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RistoLevel 1 – Beginner Skier
You understand how your ski reacts in the water, can make deepwater starts, can cross wakes and make slow turns. You need to work on a vertically stacked body position (head over hips, hips over feet) and balance on the ski. Getting the pace and rhythm of moving from side to side behind the boat is your main concern.
Name: Theresa Juback
Skills: Theresa only skis about once a year and coming into the clinic had only free skied. She can already do a deepwater start. “I'm small, so I just pop right up,” she says.
Working On: Having never attempted the course, Theresa's main goal is to learn some slalom basics and get used to working through the buoys.
Coach's Take: “She's working on crossing the wake now,” says Marcus Brown. One of the main things she needs to keep in mind is squaring her shoulders forward and keeping her momentum, but the pros agree that she's progressing well. “She's got some basics down,” says Matt Rini. “In another few runs she'll be ready to try the course or at least shadow it.” Indeed, on Theresa's second run of the day she ran the mini course.
Tip: Perfect Your Posture
Perhaps the most common tip tossed around at the fantasy-camp clinic and most likely at any other ski school is to concentrate on maintaining good posture and balance throughout your set. From levels one to five, every skier needs to keep the basic slalom stance in mind, whether they're making their virgin cut through the wakes or running shortline slalom. Instead of standing too straight or leaning back too much, concentrate on being in an athletic position on the ski and keep your weight even on both feet. Avoid the temptation to lean far away from the boat and to ski back-foot dominant.
Tip: Straighten Your Shoulders
It's a natural instinct to turn in the direction you're trying to ski, but by keeping your shoulders squared and aimed straight ahead, you'll be able to control yourself more easliy — even when moving laterally. Matt Rini noticed Theresa leading turns with her shoulders and notes that it's incredibly common in beginners. “It's easy to do, but skiers need to train themselves not to turn their shoulders in the direction they're going. Keep them toward the boat.”
