Water Ski Lesson: Take a Better Path on your Waterski
Posted by Robby Trimble on Sun, Dec 18, 2011 @ 03:44 PM
Over the years as more guests pass through the ranch, I have begun to recognize a few technical concepts that seem to plague many of the skiers we see. The first one that comes to mind is the concept of running the course early. I’ve seen many versions of what individual skiers consider “early”, that is not. In this article I will give my explanation of the path that skiers should strive for that would really get them “early”.
A typical scenario at the ranch is when we drop at the end of the lake to discuss the last run and I ask, was that pass early or late? Most of the time the skiers reply is, “oh, pretty early but could be earlier”. My answer is most often is actually you were about 20 feet past ball one at the start and got a little later as you went through the pass.
Typical down course path
I often get a puzzled look and the answer ok, I will be earlier next pass. After the next pass we have the same discussion with the same results, although no earlier. As many of you who have been to the ranch know we spend time discussing this concept and looking at our paths during video review. What I believe here is that the skier is really not sure what being early is, looks like or how to get there? Most all skiers see the buoy, pass the buoy (although close sometimes) and turn, that is not early. The common response to my coaching them to get earlier is, I can’t get any earlier I will hit the buoy! Which is true, if you turn sooner on that path you are running you might well hit the buoy.
Typical path same as above, just turning sooner
Running the course “earlier” is not turning tighter or faster. When skiing truly “early” it is very difficult to actually hit the buoy the way it knocks you down. I’ve seen the pros do it on occasion, but it is rare. To really be early in the course, the path has to be established (preferably) from the gates. That early path is a very different path than most of us have ever traveled. The "early" path is a giant key to slalom skiing success and continuing to improve, go faster and/or run shorter line. Pro skiers and other successful short line skiers get that concept and always run that other path. I believe they even see the course differently because to run short line they have to, however running the “early” path needs to start way before “short line”.
Early Path
Spend some time wrapping your head around this concept in the off season, this is a great “visualizing exercise”. So, when we hit the water next season, you see it and believe it and will be willing to act on the change. Taking this path in the slalom course will bring great rewards.
Begin to visualize your 2012 trip to the ranch and running the “earliest” pass you can imagine and stay tuned for suggestions on how to begin skiing “earlier”…
2012 Reservations Open in January, book early to get the dates you want!
Written by Doug Trimble
Coach/Owner
SkiSunsetRanch