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WATERSKI MagazineThe Start: If you are driving a reasonably powerful boat, you won't need to slam the throttle right to the stops when the skier says “Hit it!” This is especially true of tournament inboards, which have far more low-end acceleration than most skiers can handle comfortably.
Apply enough power to get the skier out of the water in a timely manner (medium throttle on most inboards), then, as soon as the ski starts to level off and the skier looks comfortable, come up to speed quickly. This will give both you and the skier more time to get set for the entrance gates.
The Setup: When lining up for the course, some drivers steer slightly to the right of the gates to compensate for the skier's initial pull through the gates. The best method, however, is to line up with the middle of the course, anticipate the pull, and compensate with wheel and throttle. Like other elements of slalom driving, learning to apply just the right degree of wheel and throttle will require some practice, and your ability to compensate for a particular skier will improve the more you work with him or her.
Through the Buoys: Steering a straight course and maintaining a steady speed through it may require you to compensate for the skier's pulls using both the wheel and throttle. But even when the skier is big and aggressive, the corrections should be subtle and smooth.
Add throttle only after the turn, not during it, and be ready to counter-steer as the skier sets up and pulls toward the wake.
If you are driving an outboard-powered boat or an inboard/outboard, and especially if the pylon or ski eye is located near the stern, the force of the skier will pull the stern toward him. As the skier rounds buoy 1 and sets for the pull, the force will turn the boat's nose to the left, and the driver will have to compensate by turning the wheel to the right.
On most inboards with center-mounted ski pylons, the force of the skier is distributed more evenly over the length of the boat. Instead of pulling the stern around, the skier's force will drag the entire boat slightly sideways. As the skier pulls after buoy one, you may have to turn the wheel slightly to the left to bring the boat back into the middle of the course.
With any boat, it will take some practice to perfect your counter-steering. To improve more quickly, become aware of how the skier is affecting the boat's path, and pay attention to the corrections you must make.
Rather than glancing first at the course, then at the instruments and finally at the mirror, try to see everything at once. Don't look at the far end of the course. Instead, focus on the next set of boat guides and work your eyes down the course in increments.
Note: Installing an automatic speed-control device will make slalom driving much easier.
End of the Run: If you are turning for another pass, drop your speed a couple of miles an hour and make a small- to medium-radius turn that won't send rollers down the course. When stopping to rest or shorten the line, don't whip the boat. Instead, pull back on the throttle as you turn the boat slightly to the left.
Crashes: Ask the skier if he or she would prefer that you return quickly after a crash or slowly to minimize rollers and to allow him time to recuperate from his fall. If asked to return quickly, spin the boat and pull back on the throttle immediately after the fall, then idle back to the skier. This method avoids trailing rollers on the return.
Common Mistakes: Adding throttle while the skier is in a turn, taking too long to get the skier up to speed after the start, and allowing the boat to drift to the wrong side of the course.
