Nancie Rideout, world's champion ski jumper, demonstrates the side slide.

Water Skiing Tricks-Made Easy!

BY DICK POPE, SR.

Any one can learn the elements of water skiing. If you have normal co-ordination you can generally get up on the skis in the first few attempts. After the skier has mastered the ability to cross the wake on two skis and can maintain good posture, he generally looks for new worlds to conquer. This usually begins with dropping one ski and riding on the remaining one with both feet. Then the skier learns to cross the wake on one ski going back and forth much in the manner of a slalom skier. Those of you who want to continue on from this into the trick field, must begin with some basic equipment which makes the job easier.

First of all, assuming that you have adequate power, you need to have a special kind of ski called the TURNAROUND. There are a

number of different types, but they have one thing in common-they are shorter than the regular ski, about 54 inches long. The type of end, rounded or square, depends on personal preference, and on the type of stunts performed.

The next thing is the proper method of towing the skier. It is very important to keep the rope up high enough to prevent it from touching the water. Nothing is more disastrous to a skier performing tricks, than to have the rope touch the crest of the wake or the surface of the water, which creates a whipping motion that throws the skier completely off balance. It should be high enough so that it clears the engine completely and does not interfere in any way with the steering of the boat.

There has always been the need

of communication between boat and skier, other than shouting or waving the arms. Airguide Instrument Company has accomplished this in a more logical way with their Ski-Talkie which is a tow line that has a combination water proof microphone and speaker on the handle of the tow bar. The driver of the boat also has a combination speaker and microphone which may be either attached to the dash on a clip or hand held. It is not only a great device for safety, but will be of invaluable aid in teaching and coaching water skiers.

Now most of the wake tricks, are based upon the mastery of the side slide. This is also referred to as a 90degree turn and the same maneuvers are necessary for side slides. As for the 360-degree turn, there is a complete turnaround. Being able to accomplish this also enables you to switch from front to back and you wind up skiing backwards. In making the 90-degree turn, or side slide, on two skis, square off with the boat with your side and shoulder, with the front of your body at a 90-degree angle to the boat. It is much more diffcult to hold the 90-degree position for any length of time, because the leading edges are at their greatest length. With a larger surface, there is a greater chance of the edges becoming submerged by the wake or rough water. Your free hand is held out to the side and parallel to the surface of the water to afford additional balance. Your ankles will urge you to be very cautious at this stage because if your front ski were to go under, the back ski could override your other ski and result in a sore ankle.

To recover, swing your arm and shoulder, turning your skis back to the front of the boat with your weight equally distributed and gradually shifted to your heels.

Going into the 360-degree turnaround from the side slide, can usually be accomplished in a reasonable

length of time. You begin riding behind the wake in a crouched position, and swing your arm and shoulder in the direction you want to turn in. Footwork is important in this maneuver, for in normal ski position only an 8-inch surface (the width of the ski) offers resistance to the water. As you turn, the resisting surface increases to the entire length of your ski.

You will recall that the skis are turned up at the tips to keep them from submerging, and that your

Maneuvering around a fallen skier to get the rope to him can be quite a job even with the "knowhow."

weight is shifted to the heels to help keep the tips up. Now you are confronted with keeping the increasing edge of your skis up as you turn. When you have made a 90-degree turn, the side of your skis become the leading edges and must be tilted or raised enough to keep them from

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