WaterSki Magazine

Learn what you can do to simulate the water ski slalom motions off the water and on dry land.

by Trent Finlayson After spending months away from the buoys, it's important to get your water ski equipment dialed for the upcoming water ski season. In case you're considering a new ride this spring, here are a few keys to help you efficiently evaluate and quickly adapt to a new water ski setup...

In the years Seth Stisher has spent coaching water skiers, he's discovered the easiest way to run the slalom course for the first time is to run it accidentally.

When your offside turn just isn’t cutting it, you usually try to tune the fin to get your water ski to finish the turn on that troublesome side of the slalom course. But when that doesn't work...

For the past few years, high-end skiers and coaches have been preaching that “you must have level shoulders when you approach the wakes.” Not necessarily true.

Where the water breaks on your water ski speaks volumes about how balanced you are.

Trent Finlayson teaches you how to navigate the wakes like an expert. One of the first challenges every slalom skier will face is the daunting task of crossing the wakes. Done correctly, it looks and feels effortless; the wakes are barely a side note...

From docks to gates, Seth Stisher helps you get into the right frame of mind. Most sports are greatly dependent on your mental game, but slalom skiing takes that to a new level. There are no second chances in competition slalom skiing – if you fall or miss a buoy, it’s game over for you...

These five tips will help you master the open water. 1. Use the wakes as your reference point. The most common mistake is pulling too far past them, which causes slack line turns. Think about starting your edge change from directly behind the boat to just off the second wake, depending on your speed...

Trent Finlayson teaches you how to progress from one slalom speed to the next by using the boat to your advantage with incremental progression. 1. When to say when Once you are comfortably running one set speed you will inevitably begin seeking the next challenge...

Staying balanced on your ski through the slalom course is an essential concept for even the most amateur skier. Professional ski coach Matt Rini gives you three quick tips on how to achieve the balance you need and start carving effortless turns...

by Trent Finlayson Advancing to an effective one-handed water ski turn is one of the most exciting things to learn as a slalomer. The feeling of flowing through a turn – one hand on the handle, full speed, seamless, smooth – is incomparable to anything else in water sports...

Mastering an effortless deepwater start is paramount to slalom success. Regardless of your size or strength, a deepwater start does not have to be a battle. By keeping a few simple points in mind, even the burliest slalom skier can effortlessly pop right up...

By Trent Finlayson Preparing for the year’s biggest amateur water-ski event can be an overwhelming task. You need to spend as much time on the water as possible – this you’re aware of...

There are many distinct styles and effective techniques within the slalom game, but the bottom line is you need to have a strong, leveraged pulling position to get across the course effectively. An effective way of increasing your leverage — and your ability to get across the course on an earlier line — is counter-rotation...