Old Guy Learning To Ski

This may seem counter-intuitive, but the middle of the wake is the absolute worst place to learn to drop a ski, especially if you have good water. If you have glass outside the wake, use it. Its hard to get caught in prop wash or a rooster tail outside the wake. Its not impossible, but its hard.

It looked like she dropped her right ski and was going to have her left foot forward, no? (If I saw that wrong, reverse everything that comes next) She should go outside the wake to the left. Or port side of the boat, whatever makes sense to you. The reason is, cutting that direction will give her something to pull against. She'll be leaning out and away from the boat and that will give her additional pull for balance. In the dead center of the wake she will have to stay perfectly balanced straight up and down on her own, which is a difficult transition for a new skier used to being on two. You're going from 3 points of balance two two (ski, ski, handle to ski, handle), so use the rope tension, it will help.

Last thing, nothing needs to happen quickly. She popped that foot out of the ski and fired it at the back of the slalom. Relax. This is also easier outside the wake. Go outside, pull all the way out, and just take a little pressure off her right foot. Then a little more. When she gets comfortable, she'll be able to lift that right ski up off the water. Ankle height, this isn't a contortionist show. But if she can do that, its real easy to slowly slide out of it, then SLOWLY place the back foot on the ski, and it doesn't have to go immediately into the footpiece. We tell beginners to just set it down somewhere. On the ski, on top of the footpiece, in it, wherever it lands. If she is too focused on getting that foot in the hole she will lose concentration, start leaning over to look, and take a drink.

None of that applies only to the misses. Now that you are going back and forth across the wake, do the same thing. Go left, pressure on the left, lift the right. You don't have to kick off immediately, but get used to feeling the skis independently.

Keep up the good work. And the pics/vids.

MrMcD wrote: You guys are doing exactly what you should be doing! Using the boat while having old times with friends!   The rest will come along soon. Mark

I had the same thought

All of the above is good advice, especially slow moves when dropping, don't worry about finding the rear binding. Make sure the dropped ski binding is loose enough to get out of without too much difficulty.

For Mrs. Poorhouse, I definitely think it is worth rediscovering the sense of balance on one ski by dropping a ski (or boom if/when you have it) before trying deep water starts. Some time on the water after the drop will help train/strengthen muscles, which should make the deep water starts easier to achieve.

Thinking about the advice your friends were giving, one of the hardest things for me to "get" for my deep water starts was not "pushing" the ski against the pull of the boat, or said another way, trying to straighten my legs too soon. The skier has to let the boat pull them up, not try to pull the boat back to them. For me that means really focusing on keeping my knees bent/arms straight until the ski is beginning to plane, then standing up. Because I start with both feet in, and that is how I have taught me kids, the way I try to get it across to them is to tell them to keep their back foot as close to there backside as possible.

A few other things that could help, if the skier is sitting low in the water, some extra flotation might help (a few examples, I find it easier to get up with a wet suit plus a life vest because I am sitting higher in the water, my non coast guard approved competition vest sits lower than my CG approved vest, and make sure the weight rating for the CG approved vest is adequate). Make sure to keep plenty of ski out of the water (don't start the pull with the tip under water or close to underwater) so the tip doesn't submarine; for this I tell my kids to roll on their back just a little (but keep the back foot close to their backside so the ski can go horizontal when it needs to). If the ski falls to one side or the other, the skier ends up pushing a wall of water, which is difficult to overcome. As the driver, I make sure to take up the slack in the rope before starting the pull; one way to teach this to the skier is have them ask the driver to go "in gear", get settled with just a little drag, then "hit it". Finally, for me, a pull straight behind the boat instead of slightly off to one side is much easier; as a driver, I always try to center the skier, especially learners.

All good advice, and congrats on working hard on progressing so quickly! You really looked comfortable on the 2 skis for your 2nd time out.

I've gotten up on one ski for more than 40 years and I still fall at times when I try. When I teach people I tell them the first 4 or 5 tries are just to get the feel of it. In other words, no shame in taking a bunch of tries on multiple times out to get the hang of deep water starts.

IAughtNaut wrote: This may seem counter-intuitive, but the middle of the wake is the absolute worst place to learn to drop a ski, especially if you have good water. If you have glass outside the wake, use it. Its hard to get caught in prop wash or a rooster tail outside the wake. Its not impossible, but its hard. It looked like she dropped her right ski and was going to have her left foot forward, no? (If I saw that wrong, reverse everything that comes next) She should go outside the wake to the left. Or port side of the boat, whatever makes sense to you. The reason is, cutting that direction will give her something to pull against. She'll be leaning out and away from the boat and that will give her additional pull for balance. In the dead center of the wake she will have to stay perfectly balanced straight up and down on her own, which is a difficult transition for a new skier used to being on two. You're going from 3 points of balance two two (ski, ski, handle to ski, handle), so use the rope tension, it will help. Last thing, nothing needs to happen quickly. She popped that foot out of the ski and fired it at the back of the slalom. Relax. This is also easier outside the wake. Go outside, pull all the way out, and just take a little pressure off her right foot. Then a little more. When she gets comfortable, she'll be able to lift that right ski up off the water. Ankle height, this isn't a contortionist show. But if she can do that, its real easy to slowly slide out of it, then SLOWLY place the back foot on the ski, and it doesn't have to go immediately into the footpiece. We tell beginners to just set it down somewhere. On the ski, on top of the footpiece, in it, wherever it lands. If she is too focused on getting that foot in the hole she will lose concentration, start leaning over to look, and take a drink. None of that applies only to the misses. Now that you are going back and forth across the wake, do the same thing. Go left, pressure on the left, lift the right. You don't have to kick off immediately, but get used to feeling the skis independently. Keep up the good work. And the pics/vids.

