never skied, need advise

[skibrain]

Re: never skied, need advise

mackagata,

I would really recommend taking a look at this website for used slalom skis.
Unlike eBay it is not a bidding website. Very straightforward.

Some skis are sold blank (without bindings). Some with bindings. There is a whole listing of bindings as well. Either of the following are easy to ride high performance skis that you could not go wrong with:

Like new, Concept w/Double Boots
http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&postid=SIA09892

KD CR7 66"
http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&postid=SIA07609

 

[stingertrey]

Re: never skied, need advise

You will definitely get up faster with two.. point your toes keep your weight back and hang on.. starting on one is kinda rough but easier to control.. I like to get going and just drop one and have fun then, You can cut so hard on one

 

[Subliminal]

Re: never skied, need advise

Dropping a ski is the pits.

You have to pay attention to where you drop it, worry about other boats hitting it, and if you ski in a river (like I do) you really have to take the current into consideration.

Just get a ski with a big spoon on the front and suffer through the learning curve of getting up on one...that's what I say! ;-)

 

[stingertrey]

Re: never skied, need advise

lol yea.. just cant give up. Your probably gonna fall alot starting off, have a head ache, and have water slammed up your nose a few times.. just gotta man up and do it lol

 

[199q]

Re: never skied, need advise

Oh and keep your mouth closed! Swallowed a ton of lake and delta water, before I leaned that one!

and I strongly recommend starting on two skis. Much much easier. follow the recommendations everyone here has posted. all terrific advice!!

 

[wire2]

Re: never skied, need advice

Re: never skied, need advice

I've been skiing for many years, learned on a pair at 14, progressed to a high end slalom several years later, when I was really comfortable on 2.

One thing that hasn't really been touched on in this thread yet;
the steering sensitivity in going from 2 to 1 ski is increased by about 5 times.

In other words, tilting a slalom ski a few degrees will cause a MUCH sharper turn than on 2. That's a good thing once you master it. But for someone learning, it becomes a very big obstacle.

Watch when someone who is reasonably proficient on 2 tries to drop one for the first time. They will do a few very quick zig zags to try to compensate for the sudden steering boost, then "splash".

As stated in above posts, learn on 2, shift your weight onto 1, then when you have the feel for it, go with 1.

A deep water start with 1 will require lots of horsepower to get you up, unless the skier is 98 lbs.

An easy slalom start is standing in knee deep water on one leg, with a ski on the other foot, tip up. Yell "Hit it", with several feet of tow rope slack in front of you. That's to allow the boat to get some speed to keep you up. Once the slack is used up and you start to be pulled forward, shift your weight to the ski.
The length of slack is decided by the acceleration of the tow boat and the skier's weight.

But to answer the original question; I believe it's virtually impossible for anyone with no skiing experience, to learn to ski on just 1 ski.