a ski training rope, it makes it a lot easier to keep the ski straight. You can buy them at Overton's. I start with both my feet in the bindings and I push down on my back foot just a little bit. When the position you're in feels steady (like you've been in the same position for like 5 seconds) then you know you're up and all you have to do is stand and lean back. Then you don't even have to worry about standing up too fast.
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Jun 30, 2006
Learn to ski on one ski before trying to get up on one. There is a new balance to discover. Go just outside the wake. Keep the ski that is near the wake in the water. Lift just the toe of the other ski -- the ski that is near shore. (away from the boat). Lift it just high enough to cause your balance to change. Notice how the weighted ski moves underneath you, then quiets down. Notice how moving away from the boat creates stability. CAUTION: When learning to lift a ski, keep the fin dragging in the water. If the leg becomes high enough that the heel comes off the water, the natural angle of the ankle might put the front of the ski back into the water. Putting the toe in the water at 25 mph would be bad.
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Jun 30, 2006
Learn to ski on one ski before trying to get up on one. There is a new balance to discover. Go just outside the wake. Keep the ski that is near the wake in the water. Lift just the toe of the other ski -- the ski that is near shore. (away from the boat). Lift it just high enough to cause your balance to change. Notice how the weighted ski moves underneath you, then quiets down. Notice how moving away from the boat creates stability. CAUTION: When learning to lift a ski, keep the fin dragging in the water. If the leg becomes high enough that the heel comes off the water, the natural angle of the ankle might put the front of the ski back into the water. Putting the toe in the water at 25 mph would be bad.
