One last try

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DeepCMark58A

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Going to attempt to water ski today, last time I tried it did not go well. I am going to try a dock start on the Big Easy, I refuse to ski on 2 skis. I know I don't have the core strength but all a steer can do is try.
 
sangerwaker

sangerwaker

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Use the boom a couple of tries first. Too many failed tries long line will wear you down quickly. Boom will build confidence too. You can do it!

PS. Stretch out first! I tore my hammy because I did not stretch first. Never had to before. Getting older does have its moments. :rolleyes:
 
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redneck joe

redneck joe

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DeepCMark58A said:
Pride says no. Either I do it the way I used to or I don't try. The Big Easy ski if I can't get up on that I have no business trying, thing is 12" wide.
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You are not going to be a happy old guy....

I'm coming g to terms with what my body can or cannot do and I adjust accordingly. Plus, a few times being up, even if on two will help bring back the muscles you need to deep water start.

I used to love some time on two. Dad would give me a big wake, whip me on a turn then straighten out. 1970s searay 19srv, I could jump the whole wake.
 
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DeepCMark58A

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redneck joe said:
You are not going to be a happy old guy....

I'm coming g to terms with what my body can or cannot do and I adjust accordingly. Plus, a few times being up, even if on two will help bring back the muscles you need to deep water start.

I used to love some time on two. Dad would give me a big wake, whip me on a turn then straighten out. 1970s searay 19srv, I could jump the whole wake.
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I don't need advice on aging, fully aware of my limitations and intend to fight it every inch of the way. I also see zero reason do deep water starts hip right off the dock, my swimsuit doesn't even get wet till I drop.

It went well really nice to have a boat that has hole shot and getting on plane is quick and easy.
 
kd4pbs

kd4pbs

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Things go North eventually no matter what. 20 years ago I learned how to wakeboard after 20 years of water skiing and knee boarding. I'd likely struggle to stay up for 5 minutes on two skis today. I don't know that my wife would want to learn how to tow a skier... one of the two best friends who used to be my driver lives an hour away with a busy schedule and the other just passed away. Cancer sucks.
I'm glad you're still able to do it and get up on one! I bet that was fun!
 
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DeepCMark58A

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The ski is the Big Easy dang near 12" wide front binding is laced back foot in the loop not dragging a leg, sit on a dock and say hit it and lean back when you get pulled off the dock and bingo. I do not have the core strength to get drug thru the water on a deep start but I still have hella grip and a boat that does not hesitate at hole slot, boat is made to get the hull and skier on plane fast. Nothing fancy just went nice and easy
 
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zke61553

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Remember to adjust the tightness of your foot covers before starting at the pier! If the core is not strong enough, you can rely on the explosive release of the board to exert force instantly. Two boards are indeed hard to control. Maybe you can try a single board first to get a feel for it
DeepCMark58A said:
Going to attempt to water ski today, last time I tried it did not go well. I am going to try a dock start on the Big Easy, I refuse to ski on 2 skis. I know I don't have the core strength but all a steer can do is try.
Click to expand...
 
jimmbo

jimmbo

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I always found Standing Starts in just over Knee Deep Water far easier than Dock Starts. Just kept about 6-7 feet of Slack, and yelled 'Hit It'. Only failed Once in many Years... Granted I wasn't using a Ski that held my back Foot Prisoner.
 
jimmbo

jimmbo

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DeepCMark58A said:
Pride says no. Either I do it the way I used to or I don't try. The Big Easy ski if I can't get up on that I have no business trying, thing is 12" wide.
Click to expand...
With that Attitude, enjoy watching others ski, even though they may have dropped a Ski...
 
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electricjohn

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jimmbo said:
I always found Standing Starts in just over Knee Deep Water far easier than Dock Starts. Just kept about 6-7 feet of Slack, and yelled 'Hit It'. Only failed Once in many Years... Granted I wasn't using a Ski that held my back Foot Prisoner.
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We called that a "Jump Start". We also did it off a dock or the bow of a boat.
 
jimmbo

jimmbo

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A Jump Start is Different than a Standing Start, unless you are standing on a Dock. Dock Starts and I never got along, be them sitting or standing
 
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electricjohn

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jimmbo said:
A Jump Start is Different than a Standing Start, unless you are standing on a Dock. Dock Starts and I never got along, be them sitting or standing
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Off the beach we called it "Jump Start", just the name we gave it back in the early 60's. Off a dock we called it just a dock start. One of the docks we used in Vermont, late 60's, was 4 ft. above the water. If a dock was available, we dock started, if a beach was available, we beach started, if neither were available, we deep water started. All of our slalom skis had open back tow boots. Double hi-raps were invented by a hospital I bet.
 
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tphoyt

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He makes it look so easy. I would have done a face plant right from the get go.
 
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Chris1956

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Gee, the biggest problem doing a Jumpstart (or beach start) is the fear. You stand there in knee deep water, holding a rope, as a boat on the other end of the rope starts to speed away.

In actuality, a Jumpstart is pretty safe, if you are of average strength and weight.

If you pull in too much rope, the boat will be going too fast when the rope tightens and it pulls the handle out of your grasp. Of course, if the length of rope you pull in it too little, a faceplant can happen.

Jumpstart is a nice term, but a Jumpstart is really more like stepping up onto the surface of the water with your ski, as the rope tightens.

So, stand in knee deep water, on a downward slope of the bottom. Pull in two arm lengths of rope (more or less dependent on the acceleration of the boat), yell hit it and drop the extra rope. Now two hands on the handle, arms pulled in and lean way back. As the rope tightens, make sure the ski tip is at the water surface, and you should be pulled up and onto the water. I drag my back foot as a sort of rudder to help keep me and the ski straight.

The prerequisite to do a successful Jumpstart is that you can ski fairly well on slalom. A lot of times, the Jumpstart will be like the last moment before you complete a deep water start on slalom, that is, the tail will sink a bit and may even drag in the mud.
 
jimmbo

jimmbo

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Chris1956 said:
Jumpstart is a nice term, but a Jumpstart is really more like stepping up onto the surface of the water with your ski, as the rope tightens.
Click to expand...
That is what I considered a Jumpstart, done standing on a Dock, or a Raft.
I did a lot of Knee Deep Starts, even succeeded on my 1st Attempt back in 1975.
 
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