| I'm sure that we've all seen people trying to learn | | | | after he starts moving, he should pull the tails of his |
| how to water-ski They crash everytime the boats | | | | skis up towards his bottom. Then, he should be told |
| starts to go, while their friends in the boat grow | | | | that after he pulls up the tails of his skis, he should |
| more and more exasperated. After you see this, you | | | | stand up. At this point, it should be easy to stand up |
| think "no way" when one your children says that he | | | | because of the pull on the rope. This pull will tend to |
| wants to learn how to water-ski. Actually, teaching | | | | make the child lean forward, which should make it |
| your children to water-ski is a fantastic way to get | | | | easy to stand. |
| your children more interested in the family boat. The | | | | 5.) The child should be pulled ashore several times. |
| steps that I'm about to discribe should cut down on | | | | There is no substitute for experience . I remember |
| the exasperation and provide a much simpler, tear- | | | | being pulled into shore as being a lot of fun! |
| free course for teaching children to ski. My brother | | | | 6.) On the last few pulls, the child should be |
| and I learned using these procedures, I taught my 10 | | | | instructed in making simple turns away from the |
| year old son using these procedures, so I know they | | | | centerline of the pull. The child should be told that if |
| are valid. | | | | he puts more of his weight on the left ski, he'll turn |
| One of the first things to think about is the boat | | | | to the right. Conversely. if he puts more of his |
| itself. A 200hp boat can be very scary for the kids. I | | | | weight on the right ski, he will turn toward the left. |
| leaned to ski behind a 14' boat that had a 50hp | | | | These turning skills will be necessary when being |
| outboard motor and to me that was very scary. A | | | | pulled behind the boat. |
| 12' boat with a 35hp outboard motor is probably big | | | | Part II The Moment of Truth |
| enough. I've even seen photos of people water-skiing | | | | Before the first tow with the boat, the child and the |
| behind a jet-ski. | | | | boat driver should talk about what is going to happen. |
| The actual procedure for teaching your ski can be | | | | At this time, the child will be very nervous, so it is |
| broken down into two parts with several steps in | | | | important that he feels like he is in complete control |
| each part. | | | | of the situation. The main source of his nervousness |
| One of the first considerations is the boat. You have | | | | will be the fear that he doesn't have control over the |
| to put yourself in the child's place. A 200 hp boat can | | | | boat. |
| be very intimidating to the child. My dad taught me | | | | 1.) The first tow behind the boat should start with |
| behind a 14' boat powered by a 50 hp outboard | | | | the child once again in shallow water with an adult |
| motor, but to me it looked like the Titanic. A 12' boat | | | | helping him to get set. This first trip behind the boat |
| with a 35 hp engine is probably big enough. I've even | | | | should be planned out extensively by the child and |
| seen pictures of people skiing behind a jet-ski. | | | | the driver. I would suggest that they plan a small |
| The actual procedure for teaching a child can be | | | | circle with the boat slowing down and stopping at its |
| broken down into two parts with several steps in | | | | starting place. This will allow the child to slowly sink |
| each part | | | | back into the water while still holding onto the rope. |
| Part I Training | | | | I've seen a lot of people crash after letting go of the |
| 1.) The first step of my course eliminates the boat | | | | rope. |
| altogether and therefore the intimidation factor. The | | | | 2.) The child and the driver should have a |
| child should be in shallow water, close to shore. The | | | | pre-arranged signal in case the child wants to keep |
| average ski rope is about 200 ft. long, so at least | | | | going. This signal could be as simple as pointing one |
| two adults (more is even better) should hold one end | | | | thumb up while holding on to the rope. |
| on the shore while the rest of the rope is stretched | | | | A few other tips for the first tow: |
| out into the water to the child. | | | | The child should be instucted to stay behind the |
| 2.) For the child, one of the hardest parts of skiing is | | | | boat, so he stays inside the wake where the waves |
| learning to control the skis while sitting in the water. | | | | won't be so bad. The boat doesn't really cut down |
| For this step, an adult should get in the water to help | | | | the waves very much, but if you tell the child that it |
| the child get the skis on and help hold the skis up | | | | does, it will help him relax.b) The driver and the |
| until the launch takes place. | | | | observer should be the only ones in the boat so it |
| The adult helping the child should probably wear a life | | | | makes the smallest waves possible.c) Ski in the |
| jacket too, even if he is a good swimmer. He will be | | | | morning when the water is at its smoothest. |
| busy helping the child, so he shouldn't have to worry | | | | The above techniques could be used with a small |
| about keeping his head above the water. | | | | adult also, but you may need more bodies for pulling |
| 3.) Once the child has his skis ready, then the adults | | | | on the rope. If you use these techniques with |
| on the shore should pull the rope taunt and get ready | | | | children, you and your children will have far less |
| to run. At this point, it is important to impress upon | | | | frustration and far fewer tears on the part of the |
| the child that he is in control. The pullers don't go until | | | | kids. The best part is; once you teach them to ski |
| the child screams for them to run. | | | | they will be anxious to go on family boat trips. They |
| 4.) Once he is stable, the child should yell at the | | | | might even wash the boat! |
| adults onshore to run! The child should be told that | | | | |