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WATERSKI MagazineThe simple fact of the slalom course is that you can trace every mistake to what happened directly before it. Every fall and missed buoy is likely caused by the inefficiency from the preceding section of the course. Therefore, if we trace every segment of the course backward, we would be left with the “pull out for the gates.” With that in mind, apply these three strategies and you should be able to get yourself to the precise width and speed every time to make your gate turn easier. Key 1: Start outside the wake approximately 4 to 5 feet to avoid the trough. Having a smooth platform is a must for consistency.
Key 2: What's not so obvious about the next step, a progressive pull, is exactly how progressive it should be. I teach a pull-out that puts you in perfect position for a gate shot, an “X marks the spot,” if you will. Do not pull really hard and glide for a long time. Shorten your glide by pulling yourself up to your mark. I am not advocating no glide, but simply suggesting being in a position that is free from the boat's pull: You're not lunging forward or drifting backward, but arriving at your predetermined mark. This position is only possible by taking a long, progressive pull.
Key 3: The only exception to the intensity of Key 2 is in a headwind or tailwind situation. In a tailwind, keep your technique the same. Just back off your progressive pull a notch. Vice versa in a headwind: Take a more aggressive pull-out. The important thing to remember is to vary your intensity, depending on the wind situation.
By using these three keys, you will not only improve your performance, you will be the envy of your peers. They will know that you have studied every segment of the slalom course and that you haven't taken your gates for granted. Now, enter the course with confidence and unleash your entire arsenal of in-course techniques.
Back on the water after a serious knee injury, 25-time Canadian national record holder Kreg Llewellyn is the current Pan Am champion. He runs the Llewellyn Specialized Water Ski School in Florida (407-977-9811) and produces a water ski line – Llewellyn Pro – with his brother, Jaret.
