Slalom for first time!!

[Ndawg12]

I know my vride is less than ideal for slalom skiing but I tried it anyways. My wife didn't pull me out very fast so I got hosed for about 10 seconds before I finally popped up, but I got up the very first time I ever tried!! Ok enough bragging. She only pulled me at about 26mph because their was alot of traffic in the cove we were in but I was able to swing out both ways, it was a ton of fun!!! I'll never be a pro but what else can I do to make my set up a little better? I used my 70' spectra line attached at the ski pylon and we were doing about 26mph in semi-rough water. Just thought I'd share and ask since it's kinda slow this morning!!!

And what does all slalom lingo mean when you say 15 off or 28 off etc. etc.????

[UWSkier]

Woohoo! Another convert from the dark side.

It sounds like you have the getting up part figured out which is the first step. You can continue to use your Spectra if you'd like for now, but I wouldn't use it if you're looking to progress into more serious skiing. Spectra doesn't stretch the way a slalom rope does. You need a little give in your rope to save your arms, shoulders, grip, etc when you're really getting after it.

The XX number off means rope length. A slalom rope starts at 75 feet from pylon to handle. 15 off is a 60 foot rope, 22 off is a 53 foot rope, etc. Most people start out free skiing at 15 off and work on their form/fundamentals there.

[msuwaterski]

I would suggest that you go a little faster that 26mph. Free skiing at 30 -32mph will give you a smaller wake to cross and will be less work on your arms/back/legs because you would stay on plane better at higher speed. I also agree with the above poster on getting yourself a nice 5 section slalom line.

[Ndawg12]

Woohoo! Another convert from the dark side.

It sounds like you have the getting up part figured out which is the first step. You can continue to use your Spectra if you'd like for now, but I wouldn't use it if you're looking to progress into more serious skiing. Spectra doesn't stretch the way a slalom rope does. You need a little give in your rope to save your arms, shoulders, grip, etc when you're really getting after it.

The XX number off means rope length. A slalom rope starts at 75 feet from pylon to handle. 15 off is a 60 foot rope, 22 off is a 53 foot rope, etc. Most people start out free skiing at 15 off and work on their form/fundamentals there.

Yeah, I wouldn't say I've converted quite yet but it's nice to know I can do it and will be fun in my later years, I'm only 30 but I felt a tweak in my knee the other day while boading so my time may be limited.

So I was skiing at 5 off I guess. Like I said, the vride isn't much of a slalom boat so I don't know if I could go much shorter, seems like around 60-65 feet is where the wake is the tallest. But maybe it would be different at a faster speed. What is a good speed to start out at? 28,30,32??

Edit: sorry didn't see msu's post, so 30-32 will flatten out the wake a little, thanks.

Edited August 17, 2009 by nemire12

[UWSkier]

Agree with msu. Also, try throwing 1-200 lbs in the bow to flatten the wake even more if you're starting to get real serious. Just remember to keep the ski on edge through the wakes. It's not like a wakeboard where you want to flatten out at the wake to get pop.

[cyoda44]

no rear ballast, no wedge and no center ballast..... noooooooo. Try using 2 skis and go for some big air.

[Planefreak]

Wow a new skier!!! I've been skiing for about 10 years and picked up wakeboarding about 4 years ago and I hate it. Everytime I wakeboard it feels like my knee is to snap. Stick with skiing!!!

[Baddog]

On your boat you will get a better ski wake with as little fuel in the tank as possible. I have a guy at my lake with a Response who always brings two 2-1/2 gallon tanks with him, just enough gas for today's pulls. Me, I like a little reserve fuel but do tend to keep it below 1/4.

[Brad B]

I have used Spectra before - with a slalom handle though - and I liked it.

No stretch and forces better form on the turns.

Its all about form.

[Ndawg12]

I have used Spectra before - with a slalom handle though - and I liked it.

No stretch and forces better form on the turns.

Its all about form.

What is different about a slalom handle complared to the 15", tractor grip, floating handle that I have now?

[Slurpee]

I have used Spectra before - with a slalom handle though - and I liked it.

No stretch and forces better form on the turns.

Its all about form.

What is different about a slalom handle complared to the 15", tractor grip, floating handle that I have now?

There is probably something else to it, bot my slalom handle when paired with the slalom gloves is the next best thing to an effortless permanent handle attached to my hands. The guy trying to hold onto the rope landing a back roll tried the gloves with our wakeboard handle and it was only a mild improvement in grip over bare handed.

[Ndawg12]

I thought the gloves were just for looks

I've been looking into getting a pair but I want something that will last.

[Brad B]

About 3" - my wakeboard handle is 15" and ski handle is like 12".

Our line would only get down to 15 off but thats fine for free skiing

[Baddog]

I thought the gloves were just for looks

I've been looking into getting a pair but I want something that will last.

Actually, the gloves are to make people think you are better than you are. It's a deep rooted psychological thingy.

[Brad B]

Oh and gloves - a couple weeks ago I had to finally break down for some new ones but the local shop was out and I was skiing in 1/2 an hour so I stopped at Lowes and got some machine washable "Mechanix" gloves with padded palms.

To my surprise they are great and the padding runs up the fingers and is very tacky on the ski handle

[Brad B]

About 3" - my wakeboard handle is 15" and ski handle is like 12".

