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Kristin
Use these three keys to remove the slack from your next water ski slalom run.
Time Your Attack
Losing your body position at the second wake is a major cause of slack rope in the turn. If your upper body breaks forward, your arms come away from your sides and you end up screaming into the turn. To avoid this breakdown, ensure you have fully completed your turn before you begin to load the rope. Ski all the way back to the handle and allow the load on the rope to build naturally and progressively.
Lessen The Load
Changing directions too quickly after your edge change causes a loose line. The biggest factor behind this change of direction is leaning too hard behind the boat. While you obviously do not want to give up your body position into the wakes, you need to remain as light on the rope as possible. Once your angle is set, concentrate on simply maintaining your path.
Commitment Is Key
As you begin your edge change after the second wake, it is important to fully commit to moving quickly from one edge to the other. Skiers are often apprehensive through their edge changes, causing the transition to be a long, drawn-out process. The quicker the edge change, the more space you will have to slow down before the turn. As a result, you will have a tighter line at the completion of the turn.
