New to Slalom skiing

[Nuhget]

This summer I have decided to learn to slalom ski, and I could use a few pointers. Here's some background info. 43 years old, 205 lbs, 20' boat i/o V6 motor. Late last summer I learned to ski on combo skis. Took me a while to learn to get up. It was heck on the lower back, so I didnt want to learn to get up on a single just as the back was feeling normal again.

So anyways for this season, I bought an oversized slalom ski called "the big daddy" and a deep V rope, in hopes it would be easier to learn on.

Should I attempt to get up on this ski with 1 or 2 feet in?
or-
Should I start on the combos, and drop a ski? I'm a little worried about doing that because of losing the dropped ski. They are also only 67" so I am not sure that only 1 would keep me on top of the water.

Any help appreciated

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

I found getting up on two skis and then dropping one to be MUCH easier than trying to get up on one. Like many things, after you get the hang of getting up on one it's not bad, but for me, it was much harder to learn than getting up on two. You do have to figure out where it's safe to drop a ski, but if the water isn't too busy, it shouldn't be a huge problem.

Slalom skiing is a blast, so after you've done it a few times, you'll have real incentive to learn to get up on one ski!

Good luck!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

The Big Daddy is a whole lot of ski, I had a Little Easy (the smaller version) and that was enough to get a 200lbr up without trying much. I'd just try going up on one to start with, sticking a regular combo next to a big daddy is going to feel squirrelly as hell.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

67" combos are more than enough for a 200lbs skier. While it may be awkward for a bit while floating in the water, it shouldn't cause any issues getting up with one 67" ski and the big daddy slalom on the other foot, The deep V rope and big daddy ski will probably be fairly easy to get up on one ski anyway. You may have to stay tucked for a bit until the boat gets on plane, but it shouldn't be too terrible.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

I would try the big daddy and one of the combos the first few times get a feel for one on the water so you have some idea what its like once you do get up. If not busy we used to have the observer toss out an old orange life vest when the skier dropped just to help find the ski, and stay somewhat close too. How quick does your boat get you up on the combos? if any drag at all i might look into a different prop. We do mostly watersports over cruising, the hi five prop I bought is awesome it yanks anybody up on ANY toy behind the boat. The one vs. two is a personal choice that only you will be able to decide I have tought many to ski using both methods.

 

[Nuhget]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Thanks for the responses. The time it takes me to get up on combo skis is pretty quick, seems like maybe about 3 seconds from the boat accelerating until I start to stand up.

What you guys think about just holding off on the big daddy for a now, and gettting up on both combos, and the dropping one? Do you think that the 67" ski will keep me up, with the boat going like 25 mph?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Thanks for the responses. The time it takes me to get up on combo skis is pretty quick, seems like maybe about 3 seconds from the boat accelerating until I start to stand up.

What you guys think about just holding off on the big daddy for a now, and gettting up on both combos, and the dropping one? Do you think that the 67" ski will keep me up, with the boat going like 25 mph?

I've gotten up many times on a single 67" slalom from a pair of combos, and I'm well over 200lbs. It takes some work/skill, but it can be done. Dropping a ski on 67's would be the same as using the big daddy and dropping one of the combo skis. The 67" will hold you up fine, but you may be more comfortable around 28-30mph. Most slalom skiers in a course don't ski below 28mph. The 67" will likely be much more responsive than the big daddy as it is much narrower and likely shorter as well.

 

[skibrain]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

You've got both, try both. Don't know what your combos are like. Most are really designed for skiing on two and nothing to write home about as 1/2 a combo pair for slalom. If you get comfortable on slalom you can find good deals on used slalom skis all day long for $100-150 that will work great. You are going to be able to ski the Big Daddy slower. 24-26 mph? Typical performance slalom won't start waking up until 32 mph +

 

[Nuhget]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

You've got both, try both. Don't know what your combos are like. Most are really designed for skiing on two and nothing to write home about as 1/2 a combo pair for slalom. If you get comfortable on slalom you can find good deals on used slalom skis all day long for $100-150 that will work great. You are going to be able to ski the Big Daddy slower. 24-26 mph? Typical performance slalom won't start waking up until 32 mph +

How fast should I aim for going for a first time single skier, on the big daddy or 1/2 the combo?

