| Whether
you are in the slalom course or out on an open lake with some
buddies, it is an endless challenge to complete a turn with
a nice tight rope and avoid the dreaded “slack”.
In slalom, each stage (wake crossing/approach, turn, and acceleration)
influences the other. If one stage goes wrong, typically the
next will too.
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Therefore, it is important to break down each
stage and examine the correct techniques you need to follow
to successfully run the course or even make one perfect turn
on an open lake. One of the important stages of the slalom
event is the turn.
However, to accomplish a successful and efficient
turn it is critical to understand the correct technique during
your “Approach” to the buoy. The approach begins
during the wake crossing, continues through what is typically
called the “edge change” and is completed just
prior to the actual turn. Here are three elements to consider
in beginning to improve your “Approach”…
today.
The first element of the approach begins
as you cross the wakes. Over the past several years, techniques
at this stage have changed dramatically. Today, the “new
school” technique has changed the way people choose
to think about the approach, beginning with the wake crossing.
The ideal position while crossing the wakes with this new
technique is a combination of four steps.
Here are some basic tips for each step:
1) Have shoulders open and square to boat:
Practice this one on shore with your handle.
Chest should be open and facing the boat as you cross the
wakes.
Arms are relaxed and your head is up, not thrown back.
2) Stay in the middle of your ski:
Practice crossing the wakes without a course.
Video tape yourself as you cross the wakes. Are you leaning
back, (to the back of your ski) or are you leaning away (from
the boat)? You want to be leaning away from the boat, but
not leaning back. Some slight back foot pressure is acceptable,
although try to keep a more even balance between your feet.
It correlates directly with the binding placement and fin
set up of your ski.
Stop taking those crashes out-the-front. They hurt. Get
in the middle of the ski!
3) Allow hips to move away from handle (“compressed
position”)
Practice this one on shore. Keep the handle low so that
you are in full control. It should be somewhere between the
height of your knees and your hips while you cross the wakes.
Try this: Get into the “old school” lean position,
keeping the handle against your hips, close your shoulders
and straighten your legs. Are you strong in this position?
Do you feel you have some leverage?
Now try this: slowly open your shoulders toward the boat
(or where the boat would be), bend at your knees and ankles,
and finally, allow your hips to drop down and away from the
handle slightly. How much more leverage do you have now?Compare
this technique to a tug-of-war. Would you stand with your
legs straight, head back, and turn your shoulders sideways?
No. If you did that you would probably end up on the ground!
Instead, ideally you would bend your knees and get as low
as possible, keep your head up (to see if you are winning)
and open your shoulders towards your opponent. (Oh yeah, and
hold on for dear life!)
Note: Compression and dropping the hips down should not
be interpreted as dropping the hips back. The body position
needs to remain centered with a straight line from the shoulders,
through the hips, and down through the center of the ski.
4) Create a progressive cut across the wakes:
The effort of the pull should start easily, then gradually
increase as you move toward the wakes, thus creating width
in your approach.
If you start too hard, you’ll get pulled forward through
the wakes and you’ll ski directly towards the buoy.
When you cut progressively, it’s easier to maintain
control of the handle and to have a wider path out towards
the buoy. As you swing out wide for the turn, the rope stays
tight all the way through the turn taking care of any unwanted
slack.
Water
Ski Racing - What's it All About? |
The
History of Water Ski Racing in Britain |
Water
Ski Racing Glossary | A
Turning Approach | Classic
Water Skiing | Hooking
It Up |
Wake
Crossing
|
