I had very clean sinuses after though. The key for me was tucking into a ball and getting the handle close to the ski.

Several times I would feel the ski plane, then I would end up leaning back and that would kill the lift.

I had one foot in and the free foot was practically on the ski beside the other foot.

Yep the trick is to stay in a ball until the boat and you are planing. But I have seen another method too. Starting standing up in 1 feet of water (beach) with 2 feet of slack...

Congrats.

The deepwater slalom start is an awkward combination of lots of water drag, strength, balance, and patience. I'm sort of surprised that you say your free foot was on the ski next to your foot in the binding. Seems like side by side legs would give you more drag and less fore/aft balance - but I also say, do what ever works!

Full-cut, baggy swim trunks can really cause a lot of drag too (not suggesting a speedo, but you get the idea). I wear a nose plug EVERY time I ski.

Interesting comment on swim trunks. My kids bought me a new swimsuit for Fathersday. It's the long baggy kind... I'm hip.

But when I slalomed last week (sad, 1st time out), I actually struggled getting up. I fell. I wrote it off as "I'm getting old" and losing my touch. But maybe I'll buy some Speedo's for skiing

I usually wear goggles and then take them off once I am up and going. I ski with contacts.


Congrats on the deep water start. I hope to go skiing for the first time this season, tomorrow.

I may try to alter my free foot placement next time out. I read that a lot of other people will drag the free one behind. I also placed the rope on the left side of the ski even though Im LFF.

I wear neoprene shorts some of the time - prevents the giant wedgie thing.

I'm RRF (Right Foot Forward) and I put the rope to the left of my ski AND usually have my ski pointed to the right at about a 15 degree angle. It sort of straightens out as I go...or I ski out of the hole pointed somewhat in that direction. If I am pointed straight or any amount to the left I tend to muff the start.

My right foot is my front foot. I place the rope on the left of the ski. My left foot is in the toe binding when I start.

Some people will drag the rear foot especially if the boat is underpowered. I have a 3.0L and do not drag and I can pop up fine.

OH, I tried several times a few weekends ago at BM to get up on one ski. Couldn't get it. Finally gave up and got right up on 2, and then dropped one, just to prove to the kids I could actually ski on one.

I mostly tried dragging my back foot, and once tried it with it in the binding, but that was worse. I might have to try the back foot resting NEXT to the front foot binding. I hadn't given that a thought. I also want to try a split handle tow rope, I was told that it helps.

I think it has to do with my fat butt and my out of shape arms.

P.S. Williemon - CONGRATS!

I'm LFF and also place the cord on the left. Since my body wants to go to the right the cord compensates.

The guy who does the standing up method I was talking about also says to drag one foot for balance. I never tried it since I only feel comfortable when both my feet are secured on the ski. But I should listen to him as he can do slalom with one feet holding the rope.

Talking about pros, Skibrain do you have more insights for us? How do you start your slalom?

I learned deep water slalom about age 10 when dragging a foot behind a 20 hp on a 14' aluminum boat. Then dragging a foot behind a 40 hp on a 14' fiberglass boat. Then dragging a foot behind a over-propped 115 hp on a 17' boat (that would otherwise go nearly 60 mph but had no hole shot). Used to prefer the hop start from shallow water or dock start when I was a teen. Just requires a good driver to coordinate.

I got really good at dragging for about 60' before coming out of the water. So I think that dragging a foot is more effective and prevents the skier from leaning back against the boat when the boat is only trying to get on plane itself. Dragging that foot (slightly off to the side) also gives you some stability against tipping over. AND once you start to come out of the water you can leave your foot out of the back binding to help with the balance until you are sure you are up and skiing.

I've been skiing with a double boot for the past 12 yrs so I had to learn to get up with both feet in. Bend the knees! Occasionally I tip over and muff it. Behind my buddy's 375 hp Malibu with full throttle it takes about 1.25 seconds to get on plane. I ski a lot so am in shape for what would otherwise cause season-ruining injury just getting out of the water.

Excellent info. thanks!

dragging a foot may help keep me from falling backwards as I did a few times when the ski was starting to plane.

I was a bit scared this season trying to deep water start on one. Thats how I ruptured my bicep tendon a few years back. I had been really laying way back in the water and the ski was getting vertical. At full throttle on the 3.0 that would holeshot in 3 seconds, I was stalling the engine at 2000 rpm for about 5 seconds when I kicked my bent legs out and pulled with my biceps. My grip and arms dont fatigue as easy as other guys do so I was still hanging on when I felt the pop and pull.

Now I know to kind of ball up, lean forward and try to put the handle on the ski with my arms allowed to wrap around my knees. that keeps the ski at a good angle to ride up out of the hole.