 

[skibrain]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Around 20 mph works for combos. I generally speed up to about 24-25 mph when skier is going to drop one.

I like the suggestion of dropping a ski instead of starting on one. That gaurantees the best success of actually slaloming. I'd try a start with the Big D and one combo. Tip: as you are dropping a ski, transition sloooowly. Don't rush trying to get your rear foot back and put in the binding. And if you wipe out, get up with the other combo as a drop ski and head back to whet you started.

 

[DaveG55]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

I prefer to start off on the slalom ski, I also prefer to do it with both feet in the bindings.
My father tried to teach me to slalom by dropping a ski and I never got the hang of it. He also said to start by dragging a foot from a deep water start and I never figured that one out either.
As for the combos,they are plenty big enough for you to use just one, either dropping one or a deep water start.
As for speed, I prefer 30 mph +/- depending on water conditions. Once you are up on one, and even as you learn, you will find what works for you and you'll be able to adjust accordingly.

 

[eddyjas]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Is is great with such an amazing stunt..

 

[codertimt]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Just thought I'd throw some opinions out there to think about also. First is the piece of equipment no-one has mentioned...the boat. 20 footer is sizeable for a 4.3(assumed v6), first order of business is making sure your properly propped. If the boat is struggling to plane in any way, that transfers to a longer pull on you and more difficultly in getting up...even for an experienced slalom skier. So it can really affect someone just learning...

That out of the way, I subscribe to kicking off. It will allow you to get a feel of one ski which will be helpful when trying to start off on one. I would use the Big Daddy and one of the combo to drop. Also MHO, but I personally think neither the Big Daddy or the slalom half of a combo need to run anywhere near 30 MPH. I at least have personally not skied the slalom half of a pair that handled well at that speed.

But as has already been said, it's a personal preference thing. Some people never get the hang of dropping a ski and just learn the deep water start to begin with. Again, how to handle that is personal preference. I never got the hang of trailing a foot...I had to do it a few times when I first got back to skiing a few years ago trying to get up behind my overpropped boat at 260lbs and my skinny HO ski from 1994. To me the key is not to fight the boat. Accept that you will get pulled forward over the ski and work with that. The ski will jump parallel to the surface much quicker than with two feet in and you just kind of stand up, letting the trailling foot which is also now being forced on top of the water to help you stand. But someone who regularly starts like that might could give a better description of proper technique.

I prefer to start with both feet in the ski. Loosing 35 lbs and moving to a wider ski along with dropping pitch and going to a 4 blade prop allow me to do that again. Again, I have learned to not fight the boat. I used to dig in with my rear foot...this would keep me stable, but cause massive drag. I found that, again, letting the boat pull you forward over the ski a bit help the ski plane quicker.

Another great tip I've found is to not look down...look at the boat or horizon line. Not positive, but I think forcing your head up helps keep the rest of your body aligned correctly as your coming up...

Oh yeah, last thing...how did you determine which foot to put forward? Lots of schools of thought on this one too. I've heard to have someone push you from behind and the foot you catch yourself with is the one to use...I don't remember at this point how I decided.

Anyway, let us know how it goes...

 

[Nuhget]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Thanks all for the advice. I spent some time at the lake last week and tried alot of stuff!

Dropping one ski didnt work so good. I have the boot/velcro strap bindings on my combo skis which were hard to slip out of.. Pretty unbalanced and wiped shortly after I got one ski off. Decided to focus on a deepwater starts.

First I tried one foot out, and got consistently pulled over the top and off the ski. So I decided to try both feet in. I tried putting alot of weight on the back foot. This kinda felt riding a pogo stick in the water! Wasn't too succesfull here either, and got to plane maybe 1 out every 4 attempts. And promptly crashed when I did.

