Doing the Saucer Riding

Saucer Riding

The new and popular sport of saucer riding offers many of the thrills of water skiing, but at lower speed and with the advantage of more stunts than are possible on conventional skis. The saucer is a circular piece of marine plywood, approximately 40 inches in diameter and about one-quarter to one-half inch thick. It is usually brightly painted, both to

protect it from water softening and to add a touch of color to the pastime.

Since the saucer has a comparatively large planing surface, it is towed at relatively low speeds compared to water skiing. This makes it possible to enjoy “saucering” behind a boat with a 5 -horsepower motor, and a 10 horsepower can provide all the necessary momentum for “trick” saucering. To ride a saucer, the standard 75-foot ski tow is used, but the boat speed should be held to about 10 or 12 miles an hour. At higher speeds the saucer begins to flutter, making control extremely difficult.

The Start

To get up on a saucer, you may start from either a prone or kneeling position, remaining back just far enough to keep the leading edge of the saucer from dipping in the water. Then, moving slowly and carefully-the balance on the saucer is tricky-bring up first one knee and then the other until you are balanced on the balls of your feet in a crouching position. Finally, stand with feet slightly apart as in a good water-skiing position.

The saucer may also be started from a dock. Sit on the edge of the dock with your feet on the saucer about 18 inches apart. Lean back before the rope becomes taut, and try to get the saucer moving when the boat jerks you forward. The boat should be moving at a good speed as it pulls you from the dock. Keep a low crouch, back and arms straight, and the front of the saucer well out of the water. Although there are no bindings on the saucer, it is not difficult to keep your feet planted firmly on it. The pressure of the water pushes the saucer up against your feet, and if you keep your balance it is no harder to maneuver on a saucer than on water skis. To maneuver the saucer, shift your weight and lean in the direction you want to go. To steer left, lean left; to steer right, lean right.

One of the simpler applause-provoking stunts on the saucer is the turn-around. To do it, start with a turn. Continue applying turning pressure by leaning away from the towing boat. When you reach a backward position, change hands on the handle. Then continue your turn by pulling yourself around from back to front. Your feet stay put in one position on the saucer during this maneuver. The average skier will do better by staying within the wake of the boat when he is riding a saucer. Even experts have trouble trying to cross the wake of an inboard. It is possible to cross the wake of an outboard during a moderate-speed turn, but care must be observed to keep the leading edge of the saucer from digging into the water.

Despite the tight balance required for saucering, many of

The Skier’s Salute: One ski raised out of the water and held vertically is the traditional salute. Here, a skier is raising the right ski to position.

the more practiced experts can perform handstands on the disk, put down chairs and sit on them, even ride them in pairs, or form a pyramid atop a saucer.

The Skier’s Salute

One of the first tricks practiced by many skiers as soon as they graduate from the novice class is the skier’s salute. Start this by lifting one ski slightly out of the water. Be sure to keep the tip up. Hold the ski out of the water until you get the feel of riding on one ski, then lift the out-of-water ski about a foot above the water. When you feel confident, raise the ski to a vertical position in front of you, holding the handle in the opposite hand and swinging the free hand back behind you for balance. Most water skiers find it easier to raise the right foot into the salute position by using the right hand for balance. Try the salute when riding in the center of the wake at first.

Tags: water sports

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