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Kristin
4. Multitasking Boats
A few years ago, if you wanted to slalom ski, a direct-drive was the clear choice. This was no problem if you had a family of skiers. However, in many families, mom and dad ski and the kids want to wakeboard – and bring their friends. If you are one of these multisport families, try looking at a V-drive. With the technology and versatility of the new hulls, you can still get good slalom performance and a good wake for the board crew. The direct-drive has the advantage in the course, but the V-drive offers more versatility. If you know course skiing often takes a back seat to the kids’ priorities, more space should be a prime boat-buying consideration. – Ted Bevalaqua
5. Adjust with Ease
A little adjustment to your ski can go a long way. I always do the easiest thing first, which is to adjust the bindings. Moving the binding forward will help you solve the common problem of riding too far back on the ski. If I’m in the boat and have already moved the binding as far forward as it will go, then I’ll take a look at the wing. If I have 5 degrees on the wing and still need more tip in the water, I’ll move it to 7 degrees. If I still need more, I will go to 9 or even 11 degrees. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go to the fin – but be careful. Once you start moving the fin, you get into infinite settings. Bottom line: Always do the easiest thing first, and adjust one thing at a time so you can easily move it back. – Steve Schnitzer
6. The First Jump
Jumping may seem like an all-or-nothing proposition, but that is not the case. To teach a first-time jumper, position is paramount. When we teach, we start from the feet. We tell our students to keep the skis shoulder width apart, which leaves a separation between the skis of about 4 or 5 inches. Then we move up to the ankles, which should be bent forward. Then bend the knees a little farther forward than the ankles. We keep moving up the body to the waist, which should also be slightly bent. Next is the handle. Hold it with the elbows lower than the waist and the handle down lower than the elbows. Keep your head up, and make sure to always look up when hitting the ramp. For the first jump, go over the corner of the ramp, from left to right, so the takeoff point is roughly 2 feet high. As the student becomes more proficient, we move over to the left and use more of the jump. Eventually, when they go over the top, they end up going over the ramp from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. This lets beginners build technique and confidence before going directly over the jump. – Jack Travers
