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Trent Finlayson | Photo: Bill Doster
There’s no feeling like swinging up alongside the boat, dropping your outside hand and powering your way through a fast one-handed turn. In this water ski how to, find out how to switch the one-handed turn.
Plan Your Attack
It may seem obvious, but it’s helpful to visualize your turn and know exactly which hand you’re going to release beforehand. At first, many skiers release incorrectly with their inside hand. You want to let go with your outside hand as you flow into the turn, but start planning for the release well before you make it.
Timing Is Everything
Avoiding choppy, unbalanced turns takes perfect timing. If you release your outside hand too soon, the boat’s pull will cause you to bend forward at the waist. If you release too late, you won’t be traveling outward into the turn. You should drop your outside hand after you complete the edge change and begin to feel free from the boat’s pull.
Patience Makes Perfect
The finish of the turn is crucial, as this sets your angle and body position for the next cut into the wakes. The biggest mistake is reaching back for the handle with your outside hand too soon. To avoid this, rather than reaching across your body for the handle, leave your free arm at your side and ski all the way back to your cutting position before grabbing the handle again. This will ensure the turn is complete and will leave you with a great angle into the wakes.
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Mike Ball, who is the Former Minnesota State Champion for trick water skiing and jumping and who is also a good slalom skier and snow skier, has been coaching me for the proper water ski slalom techniques. His instructions have been helpful, and I've also greatly enjoyed skiing behind his brand new 2010 Ski Natique. Thanks, Mike! According to Mike Ball the proper hand hold technique depends upon which foot you put in the front binding of the slalom ski. For right foot forward skiers the right hand should point fingers down towards the right foot and the left hand should point up like gripping a baseball bat. Conversely, for left foot forward skiers the left hand should point down towards the left foot and the right hand should point up. Now, if I could only keep up with 2 of my heros- World Champions Andy Mapple and Chris Parrish!