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KristinFour tips to save your back on deepwater water ski starts.
by Seth Stisher
Compress
If you are not fully compressed, you put strain on your body by creating additional pressure against the boat and by tensing muscles that may fight the boat to the point of failure. Allow the boat to pull you into a tight ball as you start to take off.
Breathe Out/In
I believe this one may depend on the skier. I blow out all of my air in an effort to relax my body and not create extra resistance, but one of my training partners holds his breath in hopes that full lungs will create a little extra body support. Either way, try both and see what works best for you.
Alignment
The spine is a terrible thing to waste. If properly aligned, your bone structure can support you on your pull up, leaving your muscles free to relax until you’re up on the water.
Advance
I have had a lot of luck with this one myself and it seems to help heavier people as well. When the boat starts to pull and generates load on your body, simply try to roll your hips forward over your front foot ever so slightly. This will keep the boat from pulling your torso too far forward, which can result in the tip of the ski going underwater.
