If you can do both that is certainly the best by far. Some can some can't but like I said before, you will pop up faster dragging a foot than you will with both feet in. That's why I think it all depends on the boat pulling you. I've skied behind boats that you would drag behind forever trying to get up with both feet in and that same boat you could get up dragging a foot much quicker. Having to drop a ski totally blows in my opinion. You take the chance of losing it or worse yet another boater/skier running over it an damaging something or someone.

Get good at one or the other then move on to which ever one you couldn't do before. Be patient with yourself and you'll get it. I think I tried no less that 25 or 30 times to step start before I figured it out. After you do it both ways a few times it's pretty easy. I think being able to get up both ways is the best unless you always ski behind a boat that can yank you up with ease.

Yep, agree...go with whatever works...plenty do the 1 footed thing. I was posting mostly b/c I was just shocked this guy had skied for years, all the while having trouble getting up, and never even tried with both feet in. When I was struggling to learn I tried both ways many times!

Something that no one has mentioned is to make sure you have the correct foot forward. This seems like its straight out of the Journal of Duh!, but surprisingly many people have not considered this as a factor. When teaching people to deep water start, either with two feet or one foot in and after no success following several to many attempts, I have asked them to switch their forward foot. It didn't always work, but many were able to get up after one or two more attempts following the switch.

One way to know for sure if you have the correct foot forward is to try the following: Stand with your feet together, hands clasped behind your back and close your eyes. Ask someone to gently push you forward from behind. Which ever foot goes forward first to catch your balance is the one you should try putting forward. This works best if the person who does the pushing does so by surprise. This way, you can't really think about which foot to put forward. Its amazing how many people are skiing with the wrong foot forward. Having your dominant foot forward improves your balance in starting and keeps you from wobbling when trying to place your rear foot into the toe strap if dragging a foot.

Gotta agree with wetdog, try switching feet.
Also lot is dependent on the boat driver.
After I'm in and in postion I say taxi, my wife starts idling out, this get the ski straight. I then say hit. My wife then accelerates moderately to plane. (350hp helps also)

I have always done it with both feet in. Another thing is good biddings. GET GOOD BIDDINGS.

Here's a snapshot of me digging out of the hole this past weekend. Boat loaded with 10 passengers (about 1700lbs), full fuel, 1000' elevation, 130hp, aggressive ski. Got up on the second attempt (actually second attempt of the whole season...this was my first time on the lake for the year).

Couple secrets...it's ALL about technique. The was utterly underpowered. Noticed I have 100% of the ski in the water. VERY important. Secondly, this photo doesn't show it but I immediately leaned forward, pushed DOWN with my front foot and pulled up with my rear. I got the ski as parallel to the surface as I could. In a couple of seconds i was able to start easing my way up. Wish I had video of it but I don't.

It took perfect technique to get up under these conditions though.




For kicks: here's my 7 year old sister skiing for the first time this past weekend:

D-Rod, you look good, but sis looks great. Arms nice and straight, knees flexed to take the waves...nice job! She's not even using the harness that attaches to a ski bar or even the bar...congrats to her. My kids just transitioned away from using the bar and are really getting comfortable back there now.

are those skis the up to 80 lb and size 5 trainers, or the up to 120lb up to size 9 jr skis?

I have to jump in on this one. I've been working on a deep water start on a single slalom ski for about 4 years. In the past I've tried once or twice and given up and gone back to dropping a ski. I was more interested in getting up and skiing than being able to get up on one ski.

This year I decided I was going to do it even if it meant not getting any actual skiing in. This past weekend, I worked at it both days. On Saturday afternoon I went out with a couple of friends and tried everything. I was focused on one foot in and dragging my back foot for balance. I was able to consistently get the ski to plane but I kept going over the front. After about 8 attempts I gave up figured I'd come back in the morning. My 45 y/o body needs a little time to recover. I went out the next morning a tried again. This time just for kicks I decided to try with both feet in. I missed the first attempt. On the second attempt I really focused on keeping the back foot lined up behind my front foot so that the ski was pressing against the rope with about 6 inchsed of ski above the water. This gave me much more control of the ski as the boat started to pull. It worked. I'm 6'4" and 220 lbs so I was spraying a lot of water for a few seconds but then I broke free and was skiing. I think the key for me was keeping enough weight a little further back and hanging on for longer than I would have thought I should or could. What a great feeling. And starting with both feet in allowed me to get my rear foot further into the back toe loop than I do when I drop. It gave me a lot better control when cutting. i tried again later in the day just to be sure it wasn't luck. And I got up on my first try! I can't wait for this coming weekend. I'll be working on it al weekend just to be sure I have it grooved.

Just had to share my success story. Maybe someone will see something here that helps them get up. I know I've been looking through this board for a while looking for help on skiing and much more. Thanks for all of your help.

Derek, your sister got all the looks in the family. Sorry.

I want to get EZ Ski Trainer for my son. His 2nd b-day is coming in November so he may get one.

Congrats...I think its one of those things that once you get the right feeling a few times you will be able to successfully repeat it in the future. Everyone seems to have a few different keys that help them. It took me quite a while but I could never successfully drop either, so once I was able to get out of the water successfully I had to learn to ski too! I did a lot of getting up and falling back down.

I hear what you are saying re: getting the rear foot in further. I have pretty wide feet and need to grab the back of the ski while floating in the water and really jam my rear foot in. I can't imagine getting it in far enough while skiing if I dragged a foot.

D-rod: Perfect technique? I thought it was the HAT that was magic! (Pity the slalom skier who has 8 extra passengers of weight adding to the wake) This morning, like every time I ski with my buddy who has a '04 Malibu, we don't add gas unless lower than 1/8 tank, and we take the rear bench seat OUT of the boat for less weight/wake. Fussy fussy.

rl3193: Great job on the deepwater! Whatever works is what works for you. Seeing the '89 Whaler in your signature... a '74 Sport 13 was our ski boat for about 6 years when I was growing up. Perfected the long-drag behind that.