Slalom Skiing and its advantages

Slalom Skiing

Slalom-or one-ski skiing-offers greater freedom and more maneuverability than conventional water skiing. While it is possible to balance for a while on one standard ski, the slalom ski is specially made. It is longer than the standard water ski, has a larger fin and 2 foot bindings, one in the front and one in the rear. The rear binding has no heel support, so that the foot can slide in and out easily. The fin is usually made of stiff metal, and slalom skis are sometimes tapered at the ends.

The start in slalom skiing is practically the same as in a two-ski start, but it calls for a bit more skill. For one thing, in a water start the starting pull will be much greater, because there is less of a planing surface on the one ski and there is more water pressure against the body of the skier. It takes a little more co-ordination to climb up on the water with one ski than with 2. Most slalom skiers prefer to get off from a standing start, and this is the practice in most competition, where the take-off is usually from the edge of a sandy beach. In a slalom start it is important to keep the weight slightly to the rear to prevent the toe of the ski from responding to the first force of the boat’s pull by digging in and throwing the skier forward.

Most slalom skiers use the double-handled tow rope in preference to the single handle bar.

Some skiers find it easier to start with one standard ski and one slalom ski. They kick off the regular ski when they are in skiing position, and drag the toes of their free foot in the water lightly to get balance before placing the second foot in the rear binding.

The technique in turning is also slightly different with the slalom ski. As you lean in the direction you want to go,

you also push the back of your ski around by shifting more weight to the rear foot. On a turn, lean back against the pull of the tow rope, since the deeper fin prevents skidding. One of the advantages of slalom skiing is that on a slalom turn the skier can travel about a third faster than the speed of the boat which is towing him.

The Slalom Course

The competitive aspect of slalom skiing is the slalom course. Basically it resembles the slalom in snow skiing and the slalom boat races downriver. The regulation 315-yard course consists of 6 buoys and 2 gates, each of which must be passed twice. The course actually requires an unobstructed space of about 600 yards in length. The buoys and gates are 45 yards apart, and the gates 4 yards wide. The boat follows

a straight course, a sharp circle and return, and the skier must turn around the outside of the buoys and pass through the gates, swinging about 25 yards from side to side as he passes the buoys. A course can be set up by using beach balls, basketball liners or folded up inner tubes, anchored to hold them in position.

Tags: water sports

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