The next day things got a little better. I tried getting into a super tight tuck, and weighting both feet evenly. This got me to plane each of the 4 times I tried it. But once on plane, the ski would wobble like crazy and I'd wipe.

Maybe I am standing up too soon (just as the ski gets parallel to the water), or I need more weight on the back foot?

The boat has a 19 pitch prop. I decided to put my left foot back because I seem to have slightly better balance on it.

Unfortunately I will be out of the water for about 2 weeks, but at least this will give the sore back some rest!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

There isn't really any reason I can normally think of to put more "weight" on the back foot while doing a deep water start. Just maintain a tight crouch like you were doing, the further you can put your chest over the front foot, the better. The ski wobbling is just a side-effect of the ski getting on plane. Once you get past that small area of speed that the ski wants to wobble, it will keep itself straight. Putting more weight on the back of the ski only serves to push the tail deeper in the water and prolong the problems.

 

[dvtran]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Try jumping from the dock on one ski. Here's how its done. Stand at the end of the dock, Have the driver nose straight out, pull up about 2.5 feet of rope, when the rope tightens up, lt go of the 2.5 feet of slack and tell the driver to punch it, let the boat pull you off the dock, and you should land on the water and insert your back foot in the holster and voila. You will barely get wet.

 

[Slide]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Thanks all for the advice. I spent some time at the lake last week and tried alot of stuff!

Dropping one ski didnt work so good. I have the boot/velcro strap bindings on my combo skis which were hard to slip out of.. Pretty unbalanced and wiped shortly after I got one ski off. Decided to focus on a deepwater starts.

First I tried one foot out, and got consistently pulled over the top and off the ski. So I decided to try both feet in. I tried putting alot of weight on the back foot. This kinda felt riding a pogo stick in the water! Wasn't too succesfull here either, and got to plane maybe 1 out every 4 attempts. And promptly crashed when I did.

The next day things got a little better. I tried getting into a super tight tuck, and weighting both feet evenly. This got me to plane each of the 4 times I tried it. But once on plane, the ski would wobble like crazy and I'd wipe.

Maybe I am standing up too soon (just as the ski gets parallel to the water), or I need more weight on the back foot?

The boat has a 19 pitch prop. I decided to put my left foot back because I seem to have slightly better balance on it.

Unfortunately I will be out of the water for about 2 weeks, but at least this will give the sore back some rest!

Dropping a ski is important to learn how to ride the ski once you're up - otherwise, like you said, you'll just end up eating it once you figure out getting up.

Deep water starting is far more of an exercise for your front leg. This is why many people are successful for the "drag one toe" strategy - the back leg is simply there to keep your balance. Most of the work is done with your front leg. To get over the mental part of it, do this: Eat your knee, but don't let it hit your face. Pressing against the water as you come up to keep from kneeing yourself in the nose will pull you up on plane naturally.

As far as the wobbles, go faster! If your ski is not full concave it can go a little slower, but even then, you need to go fast on a slalom ski.

 

[Nuhget]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Well I thought I would update this thread. I did finally learn to get up on the Big Daddy, from a deep start with both feet in.

Turns out the key for me staying up, and not wobbling off, was keeping my eye on the boat. I had heard and dismissed that tip several times. I figured since it didnt seem to matter where I looked when riding 2 skis, that it did not apply to me. But it sure did. When all else fails, follow directions, I suppose!

This weekend I also replaced my dinged up 21 pitch prop with a 19. And what a huge difference that made.

Thanks all for the advice.

Now how do you throw up those huge walls of water ?

 

[WD40.1]

Re: New to Slalom skiing

Now how do you throw up those huge walls of water ?

Ask, and you shall receive:
http://waterskimag.com/features/2010/07/27/how-to-throw-a-20-foot-wall
I don't remember where I first saw this link (most likely here).
I'm just glad I can pass it on.