| Are
you one of those guys sitting in the boat watching your buddies
ski and thinking, “If I could just ski shorter line
lengths or speed up the boat, then the wakes would be flatter
and I wouldn’t have such a hard time getting through
them.” Boat wakes are enemy number one among most skiers,
but with the proper instruction you’ll be well on your
way to slicing and dicing your way through this liquid burden.
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The two key elements of a successful wake
crossing that we’re going to focus on here are what
I call the “hook-up” and the “approach.”
When you start executing these concepts properly, you will
find out that smooth wake crossings are the result of proper
technique and not just eliminating the wakes by shortening
the rope or speeding up the boat.
The Hook-Up
The hook-up starts when your reaching arm
begins to retract; when you start to pull the handle back
in to initiate the turn, make sure your lower body is turning
at the same time. So many people pull the handle across their
body and then the ski does not turn. Think of it like this
— if your arm goes out to reach at the ball it has to
come back in (retract). This allows full rotation in the turn
and keeps the ski out in front of you. For every inch your
arm retracts with the handle, allow your lower body to move
the same distance.
You’ll know you’ve reached full
rotation when your retracting elbow hits your rib cage. Leaving
your shoulders level throughout the rotation will help your
ski run under the rope easier before the boat gets away from
you.
Now, with the ski pointed across the boat
path and with two hands back on the handle,
you’re ready to accelerate.
On your approach towards the wakes remain
solid with your upper body. Allow your legs to crush a little
to lower your centre of gravity, which allows maximum power
and efficiency. Your main focus at this point is to maintain
the strong and balanced position you created out of the turn.
If your arms are getting separated from your
vest and you’re getting pulled forward, then you need
to ride with your weight a little further back. If you’re
cutting through the wakes wheeling and the boat is pulling
the tip of your ski down-course, then ride with more pressure
on your front foot.
With a good hook-up and approach you’ll
be in a much better position to deal with the wake, rather
than simply wishing it away.
As most skiers’ 2001 season draws to
an end, I thought it would be better to write an article that
does not give a specific exercise to work on, but rather a
better understanding of slalom skiing that can be applied
throughout all levels. The area that I am going to focus primarily
on, is from the hook up out of the turn to the release on
the other side. Before I can explain it I need to backtrack
a little and explain why this is important.
As every season ends and we look back on
the performances throughout the year, it is clear that there
is a new generation of slalom skiers, young and old, who are
skiing shorter lengths and faster speeds than ever before.
This, of course, can be slightly
attributed to equipment advances, but mostly I feel more skiers
have changed the way they are skiing the slalom course. We
are now seeing people riding bigger skis, trying to carry
more speed, and trying not to lean too hard, all of which
in the past were flaws to liminate. Now skiers are finding
these very “mistakes” are helping them run more
buoys.
In order to ski the new equipment to its fullest,
turn harder and faster, and stay with the boat all the way
through the course, we must first be at the buoy at the right
time.
Everyone knows that as the speed gets faster or the rope gets
shorter, that window of
being at the ball at the right time gets much smaller.
The overall problem that most skiers have
when the speed is increased or the rope is shortened, is that
they are confused by the extra speed they are generating.
For example, the speed that is generated at 12m through the
wakes is much greater than that at 13m, and many skiers who
first shorten to 12m, will start to shut the speed down after
they cross the centre line of the boat because the muscle
memory of running 13m is telling them “yes I have enough
speed to get around the next ball”. However, since that
window is smaller, so is the time when we can coast after
the wakes and still make the pass.
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 |