This makes a lot of sense. Both the slow pacing when transferring to one ski, and to start lifting outside the wake (we are both left foot forward).

The videos have been fun and I think are helping us learn as well.
A friendly rivalry is taking shape about who will get up on 1 ski first.

MrMcD wrote: You guys are doing exactly what you should be doing! Using the boat while having old times with friends!   The rest will come along soon. When you drop a ski never rush, take your sweet time getting your back foot in and it will work. Mark

Thanks! We are having a great time.

dwouncmd wrote: All of the above is good advice, especially slow moves when dropping, don't worry about finding the rear binding. Make sure the dropped ski binding is loose enough to get out of without too much difficulty. For Mrs. Poorhouse, I definitely think it is worth rediscovering the sense of balance on one ski by dropping a ski (or boom if/when you have it) before trying deep water starts. Some time on the water after the drop will help train/strengthen muscles, which should make the deep water starts easier to achieve. Thinking about the advice your friends were giving, one of the hardest things for me to "get" for my deep water starts was not "pushing" the ski against the pull of the boat, or said another way, trying to straighten my legs too soon. The skier has to let the boat pull them up, not try to pull the boat back to them. For me that means really focusing on keeping my knees bent/arms straight until the ski is beginning to plane, then standing up. Because I start with both feet in, and that is how I have taught me kids, the way I try to get it across to them is to tell them to keep their back foot as close to there backside as possible. A few other things that could help, if the skier is sitting low in the water, some extra flotation might help (a few examples, I find it easier to get up with a wet suit plus a life vest because I am sitting higher in the water, my non coast guard approved competition vest sits lower than my CG approved vest, and make sure the weight rating for the CG approved vest is adequate). Make sure to keep plenty of ski out of the water (don't start the pull with the tip under water or close to underwater) so the tip doesn't submarine; for this I tell my kids to roll on their back just a little (but keep the back foot close to their backside so the ski can go horizontal when it needs to). If the ski falls to one side or the other, the skier ends up pushing a wall of water, which is difficult to overcome. As the driver, I make sure to take up the slack in the rope before starting the pull; one way to teach this to the skier is have them ask the driver to go "in gear", get settled with just a little drag, then "hit it". Finally, for me, a pull straight behind the boat instead of slightly off to one side is much easier; as a driver, I always try to center the skier, especially learners.

Good stuff. It seems like forcing that back leg straight to early is the crux of her problem at this point.
Good advise on centering the skier. We usually do that. Our friend was driving who is used to being out with better skiers. She was giving us driving pointers while either I or Mrs. Poorhouse was spotter.

We've been debating about our 6 year old acting as spotter. He understands the job and has been doing great at it. We are concerned about safety but are beginning to think that he is up for the job if just the 3 of us can go out. Any thoughts on that?

75 Tique wrote: I also support the Mrs. Getting comfortable on one by dropping a ski, but when it's time to resume efforts getting up on one. She and you reported too much weight on her back leg. That does make it tough to get up. Most instructors , books and guides suggest getting up on one ski with rear foot out - two benefits: less weight on back of ski letting it plane quicker/easier. The out leg, stretched out behind you serves to balance the skier and give you more surface area to push you to the surface. Body position is also important. Keep your in the ski knee right up into your chest till ski starts to plane off. Much less strain on the body and promotes you letting the boat do the work.

This make complete sense to me.

Mrs. Poorhouse will be reading this later today. Will report back with her thoughts.

I don't think we will be able to get back on the water until the weekend. It's going to be tough to wait.

63 Skier wrote: All good advice, and congrats on working hard on progressing so quickly! You really looked comfortable on the 2 skis for your 2nd time out. I've gotten up on one ski for more than 40 years and I still fall at times when I try. When I teach people I tell them the first 4 or 5 tries are just to get the feel of it. In other words, no shame in taking a bunch of tries on multiple times out to get the hang of deep water starts.

Thank you! It feels great.

I think you can see Mrs. Poorhouse's balance and posture are better than mine. A product of her experience. I'm thinking about body position for her it's natural.

63 Skier wrote: I forgot to mention, the boat sounds great too.

I agree, it is intoxicating and not to loud.

