First time in the course

[mrprostar]

I finally had a chance to ski the slalom course for the fist time this weekend and I'm in need of some pointers. I've been free skiing at 25 (I think) off at 30 mph and getting better every time. Hard cuts and working on strong position through the wake. I thought the easiest would be to start the course with full length rope. I started out left, cut through the gate but had to slow down to make sure I got through the gate hit the first ball and then started for #2 and slammed a huge wake in a full cut and went right over the ski. I tried a couple more times and had to slow way down to brace for the wake and only got 5 and 6 back to back. I couldn't believe the wake was so much bigger with that much rope. Should I try 15 off or just keep working at it like this until I can go through the course completely and THEN go to 15 off? Any other suggestions for people new to the course?

[flipper]

Just keep working at it full line. It's all about timing. You don't really have to cut that fast once you get the timing down. Look way before the ball you are going for. If you look at the ball, you'll be late right from the get go

[Craig]

How much do you weigh?

I am a fan of people working at 15 off from the start. With 15 off you already have a tremendous amount of rope to work with. I think that much line (i.e. long line) makes it much more difficult to get into any sort of rhythm.

Do you have any pictures or, better yet, videos of your skiing? Likely your body position is not as good as you may think (I say this from experience). If you make typical mistakes your hips are behind you and your shoulders are leading the pull. You want your hips, shoulders and ankles all in line with each other. If your hips fall back (toward the tail of the ski) that causes a lot of trouble.

I think this should be your number one focus really, until you are getting to a point where you are cutting the line (-22off or better) at maximum speed. If your body position is poor you are only going to make things worse and begin practicing loads of bad habits by hacking away at the course.

Flipper is right, timing is also an issue. I this just comes from experience in the course, and don't be surprised if it doesn't come right away, it takes time. You can start by ignoring the gates, pull out like you are going to use them but if you find yourself in a position where you are going to miss them, who cares, commit to your turn in and go. Next, you should be more concerned with skiing with rhythm in the course than skiing around buoys. It is more beneficial, IMO, to miss(or shadow) every buoy with good rhythm than to hack through 2 buoys.

Keep up the skiing both in and out of the course. Practice good body position and rhythm and the buoy count will start to come. Free ski with the same lines and speeds as you do in the course. 15'off at 28mph is typically what I start most guys off at, if it is a smaller guy (say 130-160lbs) you can work at 26mph even.

[Jesus_Freak]

My $0.02:

1. Stay at 15' off.
2. Progressive pulling (not so hard at the balls).
3. Stay at or above 30MPH. Below that, the 205 wake will beat you senseless.
4. Stop now, while you can. Course skiing is addictive and horrible for your health.:D

[mrprostar]

This is the best I can do from work. I'll try to post a video later. I know I have a lot to learn still and I'm sure you will really notice when you see a video.

[mrprostar]

I weigh 155, btw.

[flipper]

Looks like you have way too much weight on the back foot, your shoulders are forward instead of back with your chest out. Straighten your arms out and stick your chest up

[Hollywood]

I would stick with 15' off, I don't think I've ever even attempted a slalom course - wake crossing at the full 70'.

[Craig]

Yup, just keep hammering away at body position, you will get it.

Time out of the course will be valuable to you at this point as well. Mix up some open water drills you want to spend some time both creating rhythm and also working on getting your body position correct. A wake crossing drill will help with body position. Pull out like you are pulling out for the gates, start a progressive turn in and pull through both wakes, relax and stand tall on the opposite side of the wakes like you are gliding out for the gates again and start a progressive turn back to the wakes and pull through both wakes. The idea is to take high speed cuts at the wakes to work on your body position without worrying so much about linking turns together. The wakes on your 205 are slightly bigger than other slalom boats but that may help you, if you are in a good position the wakes won't be so much of an issue, if you are not you will know it. While speaking of body position...

You want to stand on the ski like you stand on shore in an athletic position. You don't stand on shore with your legs stiff and butt sticking out behind you, don't do it on your ski (this is often easier said than done). Keep a nice bend in your knees and take any shocks with your legs not with your arms or by bending at the waist.

Mix this up with some buoy shadowing or open water skiing for some rhythm and things will start to come around. Don't be surprised if you have to take a few steps back to make some progress.

Hope this helps.

[h2oskifreak]

Agree on the 15' off comments. One method of learning the course is to "ski it backwards". Make 6 and the exit gates. Then 5,6 and the gates, then 4,5 & 6 and gates. The reason for this is the shortest distance in the course is from the entrance gates to the 1 ball. If you are trying to learn timing and behind coming out of one it makes it extra hard. I usually teach people the course backwards and in my opinion, it helps.
Body position is king. Hips forward, shoulders back, arms straight and handle to the hips in your pull. I would also let one hand off the handle in the turns. You really don't have to at 15 off, but you might as well get in the habit of releasing the handle early in the game.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing. Get coached by people who know their stuff is a great way to go. Looking forward to the video.

[shepherd]

There is no 25 off, but maybe you've been free skiing at 22 (orange rope)? Don't go full length, the rope is just too long and "spongy." I'd recommend throwing away the first segment and start out at 15 off (red rope).

