WaterSki Magazine

As summer fades into autumn, there are more reasons than ever to light up the water ski lake. By Trent Finlayson Fall Records Through November, USA Water Ski has well over 150 tournaments on their schedule...

By Trent Finlayson Advancing to an effective one-handed 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...

Carly Clifton shares the dos and don'ts of water ski blister prevention. By Kari Wilberg You don't need to be a professional water skier to get gnarly blisters on your palms. Duct taping your hands before hitting the water can prevent those painful suckers, but only if the tape is applied correctly...

1. Start by sanding the ski with different degrees of sandpaper grit. Begin with an 80-grit, then move up to a 120-grit and end with a 220-grit. If this is a ski you will continue to use, make sure you don't sand to the point that the contours are affected...

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. A few misguided motions, however, and that mild patch of disturbed water behind the boat quickly begins to resemble a minefield...

By Keith St. Onge Photo: BillDoster.com When skimming across the water, it's essential not to overreact to an uncomfortable situation. I tell people to relax more often than I tell them to remember to bend their knees! Why ski if you're not going to enjoy the ride? Follow my tips below to nail the fundamentals and take control of your skiing...

Follow our Fantasy campers as they discover innovative techniques straight from the pros. In between workouts, massages, great meals and parties, eight skiers from Italy, Switzerland, Greece and the United States make the most of their time with Wade Cox, Thomas Moore and Karina Nowlan...

Follow the water break to find your balance zone.Where the water breaks on your ski speaks volumes about how balanced you are. If you're edging through the wakes and the water is breaking behind your back foot, you know you need to readjust your stance and get in a more efficient position...

Nine tips for edging through the wake like a slalom expert. By Arturo Nelson Whether you are a buoy-slaying veteran, a free-skiing specialist or a newbie to the whole slalom game, efficient, seamless wake crossings are a must...

The three important components of an effortless carve. By Trent Finlayson How would you describe your turns? Are they fast-flowing carves back toward the wakes or are they more of a sliding pivot, similar to a stop on hockey skates? If your turns end up more like the latter, your chance of carrying good direction into the next turn is not very promising...

Two months before your vacation, get into ski shape with these workout keys. By Jenny LaBaw Exercise: Strength training Frequency: Two to three days a week Skiing puts a lot of load on the body, so if you go into your winter ski vacation without strong muscles, you're going to be weaker behind the boat and sore as heck after the first day or two...

There is a lot of information out there about fin setup, but what do you really know about boot setup? And how can you use this knowledge to your advantage? Although there are numerous boot setup opinions and the movements can be slightly different for every skier, here is a quick guide to maximizing your stance on a slalom ski...

One of the most common problems with slalom training is that our bodies just aren't able to spend enough time on the water to really go through the motions as frequently as we would like. The sport is so physically taxing that most of us only spend 15 to 20 minutes per set for one to two sets per day on the water...

Mastering an effortless deepwater start is paramount to slalom success. After all, if you are expending most of your energy just trying to break the water's surface, how are you ever going to concentrate your efforts on further improvements? Regardless of your size or strength, a deepwater start does not have to be a battle...

Whether you are a career free-skier or a course skier looking to expand your terrain, slack line can be a troubling issue. Luckily, the causes are few and relatively easy to fix. • Avoid overloading the line as you approach the wakes...