How to get my dad outta the water!

[Edge180]

So my dad taught me everything I know about slalom skiing and now he's not able to get himslef out of the tunnel of water without dropping a ski. He can stilll cut and cross the wake like any other intermediate to advanced skier. However, this past weekend we lost yet another ski after dropping it and not going back soon enough.

Anyway, my question is are there techniques that any of you use to get an older guy out of the water on a single ski? Caveats are that I can't afford a bigger boat and he's not going to turn into superman overnight.

He's 62? about 195-200#s, we use an old (emphasis old!) O'brien 66 Comp ski, simple, single boot.

TIA

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Wow getting up on a single 66" ski is gonna be difficult for someone in the 200lbs range. I have to fight a 67" sometimes, but getting up on a 69 or 70 is a breeze. The best thing for you to do as you father likely doesn't have the strength he used to is to try a dock start.

Is thre a dock on the water he can sit on while you power the boat? That way there is very little stress/drag on the boat and it gets on plane fast. Your father wouldn't have to do anything other than go off of the dock. Otherwise, there's no easy way to get himself out of the water on a ski that small. Look on craigslist or ebay for a new or replacement ski. They're all over the place for 10-20 bucks, and you can get a new one to drop off, or even find a longer/wider ski to let him do a deep-water start if he chooses. I still think the dock-start is the best option to keep him from tearing muscles at his age though, regardless of how in-shape he is.

 

[Edge180]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Dock starts! Of course. I never thought of that. I thought for some reason California didn't allow dock starts. Regardless, on the lake nearby our home, there is not a dock that is outside the no-wake zone.

Dock starts is how my dad learned to ski though. I know he's a pro at that; hold a loop with his pinky finger and hit it!

I'll look out for a longer ski. He's not in skiing shape, just good enough shape you know.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[DaveM]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

You didn't mention how long he has been skiing, when the last time he was able to do a successful deep water start, how long it has been since he skied on a regular basis and what is his physical condition. But no matter, there are some common themes to a deep water start.

First of all, 62 ain't that old for skiing, although he may have to give up that dream of joining the pro circuit. He may have been strong enough in the past to wrestle his way up with poor technique.

Skier position - should be in a relaxed stance like seated in a chair, front knee bent, arms out straight. Once power is applied, the skier should feel his front knee move to the middle of his chest. Keep knees bent and make sure his butt is behind the rear heal. Resist the temptation to stand until completely out of the water.

Driver - Look for that balance of too much power vs. extended dragging. You should tend more towards a gentle start.

Ski - It sounds like he is using an antique. New skis are wider and have more shape. Definitely a longer ski is needed.

How does he fall? Getting pulled over the top of the ski is an indicator that he is trying to stand up too early. Keep those knees bent. Tipping over points to a rigid stance. Keep the ski under the body.

It sounds like your dad is a decent skier who could probably drop a ski at will. Aim for a buoy, dock or other landmark when dropping.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

A long time ago when I was a kid we had a friend who couldn't get up so when he dropped a ski the observer would toss out an old orange life jacket that still floated but not good for much else. With a good toss you can get pretty close to the ski then you have a good marker where the ski is, even if it gets turned over you know the general area. As suggested try a bit longer or wider ski You don't want to hurt anyone but I have always found the more power on take off the better. Prolonged dragging is what will kill you on the getting up. I have always taught people to drag a foot when getting up but at 62 probably not a good time to change everything. Good luck keep at it he will get it, how is your prop? might be something to look into if your not sure about its performance.

 

[Edge180]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Great suggestions Dave and Utah! Thanks! This is why I posted; I never though of these.

To answer Dave's questions, he's been skiing most of his life. However, has not skiied more than once a year for the past 20 years. He's probably got bad technique getting out of the water (it's the same with snow skiing, he can get down the mountain but it's not pretty). Telling my dad how to do something is not the easiest thing. I'll focus on me (the driver) and maybe a longer, wider ski before butting heads with my dad on technique.

Neither he nor I think 62 is too old! I just wanted to make it easier on him so he could cut more once he's up! Shoot, if the weathers hot enough and the water not too cold my mom will get out there and cut it up too and she's 60! (She drops a ski like my dad with little effort.)

Dave, I noticed your from somewhere in WA, my dad learned to ski near Bellingham when he was young. That far from you?

Utah, I like the old life jacjet idea! Last ski we lost was an old wood VOIT orange one. Thought we were smart by using the orange, but I think someone just picked it up since we trolled the shoreline a couple times.

I've got a standard ski prop. I don't remember the specs but it's the middle of the road for hole shot and top end speed.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Well even though the ski was orange on top, they frequently flip over making them hard to spot. I almost lost a ski from a combo set last year and gave up looking for it until right before we left 3 hours later. Found it up on the shoreline a LONG way from where I kicked it off at near a prominent landmark.

 

[P 0 P E Y E]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Congrats on a son and a dad doing anything together now a days

You might want to take less passengers and lighten up the boat to see if it helps pop out of the hole.

 

[Tabes117]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Years ago I used to deep start off a trihull and a 50hp. One foot in the binding and drag the other foot behind. It would keep the ski more parallel to the water.

 

[kevs_gone]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

As everyone else has stated, start with a ski that is properly sized or to compensate for the age/physical condition a little longer than "correct". Another option is to purchase a couple of "spare" kick off skis and paint them white/orange on top and bottom. Tell him he is setting a good example and I hope to be healthy enough to ski in my 60's

Kevin

 

[sickwilly]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

New ski and a new prop. He will be able to ski longer and enjoy it more if he does not wear himself out getting up.

 

[j_martin]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Put him on a diet

 

[freezer41]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

Look for a Kidder Cruiser ski. I think my grandpa picked one up once he turned 65. He skiied until his 70s. Now I use the ski deep water starts both feet in the ski @ 250+ lbs. Also try either the double handled ski rope or one with a large yoke to fit the single ski in

 

[BF]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

is it a technique problem? or is it marginal power in the boat? What's the tow boat? Does it have a ski pole?

As others have said, there is mucho less drag if you do a deep water start with the back leg trailing. It allows your hips to rotate instead of being square and acting like a big water scoop. That's why it's so much harder to get up with a double boot setup.

As for the boat and what you can do as a driver.... maybe it'd help if you gave him a bit more "pop" at the start of the pull. You can to this by doing a whip start. You take the slack out of the line but don't have the skier directly behind the boat. Put them at about the 4 o'clock (or 8 o'clock) position, if 6 o'clock is straight back. Then when you hit it you turn the boat (slightly) with the skier towards the inside of the curve. Not so much that you make the line slack, just enough so the boat can start getting out of the hole and make some rev's before the load of the skier bogs it down).... Then (within a second or two), you reverse the turn to put the skier back behind the boat. Basically this is a way to give the boat a bit of head start without making a slack line. It makes the pull alot snappier. I would not do this if you have any concerns about the strength of your ski pole (e.g. an aftermarket with a base that held in place by screws into the plywood floor) Also be careful, you can overdo it and cause the skier to lose the handle and have it snap back at you.

Good luck!

 

[bayliner12]

Re: How to get my dad outta the water!

if you can move the bindings forward it makes you feel like you have a smaller ski, small adjustments mean the world