Power, you have to have it. With out power that 400 horsepower boat will take you down course faster than you ever thought possible. Insanity has been described as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” This can be applied to skiers so easily due to the fact that we always want to get that next buoy but we often do not want to change our approach to slalom. It is time to make a change. It is time to rethink how you are utilizing your body position from the finish of the turn through the wakes. So many people constantly fight the boat in an effort to make it cross course which ultimately puts them late and out of rhythm with the boat. Lets take a look at how to work with the boat and use your power to get cross course as quickly and efficiently as possible.
As you finish the turn you must establish a strong connection between you and the boat before you can begin to efficiently move cross course. As the tip of the ski engages at the backside of the buoy you will naturally begin to start a turn. At this time your outside hip and hand should stay together and as your free hand comes on to the handle it should begin to take the pull from the boat. If your hips maintain connection to the handle and the pull comes from your trailing arm you will maintain a connected position through the wakes. It is crucial to have straight/relaxed arms behind the boat and full pull come from your shoulders rather than your biceps and forearms. If you maintain this solid position; speed and power are your friends and you should embrace them. Try to constantly build your speed so you are going your fastest right behind the boat. This will allow you maximum speed through the edge change and help you to take an aggressive outbound line. Think about following the path of the handle and allow your hips and shoulders to do the same.
Power behind the boat is crucial for optimum cross-course direction. The direction you take cross-course determines the line you take through the turn and ultimately whether you will run the pass or not. It is possible to establish too much angle out of the turn which results in getting pulled back by the boat causing an extreme loss of angle. While uncommon it is a frustrating thing to experience. The great thing about skis today as they are designed to turn when on the inside edge. Most skis will generate an appropriate amount of angle during the turn and then it is your job to just hang on and enjoy the ride. If you ski with me it is pretty common to hear me say “patient turns; aggressive pulls” this means that you should be patient at the backside of the turn to let your ski get set. Once it is set it’s game on and you can be as aggressive as you want to maximize that cross-course speed.
This can be a difficult process to master as it is very easy to be overly aggressive and eager at the finish of the turn. Be patient and trust it though. If you take the time to master the art of power behind the boat your skiing will be transformed.