Any hints?

I've been trying to accompish this for like 6 years now. I'm great at starting with two skis and then dropping one, and can ski all day on one ski, but I just can't start on 1! I just recently purchased a new tow handle, a Proline Quick-Start Handle that has a harness like thingy just ahead of the handle to put the tip of the ski into and keep it straight. I can't find any instructions or videos on how this thing actually works though.

Keep in mind this comes from someone who can't do it either.

My friends keep the rear foot out to balance themselves as they get pulled. Duck behind the ski and ride it out.

There, might as well ask me how to build a rocket to the moon...

JB,

I always drag a foot until I'm up and steady on the ski. Never could start with both feet in.
Let the drag foot drag and use it for some balance until your body is upright and then work on getting your foot in the strap or boot which will require some trial and error to figure out a sequence.
BIGGEST help is a quick planing boat that gets going. Because if it is slow out of the hole you will have issues getting up on one. It's not as easy as it looks and if your tired you might as well forget it.

Only way I could ever do it was one foot in & one foot out. Think the purpose of the harness is too balance the ski & give you some stability when starting.

As far as using the Quick-Start Handle, you see the triangle made by the cross-piece just below the handle and the "V" side ropes? Just make sure you stick your ski tip in there...the rest is automatic. The idea is if you wobble off balance on take-off the ski hits one of the rope triangle sides and keeps the ski from getting to far out of whack. The rope will rise off of the ski tip as you get up...nothing special to do except get up! I think it is a big help, especially if you ski a wide ski. I used it all the time the first 2 years, now I use whatever rope is handy. Good luck.

General tips: Arms straight, ski angled a bit forward, "hide" behind the ski as much as possible in a ball with knees to chest and the ski butt near your butt, don't rush to stand-up but put pressure on your forward foot and finally...wear a Speedo...really...actually, just don't wear a big baggy swimsuit that acts like a parachute catching water.

FWIW...I keep both feet in...never could do the one out thing, but certainly know some that do. Maybe its a flexibility thing?...balance?...ensures pressure with front foot?...I don't know.

I can get up with both feet in or drag the back foot. I prefer to drag the back foot because it doesn't take as much strength. Try dragging and put the back foot in just as you pass the prop wash (right about when you are starting to surface). If you wait too long, you're up but can't get the back foot in the boot and as a result... wipe-out.

Dragging the back foot allows the front knee to rest against your chest for the first few seconds. As you push the knee away from your chest you begin to surface. That's a good time to start working on putting the back foot in.

I'll be the different one here. I always start with both feet in. Never got the hang of dragging one foot behind. I do use a rope like the one shown above. Triangle does a good job of keeping the ski straight. Anything that makes getting up easier is OK in my book.

You're not different. I definitely think it's easier with two feet in. Everyone I know who slaloms does so with both feet in.

I agree this style of rope is easier...it keeps you going straight.

Here's a short video of me taking off 2 or 3 years ago (posted it last summer to demo to someone else)



Here's another video of a friend and I jumping up at the same time.






From helping the dozen or so people I have, the couple things I have learned:

1) Some fight it too much coming out of the water. Don't. Keep straight, let the boat pull you out. Some will try to make the ski plow. Unnecessary. If it wants to tilt forward, let it! It shouldn't self-dive without being forced. Mean lean too far back on take off.

2) More power is often not best. Gradual fade in of the power is key and you may not need full power. The video of Adam and I is behind a 130 hp boat with several full size passengers onboard.

3) Ski size matters.



Keep trying! Hopefully you get it soon!

Two feet in , lay back in the water while you are waiting it helps balance,tail of your ski tucked in behind your butt, push on the front foot when starting , start standing up by placing even pressure on both feet about 1 to 2 seconds after the power is applied. After 3 or 4 goes give up and have a go latter your usually tired
Hope this helps, it works for me when I miss the dry start
come on Summer

Wow, D-Rod, I'm way more impressed by the 5 MINUTE ski run than the double start. I'm betting both of you were tired a lot sooner than this, but didn't want to be the first one to fall or let go??

I learned to ski with two feet in. My buddy who taught me to ski always got up by dragging a foot - it took me YEARS to be successful dragging a foot.

I think the biggie in getting up on one ski is to not try and stand too soon or to try and pull yourself up. Let the boat pull the ski up onto plane. Keep croughed with your knees bent and let your butt drag water until AFTER the ski has planed and become stable. Then it is really easy to stand after the ski has planed and become stable. Trying to stand before the ski has planed and become stable is easy for experienced skiers, but next to impossible for first-time skiers.

That's how I do it.

I put the tip of the ski in the crotch of the "Y", put my strong leg in the back boot and keep my legs moderately straight. I have never tried the single leg start. I learned as a teen and things were SO much easier for me then but I could get up slalom today behind a good boat.

Hide behind your ski describes it as well as anything.

Hey lots of slalom skier on board. Not bad!

Everything has already been nicely described for the skying part. Let me emphasize HP as I believe it makes a big difference.

At a yearly family reunion in the Laurentians we always bring my friends '99 16' aluminum fishing boat with a 100hp 2 cycle Merc. Never a problem getting me and an uncle up on slalom. Usually have 2 adults and 3 kids in the boat. Then 3 years ago the owner of the cottage bought a new fishing boat. Aluminum, same length but heavier as it's more luxurious. Powered by a 90hp BRP E-Tech.

You wouldn't think there is a big difference but we where in for a surprise. Now if we have 2 adults 3 kids in the boat it has a hard time pulling just me. I have to plow for about 50' before the boat has enough grunt to pull me up.

My uncle on the other hand has no problem. He starts from the beach standing up in one feet of water. Gives one feet of slack in the rope and the driver floors it. One feet on the ground the other in the boot holding the ski flat above water. Makes it look to easy.

I haven't skied in 20 years,,, Till last summer... I keep both feet in boots.

One thing to add to what others have mentioned as far as keeping the ski angled forward: My fastest deep-water starts happen when I keep the ski at about a 45-degree forward angle. I start with both feet in the boots and use my back foot to hold the ski so it's actually somewhat under me, as I crouch, but the tip's got to be above the surface. Seems to work ok for me.