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Markus
Billy Susi’s high-powered turn with time to spare to checkout is spray.
BUILDING GIANTS
Learn to throw a pro-size spray.
1. Your spray will increase as your ski’s roll angle increases at the completion of your turn. This increased roll angle (or edge angle) will tighten your turning radius, which will result in a harder, sharper turn and a higher, more powerful wall of water. While this is not your goal in the course, it will yield a bigger spray.
2. Speed is key. In order to drop a bomb at the finish of the turn, you will need enough speed and width to be free of the boat. Control your intensity into the wakes in order to maintain a strong body position as you approach your edge change. Being overly aggressive in your cut will cause you to get pulled up in the pre-turn, which will result in a slow, narrow turn and a dismal spurt of a spray.
3. Ride the line. As you move through your edge change, keep your handle low and your head level. This will prevent you from prematurely falling to the inside of the turn and allow you to travel outbound to the widest point possible.
4. It’s show time. Your goal is to roll your ski over as aggressively as possible. The trick is to do so without losing too much speed. Roll your ski over by moving your center of mass — your hips — to the inside of the turn. The farther you move your center of mass, the more your ski will roll over. This will sharpen your turn’s radius, forcing more spray from your ski’s outside rail.
5. Follow through. By aggressively rolling your ski over in the turn, you will have decelerated more than you ideally would while skiing a slalom course. That’s why it’s important to re-turn to a strong, stacked position before you begin loading the rope. Once you’re secured in this stacked position, feel free to peek back over your outside shoulder to assess your liquid giant.
Nick Parsons feels the power of the mighty Conan sword after carving his liquid-wall-winner.
