A ski course is 850 feet long and will take less than 30 seconds to ski through. While it’s short, it can also be humbling. Even the most seasoned open water skiers will struggle at their first several attempts on the course. But practice and patience will help ensure success.

There are a couple key things to consider when first attempting to ski the course. First is to maintain a stable balanced stance on the ski with knees bent slightly, and to ski in a rhythmic manner with a taut ski rope. It helps to practice at a slow boat speed. Having the boat go 26 mph or slower will allow you to feel comfortable and in control. A smooth turn will help keep the rope taut. Most skiers will ski with a 60 foot rope as longer ropes may be more difficult to manage.

The second key is to … Read the rest