Techniques Of Water Ski-ing

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31627, 13 March 1968, Page 9

Techniques Of Water Ski-ing

Jumping The jump over a ramp is the most thrilling phase of water ski-ing and it is one that requires a considerable amount of skill. It is probably the most enjoyable part of the sport and gives great exhilaration to the competitors although there is a certain amount of risk involved.

For men the ramp is set at a height of six feet at the point of take-off—five feet for women—the rope length is 75 feet, and the boat speed is restricted to a maximum of 35 miles an hour for men and 28 miles an hour for women.

The jumping is judged on the distance achieved, plus the style or form of the skier. To the number of feet achieved is added a maximum of 10 per cent for form. It is therefore not always the skier who jumps the greatest distance that wins the title. Form is ascertained on style in approach to the ramp, on the ramp, in the air, and on landing. All world class skiers increase their speed at the jump by a technique known as the “double wake out.” They will cut out as far as the rope will allow on the side of the boat away from the jumping ramp, then at the last second cut hard towards the ramp, gaining momentum by speeding across the wake.

This “cracking the whip” technique can increase the skiers’ arrival speed at the ramp to more than 50 miles an hour. Trick Ski-ing

Trick ski-ing is the most difficult of the three phases of water ski-ing. It requires hours and hours more practice than slalom or jumping. The point values of the 68 recognised tricks appear in the World Water Ski Union’s rule book. They vary according to the difficulty of the trick from 20 points for a two-ski sideslide to 400 points for a wake one ski somersault. During two 20-second runs before a panel of judges a skier attempts to perform as many tricks as possible without repetition. A fall ends a run but if a skier completes the 20-second run without a fall, he is awarded a ride-out bonus of 5 per cent of the total value of the tricks performed. Additional points totalling a maximum of 10 per cent are also awarded for form. The skier can use his skill to the best advantage in being able to request any speed by the tow boat, he may use any length of tow line and may perform a routine of tricks of his own choice.

Slalom The slalom is generally regarded as the blue ribbon event of competitive water ski-ing. It is a race against time where a skier must retain concentration, timing, rhythm and balance. The layout and dimensions of a slalom course have been set down by the World Water Ski Union’s technical committee and are standard for all. The course is made up of entrance and exit gates, six turning buoys, and guide buoys for the tow boat are contained within an area of 285 yards in width. The skier follows the tow boat through the entrance gate and while the boat makes directly for the exit gate, the skier cuts a criss-cross pattern around the six turning buoys. For men, the starting speed is 30 miles an hour with a maximum of 36 miles an hour. This is reduced to 28 miles an hour and 34 miles an hour for women. For both, the tow line is 75 feet. After a successful run around the six turning buoys, the boat speed is increased by two miles an hour up to the maximum speed. The tow line is then shortened, first by 12 feet and then in six foot increments. The skier's run ends with a fall or a missed buoy. The winner is the skier who goes round the highest number of consecutive buoys