How to Perform a 360 Helicopter Spin on One Water Ski

Spin a full 360 degrees on one trick water ski by connecting two 180s smoothly together. Yes, smoothly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Safety Flags
• Life Vests
• Ski Boats
• Trick Skis
• Water Ski Ropes
• Water Skis

1. Learn to front-to-back on one ski and back-to-front on one ski (see Related eHows) to the point where you can do them both consistently in either direction. Also learn to 360 on two trick skis (see Related eHow) to practice necessary rope-handling skills.
2. Use a 75-foot rope and ski directly behind the boat in the center of the wake on your single trick ski.
3. Stay low in your vertical crouch and begin rhythmic low-bounces. As you get the timing right on this trick you will find that the rhythm of your low-bounces is very important to a smooth 360.
4. Lead with your head and spin 180 front-to-back as you go up on your bounce. Release your left hand and spin to the left.
5. Keep the rope close to your body and your head up.
6. Grab the rope with your left hand and hold your knuckles against the small of your back.
7. Release your right hand and spin back-to-front to the left again, leading with your head as you come up on your next bounce.
8. Grab the rope with your right hand as you return to a forward position.
9. Do the trick again, this time with less hesitation between the two 180s.
10. Try to spin the full 360 in a single bounce once you are very comfortable and quick with all the rope-handling skills of the two-bounce method.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay low and keep the rope close to your body. These are the two most essential aspects of all spinning tricks.
• Be patient. This is one of the hardest tricks in the book and does not come easy for even the most advanced skier.
• Once you learn this trick, try it in the reverse direction. (As if it wasn't hard enough already!)
• Always wear a life vest when waterskiing.
• Don't attempt this trick until you are ready.
• Waterskiing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.