Our line would only get down to 15 off but thats fine for free skiing

I have a sorta "lake rot" on my fingers and the gloves help keep what skin I have left on my bones

[Ndawg12]

Oh and gloves - a couple weeks ago I had to finally break down for some new ones but the local shop was out and I was skiing in 1/2 an hour so I stopped at Lowes and got some machine washable "Mechanix" gloves with padded palms.

To my surprise they are great and the padding runs up the fingers and is very tacky on the ski handle

that's funny, those caught my eye in the tools section at Lowe's too! I couldn't remember if they were Mechanix or Kobalt, either way, for $20 I thought they might work, maybe I'll give them a try too.

[martinarcher]

Agree with msu. Also, try throwing 1-200 lbs in the bow to flatten the wake even more if you're starting to get real serious. Just remember to keep the ski on edge through the wakes. It's not like a wakeboard where you want to flatten out at the wake to get pop.

I really need to try a little weight in the bow of our boat. I've seen it recommended a lot, but have never tried it. I put a bow sac under the bow, and plumbed it in for boarding, but any water added to it destroys the wakeboarding wake. I need to try a 100-200lbs in the bow without the rear sacs filled and see what happens to the ski wake.

Just ans FYI.....a wakeboard is the same deal. Load the line and keep a hard edge as you hit the wake to get pop. Flat boarding into the wake will only decrease the amount of pop off the wake.

[luvtheBU]

Woohoo! Another convert from the dark side.

It sounds like you have the getting up part figured out which is the first step. You can continue to use your Spectra if you'd like for now, but I wouldn't use it if you're looking to progress into more serious skiing. Spectra doesn't stretch the way a slalom rope does. You need a little give in your rope to save your arms, shoulders, grip, etc when you're really getting after it.

The XX number off means rope length. A slalom rope starts at 75 feet from pylon to handle. 15 off is a 60 foot rope, 22 off is a 53 foot rope, etc. Most people start out free skiing at 15 off and work on their form/fundamentals there.

Yeah, I wouldn't say I've converted quite yet but it's nice to know I can do it and will be fun in my later years, I'm only 30 but I felt a tweak in my knee the other day while boading so my time may be limited.

So I was skiing at 5 off I guess. Like I said, the vride isn't much of a slalom boat so I don't know if I could go much shorter, seems like around 60-65 feet is where the wake is the tallest. But maybe it would be different at a faster speed. What is a good speed to start out at? 28,30,32??

Edit: sorry didn't see msu's post, so 30-32 will flatten out the wake a little, thanks.

Everyone I see wakeboarding now that used to slalom says that slaloming is harder on your body. Then again some peeps that do both; say that when you are wakeboarding and tricking it's hard on your bod too. I'm curious anyone have a good opinion on this? I know that when I slalomed everyday my a$$ was way harder than it is now and my arms and shoulders were waaayyyy stronger. But I don't get as much behind the boat time because of the boys so I can't fairly say.

[NorCaliBu]

Slalom requires more strength, especially as you speed up the boat, shorten the rope, and head for the course. Wakeboarding gets the nod for pure physical punishment though. Wakeboard crashes hurt sooooo much more than slalom. Slalom is really just two types of crashes (at least for me). One is blowing out the tail; no big deal, land on my back or hip and slide. The other is the OTF (out the front) and this one is no fun at all. Usually involves cartwheeling, faceplanting, sinus-flushing,...the works. And I'll still take an OTF over catching the front edge of a wakeboard anyday. Wakeboard falls are just violent and brutal.

So it depends on what you mean by "hard on the body". Physically demanding...Slalom. Physically brutal crashes...Wakeboarding.

[VinRLX]

So it depends on what you mean by "hard on the body". Physically demanding...Slalom. Physically brutal crashes...Wakeboarding.

And if you want both...go barefooting.

[luvtheBU]

Slalom requires more strength, especially as you speed up the boat, shorten the rope, and head for the course. Wakeboarding gets the nod for pure physical punishment though. Wakeboard crashes hurt sooooo much more than slalom. Slalom is really just two types of crashes (at least for me). One is blowing out the tail; no big deal, land on my back or hip and slide. The other is the OTF (out the front) and this one is no fun at all. Usually involves cartwheeling, faceplanting, sinus-flushing,...the works. And I'll still take an OTF over catching the front edge of a wakeboard anyday. Wakeboard falls are just violent and brutal.

So it depends on what you mean by "hard on the body". Physically demanding...Slalom. Physically brutal crashes...Wakeboarding.

Nope you summed it up exactly as I perceived it. I prefer to have it physically demanding instead of physically brutal. You are so right about those crashes. I was invisioning a frontroll crash, as not being a pretty sight.

[Sixball]

Slalom handles are very personal. What one person loves the next will hate. I hate the tractor handles. I like a striate handle 12 or 13 inch.

Same with gloves what one like another will hate.

I also think slalom is much more physical. It is brutal on hands if you get into 34 36mph short line. But its fast fun and a tremendous workout.

I will go with the wake board falls being more brutal most of the time.

[skier92]

Which is harder, wakeboarding or slalom skiing? Come on, you all heard the answer before.............. "If slalom was easy..........they'd call it wakeboarding!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sixball]

Which is harder, wakeboarding or slalom skiing? Come on, you all heard the answer before.............. "If slalom was easy..........they'd call it wakeboarding!!!!!!!!!!!