The guy I was with said he looks down when he starts. I read somewhere to look up. I looked up and always had the lake flowing through my head via my nose. Nose clip comming up.

It was my wife complaining of snoring that lead to the nose plug.
Anything for marital bliss!

Congrats. Technique is key. It shouldn't strain your body too much.

You have the right idea about leaning forward. You want the ski to plane as quickly as possible. The more ski touching the water, the more planing surface area you have.

I'm 200lbs, 6'4" dude. This is behind a 130hp outboard powered 22ft Lowe Deckboat that's pretty well loaded.

The first video I LINKED too shows a slightly better technique than the second video. In the second video, i'm using my new ski, which like skibrain's, is double booted. That makes it a little more difficult to keep the tip down. Plus, I admit I was not putting enough downforce on the tip of the ski. Additionally, i'm RIGHT at the weight limit for my ski, so it does make it a little harder. In the first video, that ski is a combo ski and it's definitely easier to get up on.

I'm running behind time (have to go drive 270 miles here in a minute) but i'd be glad to talk my technique later. I would try to keep the back foot in the boot and concentrate on pushing the tip of the ski down to the water as the water pushes it up. Then, once you feel the ski "fall over" (It's an obvious feeling because you won't have to push it down anymore), then slowly stand up. It's not that complicated. The other important note is idle to 100% throttle is not always best. Using stopping at 75% for a brief moment is beneficial for the skier unless the boat is overloaded. If the handle is pulling out of your hands or if you can't contain the ski, then you're probably plowing too much. Work on getting the ski more parallel with the water.

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1188600022&k=XYL2Z2P2U3ZM5AFHUJ44XR ---> This is me 11 months ago. I've made a lot of improvements since then, so ignore any part AFTER I get up. But do take note to how my body is position and how the ski behaves.


--> This is me back in May, on my first run of the season. I think it was my 3rd pull of the day. At any rate, I hope the videos will give you a better idea of how I have been able to successfully deep water start since I was 12 years old (6 years ago).

d-Rod,

I thought you gave up waterskiing for KU transit studies?
I understand some people are into that sort of thing.

Oops, forgot to insert one of these things at the end of that comment.

I skiied last weekend. It's fresh in my brain. :-p It's a shame im driving to one of the best lakes in the Country in about 30 minutes. No boat attached.....

I went out again last night. On the 3rd try I got on up. I knew I would get up on one, I just had to hit the right combo of body position and driver input. It was my wife driving this time.

What was funny, on the 3rd try, I started with feet side by side, during the start my feet switched to free foot dragging, then as I was just plaining, I felt the ski want to plow a little, so I switched my free foot and used it to push down on the front of the ski. Perhaps now I might try having the free foot in the toe plate first, and using it to pull up with.

Once I got on up, I could not breath. I had so much water flow into my nose that when I tried to breath, I could not. I tried to cough, but had no air to cough out. So there I was, trying to get my free foot into the toe plate, hang on and not fall, and I could not breath. Finally, after what seemed like a long time, I coughed a little, relaxed and could get a little air. Of course, then I had to take care of the belching that I needed to do as well. Does anybody know what is taking place in the body when all that is going on? Why is there so much air to burp out and so little in the lungs? Happens all the time but I never understood just what is taking place.

BNP (before nose plug), I used to take a big breath of air and exhale hard through my nose with my chin down until on plane. Keep mouth closed.

I'm no doctor but would suspect that you are swallowing air into your stomach instead of breathing in air into your lungs. Like when you drink a carbonated beverage, you swallow the bubbles into your stomach and then belch it out. Are you taking an involuntary 'gulp' as you take off?

Another reason to use a nose plug...granted the real risk is probably minimal but your are in the warm water south.
Warm water amoeba

As Skibrain mentioned, I try to breathe out through my nose as well on takeoff, but am thinking of getting a nose plug. Are those just drugstore items Skibrain?

Nothing much to add to the good tips except to reiterate the baggy swim trunk comment. I got a new suit this year from my wife and it blows up like a freaking balloon on take off.

What I use is called a nose clip and has an exposed wire. My daughter was a synchronized swimmer and that is the type they use. Other guys I ski with have the all-plastic type. If you can do one-handed starts, just pinch with your free hand.

Nose Clip

Or be a man and learn how not to breath water up your nose

Not so good going this weekend. I guess the load in the boat caused me issue. I had a full tank of gas this time instaead of 1/4 to 1/2 tank, and there were 2 more adults and 2 more kids onboard as well. tried about 8 times and just could not get up. Had to resort to the drop ski. Anyway, I will just have to keep trying.

Try putting more people up front. We ski with the spotter in the bow and another adult if along. The extra weight helps keep the bow down and the spotter can have eye contact with the captain.