Also, you may want to start out skiing the "half course." Some courses have skier buoys halfway between the boat guides and the regular skier balls. If your course doesn't have those, have the driver drive halfway between the boat guides and skier balls and you can ski around the regular 1, 3, and 5 balls and use the boat guides at 2, 4, and 6. That's how my wife is learning now, but she's a beginner on one ski. If you're already an accomplished open water slalom skier, you may find the half course too easy. In that case, just dive straight into the full course at 15 off. Have fun. You'll love it.

[Bouyhead]

[QUOTE=Craig;629589]Yup, just keep hammering away at body position, you will get it.

Time out of the course will be valuable to you at this point as well. Mix up some open water drills you want to spend some time both creating rhythm and also working on getting your body position correct. A wake crossing drill will help with body position. Pull out like you are pulling out for the gates, start a progressive turn in and pull through both wakes, relax and stand tall on the opposite side of the wakes like you are gliding out for the gates again and start a progressive turn back to the wakes and pull through both wakes. The idea is to take high speed cuts at the wakes to work on your body position without worrying so much about linking turns together. The wakes on your 205 are slightly bigger than other slalom boats but that may help you, if you are in a good position the wakes won't be so much of an issue, if you are not you will know it. While speaking of body position...

I'm with Craig on this one. I see to many beginners struggle in the course because they spend to much time chasing buoys and creating bad habits. IMO nothing is more important for a beginner than a good solid position behind the boat, also referred to as the work zone. I spend a couple of weeks every spring just free skiing and doing drills. Looking foward to the video. Good luck!!! Your about to make a lifelong commitment!!!

[jamisonsbrodie]

Ditto on rope length and buoy shadowing. Also, move your bindings to one hole forward of center. This will help balance your weight a little. The one hand turn is key because it allows your upper body to stay square with the boat. Turn your ski with your hips and legs, not your head and shoulders. Start the course from the right side of the wake and disregard the entrance gate until you are consistantly getting all 6 bouys. Good luck and say goodbye to other summer hobbies.

[mayo87prostar]

another key element is being able to slow down and make the turn around the ball. to do this, you need to shift some weight forward onto your front foot to help slow the ski down to turn, then rock back some to cut across the wake. you do not want to bend at the waist, just shift some weight on your feet by bending your knees and rocking forward a little. not too much or you go out the front. i agree with flipper's comment that from your picture, you are too far back. a key difference from open skiing to course skiing is to shift focus from making a big spray to making good time from ball to ball. the turns should be smooth and you should be pulling the hardest at the wake, not when just coming out of the ball. go to a ski school even if it is for a day, it will help alot. good luck.

[Hollywood]

While there is some good advice in this thread, you're going to get 1,000 opinions on where to start and what to do. Buy some DVDs and go to a ski school!

www.fifteenoff.com is a great "learning to ski the course" website with TONS of accurate, useful information.

[rodltg2]

here is another advocate for 15' off/30mph. if you dont have speed control get it asap. and get rid of that HO and buy a D3!

[woftam]

Hollywood sums it up well, but if you have to do it the hard way....
1) Forget about the end gates until you are skiing the course effortlessly w/o them.
2) Concentrate on your form and rhythm.
3) It's okay not to make a particular ball at this point.
4)In fact, start by cutting well inside all the turn bouys to establish a good rhythm.
5) As you get better, turn closer to each turn bouy. (not so close as to cut the bouy or anchor attachment)
6) When confident, round each turn bouy.
7) Add end gates.
8) Increase speed (2 mph at a time) to the max in your division/age group. Note: make two perfect passes in a row before increasing speed to promote consistancy.
9) Begin shortening the line when you have reached max speed (two perfect passes in a row).
10) Have fun.

[gogo2390]

yea same thing with me i just joined the ski club/team at school and started in the course last week for the first time. Ive been slaloming for years just never had the oppurtunity to go through one...kinda limits how good you can get without it. I started at 15 off at 30 mph couldnt get more than one ball then dropped it to 28mph and got all 6 for the 1st time today (this is after a week). Just keep with it, I got a lot of really good skiers to help me out (team came in i think 6th at collegiate nationals last year) i go about every day and get 6 pulls through the course...realistically, what does anyone think i can get before the end of the season (mid-late october)

[Age Fighter]

FWIW -- at the Coble Ski School they highly recommend 15 off.

[Jesus_Freak]

...Ive been slaloming for years just never had the oppurtunity to go through one...kinda limits how good you can get without it. I started at 15 off at 30 mph couldnt get more than one ball then dropped it to 28mph and got all 6 for the 1st time today (this is after a week). Just keep with it, I got a lot of really good skiers to help me out (team came in i think 6th at collegiate nationals last year) i go about every day and get 6 pulls through the course...realistically, what does anyone think i can get before the end of the season (mid-late october)

Congrats. I, like you and most free skiers, was greatly humbled by the course. I get it again each year in the spring when I transition from free skiing back to the course. :)

Without seeing you ski, I bet you could get another 2 MPH (consistently) in a month. You sure will like that wake better at 30. I seem to recall the 28 to 30 wake change is huge, relative to speed increases above this.

[DooSPX]

wow, this info is great!!! im learning alot just reading!

[94PS190]

I agree with moveing your bindings one hole forward. you may want to move your fin forward as well. getting you ski set up correctly will make a big difference. your tip looks like its too far out of the water.