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Billy Susi // Photo: Bill Doster
You’re running one pass with ease, but as soon as you shorten the line length, just getting more than a buoy or two feels impossible. This is often described as “hitting the wall.” In this water ski how to, find out how to break through and start shaving feet off your line length.
Harder Isn’t Better
When the rope gets shorter, most skiers automatically try to go harder. But you should keep the same intensity on all passes. As the rope gets shorter, it becomes much easier to establish and maintain angle across the course, so you don’t need to load any harder. Just concentrate on keeping the intensity the same from one pass to the next.
Take It Slower
As you progress to a shorter length, slow the boat down a quarter-mile an hour. This will give you a little extra time coming into the buoy and will allow you to relax. A slightly slower speed gives you a bit of breathing room, and it’s usually no problem to bump back up to regulation times once the pass feels controlled.
