Boat Operation and Training Courses

Slalom Boat Driving Tips

Instruction on how to set your slalom skier up for a perfect tow - on and off the slalom course.

There is often a lot more to skiing slalom than guiding the ski in and out of slalom course buoys or in open water. To get that perfect run, to reach that new personal best, or to tame a course you need a boat driver that knows what they are doing.


Here are some slalom driving tips that will keep the skier and boat driver happy:

  • Be sure the driver and the skier are in sync with the same hand signals. Sign language behind the boat means nothing if those in the boat can not translate.
  • After the skier yells "Hit it!" give them just enough power to get them out of the water. No need to throw the throttle down and yank the skier if it's not needed. After the skier levels off quickly increase to the slalom speed.
  • Keep a firm grip on the wheel at the 10 o'clock position.
  • Keep your eyes on the horizon or on trees in open slalom driving. Just like driving a car; you don't look right in front of the car, but rather farther down the road. Pick a point on shore and drive towards it in a straight line.
  • At the same time be on the look out for other boats, skiers, and debris. You may want to designate someone in the boat to help you look for obstacles.
  • If you're driving through a course line up with the middle of the course. Try to anticipate and compensate for the skier's pull.
  • Gently maneuver the throttle. This is best done with the fingers, and not the whole arm. To steady the movement of your arm you may want to rest it on the arm rest, or the side of the boat.
  • Don't jerk the steering wheel, unless in the case of an emergency. Use only slight adjustments to the steering.
  • Never add throttle before the skier reaches the buoy. Wait until after the skier turns.
  • Pay attention to the RPM's, and not the speedometer. Reason being is that when a skiers pulls away from the boat he tends to reduce the boat speed. The RPM gauge is more consistent.
  • In open water driving, drive the boat back and forth across the same path, therefore staying in smooth water that the boat has already flattened out.
  • At the end of the run decrease the boat's speed slowly and make a soft turn. No need to whip the boat around. This will cause unwanted rollers.

Trained Boat Driver Program Description

This two-step drivers’ program is designed to teach boat drivers, beginner through advanced, to safely operate a towboat while towing a water skier. The major emphasis of this program is safety consciousness at all times, and upon completion of the program, the driver will have the knowledge and skills to implement all necessary precautions to safely tow a water skier.
 


STEP ONE – CLASSROOM: Educational opportunities through clinics are increasingly available and USA Water Ski active members of all skill levels are encouraged to take advantage of those listed in our publications. General clinic topics will include: boat handling, the observer, the ski area, starting, driving patterns, picking up the fallen skier, landing a skier and docking. More specific topics will include: the observer-skier-driver relationship and individual responsibilities; and, driving for the first time skier, the inexperienced skier, the small or large skier, the disabled skier and the kneeboard or barefoot skier. Other topics will include driving of the slalom and trick skier with an introduction to the art of tournament boat driving.
STEP TWO – ON THE WATER: Drivers will be evaluated in several areas with regard to safety consciousness and skier awareness. Primary areas of evaluation will include: equipment check, starting and maneuvering the boat, communicating with the skier, acceleration, steering, stabilization of speed, adjustment of speed, returning to a fallen skier, landing a skier, returning the boat to the dock and overall safety consciousness.
PARTICIPATION
Clinics: Contact USA Water Ski’s Competition/Education Department or consult our publications for event calendars. If there is significant interest, USA Water Ski will assist in identifying qualified instructors for clubs that would like to host a Trained Boat Drivers’ clinic. Attendees of 3-Event Drivers’ Clinics may be awarded a Trained Driver rating by the Senior clinic official provided the attendee meets the on-water requirements of the Trained Drivers’ program as noted in Step Two above.
Instructors: USA Water Ski-rated Regular or Senior Drivers are eligible to serve as instructors for the Trained Boat Drivers’ program. Individuals with current Trained Boat Driver and Safety Coordinator ratings may apply to become a Clinic instructor by assisting a Senior Driver at two USA Water Ski-sanctioned Trained Driver clinics. This experience must be documented by the Senior clinic official and forwarded to USA Water Ski's Competition Department.
Eligibility and Costs: All USA Water Ski active members ($60 insured members) are eligible to participate in the Trained Boat Drivers’ program. There will be a $10 charge per person for each clinic to cover event and material costs.
Maintenance: To maintain a Trained Driver’s rating, the individual must participate as a driver in at least one USA Water Skisanctioned Class “F” or Class “N” tournament per calendar year and attend a USA Water Ski-sanctioned Trained Drivers' clinic every four years. To ensure that your tournament work is recorded accurately at USA Water Ski Headquarters, please make sure that both the Tournament Officials’ Record and the top half of the Trained Driver Practical Experience Record are completed correctly and signed off. This record will serve as an important backup to USA Water Ski’s data on your work in case of a discrepancy. A Trained Driver may also maintain his/her rating by performing ten (10) hours of driving practical experience at a camp, ski school or USA Water Ski-sanctioned club exhibition/practice per calendar year and attending a USA Water Ski-sanctioned Trained Drivers’ clinic every four years. This experience must be verified by: a Camp Recreation Director, Ski School Manager or Safety Coordinator where the experience occurred; a USA Water Ski-recognized Course Conductor; a USA Water Ski-rated Regular or Senior Driver or another USA Water Ski-rated Senior Official. This experience must be documented on a Trained Driver Practical Experience Record and forwarded to USA Water Ski Headquarters’ Competition Department with your USA Water Ski “Active” Membership renewal.
Benefits: The benefits of successfully completing the Trained Driver Program are:

  1. A Trained Driver is equipped with the necessary knowledge to safely operate a boat while towing a water skier.
  2. A Trained Driver is eligible to drive USA Water Ski-sanctioned club exhibitions/practices and Class “N” or Class “F” water ski tournaments.
  3. A Trained Driver is eligible to drive for ski schools that are insured through certain insurance companies.
  4. A Trained Driver status can be added as an endorsement to the Level 1 Instructor’s rating for those drivers who are also certified as instructors. Some camp programs require USA Water Ski Trained Driver endorsement for Level 1 Instructors.
  5. Trained Drivers who are also USA Water Ski-rated Safety Directors or Coordinators meet the requirements for the USA Water Ski Fun Tournament Coordinator rating.

USA Water Ski Headquarters     1251 Holy Cow Road     Polk City     Florida     33868-8200     phone 1.863.324.4341 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1.863.324.4341      end_of_the_skype_highlighting     fax 1.863.325.8259

 
 
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