Our friend's boat, also 351 powered has a different muffler set up and doesn't have the rumble ours does. I believe they had some exhaust envy this weekend.   

spiralhelix wrote: Poorhouse wrote: We've been debating about our 6 year old acting as spotter. He understands the job and has been doing great at it. We are concerned about safety but are beginning to think that he is up for the job if just the 3 of us can go out. Any thoughts on that? Personally, I'd be fine with a 6 year old being a spotter. When I drive, I am constantly keeping an eye on the skier in the mirror. I have the throttle pulled back before my spotter even mentions the skier is down. If you have to hold up a flag when skier is down, I might think twice. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it, but we always boost the speed a few mph once the ski is dropped, or at least start boosting the speed before the drop. When I drop a ski, if i go straight for the boot, my foot tends to find the ski wake and not the boot. I started bringing my foot to my calf, then sliding down and inching back to find the rear toe plate. All in all, you guys are doing a fantastic job, and I would be in heaven to ski in that setting. so beautiful.

I keep my eye on the skier when I'm driving as does my wife so I think it would work. The 6 year old is really into it and keeps a close watch, so is a good helper.

We are borrowing an easy ski for him next weekend, he is beyond excited to try it.

I like the idea of using the attached let to help the free let find it's position. Will keep that in mind.

Good point on speed. We will keep that in mind. We upped our speed this weekend from 18-20 to 20-22 and up to 24. Getting comfortable going faster. The choppy conditions make going faster harder.

I concur, my girl when 7 was much more alert and on-task then most adults, who usually looking around blabbing away and talking about someones new fence/shed/landscaping and trying to remember who lived where.

but 12 to be legal.

Sh|t at 12 I was driving skiers.

GottaSki wrote: I concur, my girl when 7 was much more alert and on-task then most adults, who usually looking around blabbing away and talking about someones new fence/shed/landscaping and trying to remember who lived where.

Or, like my 20 year old nephew, who spends most of his "spotter" time staring at his phone, FBing, Snapchatting, Instagramming, etc...

This is how it is stated in the Illinois DNR Registration and Safety Act:
"When towing a person on
water skis, aquaplane or similar device, the
towing vessel must have a capacity of at
least three persons and must be occupied by
at least two competent people. "

Competent people?!?! well there are a number of my friends that might fail to meet this criteria

We learned to ski behind a 13'9" wood low profile ski boat with a 75 HP Evenrude hanging on it. The engine in those days was huge for a 13 foot boat.
To pull up a slolom skier we would have to drag a foot. Front foot in the front boot, rear leg loose and pointing out the back.
In those old high powered boats you would yell hit it, Take a deep breath and tuck your head in low behind the tip of the ski. Speed would start to build slowly while you drag.
After about 30 seconds we would pop our head up, take a quick look around as we took another deep breath and went back into the tuck. After about 100 yards of dragging you would be about half way up, my left foot is forward so my left knee is at my chest and my right foot is straight out behind me with the toes pointed. As the speed built you could use the right trailing foot as a second ski but with the leg and toes still pointed out the rear.   You add pressure to the foot helping lift your body up on plane.
This dragging a foot method was the only way possible to get up behind that old ski boat.   Once the boat got on plane it had plenty of power to ski hard behind it and we even barefooted off that old boat but man was that first 100 yards tough.
Dragging a foot gives you almost double the lift on a single ski take off and as others have stated it lets the ski come on plane naturally as the speed builds. With two feet in the bindings many people add weight to the rear foot and end up fighting the whole process.
When I bought my first Nautique a 1978 351W powered boat it was a real powerhouse compared to the old outboards we skied.
Behind this Nautique we taught my best friend to ski, this guy is an unbelievable athlete and a gym rat. At 6'3" and 195 lbs he was squatting 560 pounds at the time we were teaching him to single ski.
He would battle the boat, pressing with all that leg strength so hard he pushed a wave in front of the ski before he would pop up.   He would fight till the vacuum operated secondary in the 4 barrel carb opened, I have never heard that with anyone else unless I had 4 people trying to come up at once. He always said he could not understand how any women could ski because coming up took so much strength.   Then we taught him how to drag a foot and he started popping out like all normal skiers.

Plenty of friends can do a 2 foot dw slalom start but cannot do a hop dock. Clearly they are making it harder than it needs to be.

Poorhouse that introduction to show skiing was a pretty cool link.
We used to do 3 and 6 man pyramids on the river just for fun back in the 80's.
We were skiing 2-3 days every week and I guess we got bored of just skiing.
We learned how to do the 360 degree spin around the boat too.
There is a lot of fun to be had on the water and it can all be family oriented.

What Hollywood sez.

Figure it this way, if you only had 1 leg which would it be?

And would you put it in the back of the ski? Hell no.

Hollywood wrote: Mrs. Poorhouse [insert any skier ever here] will be better off in the long run getting comfortable with the 1 leg start. She'll eventually see how effortless it can/should be. Don't fall into the 2 foot start trap.

What about people who ski in double boots?

Poorhouse wrote: I think she feels like they will get her some good pointers.

I've heard far more bad advice over the years than good.

Old? Reheheheally now...learning to barefoot at 53!