| I'm sure that we've all seen people trying to | | | | should be told that after he starts moving, |
| learn how to water-ski They crash everytime | | | | he should pull the tails of his skis up |
| the boats starts to go, while their friends | | | | towards his bottom. Then, he should be told |
| in the boat grow more and more exasperated. | | | | that after he pulls up the tails of his skis, |
| After you see this, you think "no way" when | | | | he should stand up. At this point, it should |
| one your children says that he wants to learn | | | | be easy to stand up because of the pull on |
| how to water-ski. Actually, teaching your | | | | the rope. This pull will tend to make the |
| children to water-ski is a fantastic way to | | | | child lean forward, which should make it easy |
| get your children more interested in the | | | | to stand. |
| family boat. The steps that I'm about to | | | | |
| discribe should cut down on the exasperation | | | | 5.) The child should be pulled ashore several |
| and provide a much simpler, tear- free course | | | | times. There is no substitute for experience |
| for teaching children to ski. My brother and | | | | . I remember being pulled into shore as being |
| I learned using these procedures, I taught my | | | | a lot of fun! |
| 10 year old son using these procedures, so I | | | | |
| know they are valid. | | | | 6.) On the last few pulls, the child should |
| | | | be instructed in making simple turns away |
| One of the first things to think about is the | | | | from the centerline of the pull. The child |
| boat itself. A 200hp boat can be very scary | | | | should be told that if he puts more of his |
| for the kids. I leaned to ski behind a 14' | | | | weight on the left ski, he'll turn to the |
| boat that had a 50hp outboard motor and to me | | | | right. Conversely. if he puts more of his |
| that was very scary. A 12' boat with a 35hp | | | | weight on the right ski, he will turn toward |
| outboard motor is probably big enough. I've | | | | the left. These turning skills will be |
| even seen photos of people water-skiing | | | | necessary when being pulled behind the boat. |
| behind a jet-ski. | | | | |
| | | | Part II The Moment of Truth |
| The actual procedure for teaching your ski | | | | |
| can be broken down into two parts with | | | | Before the first tow with the boat, the child |
| several steps in each part. | | | | and the boat driver should talk about what is |
| | | | going to happen. At this time, the child will |
| One of the first considerations is the boat. | | | | be very nervous, so it is important that he |
| You have to put yourself in the child's | | | | feels like he is in complete control of the |
| place. A 200 hp boat can be very intimidating | | | | situation. The main source of his nervousness |
| to the child. My dad taught me behind a 14' | | | | will be the fear that he doesn't have control |
| boat powered by a 50 hp outboard motor, but | | | | over the boat. |
| to me it looked like the Titanic. A 12' boat | | | | |
| with a 35 hp engine is probably big enough. | | | | 1.) The first tow behind the boat should |
| I've even seen pictures of people skiing | | | | start with the child once again in shallow |
| behind a jet-ski. | | | | water with an adult helping him to get set. |
| | | | This first trip behind the boat should be |
| The actual procedure for teaching a child can | | | | planned out extensively by the child and the |
| be broken down into two parts with several | | | | driver. I would suggest that they plan a |
| steps in each part | | | | small circle with the boat slowing down and |
| | | | stopping at its starting place. This will |
| Part I Training | | | | allow the child to slowly sink back into the |
| | | | water while still holding onto the rope. I've |
| 1.) The first step of my course eliminates | | | | seen a lot of people crash after letting go |
| the boat altogether and therefore the | | | | of the rope. |
| intimidation factor. The child should be in | | | | |
| shallow water, close to shore. The average | | | | 2.) The child and the driver should have a |
| ski rope is about 200 ft. long, so at least | | | | pre-arranged signal in case the child wants |
| two adults (more is even better) should hold | | | | to keep going. This signal could be as simple |
| one end on the shore while the rest of the | | | | as pointing one thumb up while holding on to |
| rope is stretched out into the water to the | | | | the rope. |
| child. | | | | |
| | | | A few other tips for the first tow: |
| 2.) For the child, one of the hardest parts | | | | |
| of skiing is learning to control the skis | | | | The child should be instucted to stay behind |
| while sitting in the water. For this step, an | | | | the boat, so he stays inside the wake where |
| adult should get in the water to help the | | | | the waves won't be so bad. The boat doesn't |
| child get the skis on and help hold the skis | | | | really cut down the waves very much, but if |
| up until the launch takes place. | | | | you tell the child that it does, it will help |
| | | | him relax.b) The driver and the observer |
| The adult helping the child should probably | | | | should be the only ones in the boat so it |
| wear a life jacket too, even if he is a good | | | | makes the smallest waves possible.c) Ski in |
| swimmer. He will be busy helping the child, | | | | the morning when the water is at its |
| so he shouldn't have to worry about keeping | | | | smoothest. |
| his head above the water. | | | | |
| | | | The above techniques could be used with a |
| 3.) Once the child has his skis ready, then | | | | small adult also, but you may need more |
| the adults on the shore should pull the rope | | | | bodies for pulling on the rope. If you use |
| taunt and get ready to run. At this point, it | | | | these techniques with children, you and your |
| is important to impress upon the child that | | | | children will have far less frustration and |
| he is in control. The pullers don't go until | | | | far fewer tears on the part of the kids. The |
| the child screams for them to run. | | | | best part is; once you teach them to ski they |
| | | | will be anxious to go on family boat trips. |
| 4.) Once he is stable, the child should yell | | | | They might even wash the boat! |
| at the adults onshore to run! The child | | | | |