Summer is creeping up on us and before we know it we’ll be heading out to the lake! Can you feel the excitement?!
Just a few reminders when we’re out there throwing caution to the wind. So, in order to ensure that your waterskiing is as safe as possible, there are a few basic guidelines that should be followed:
Always make sure that the body of water is large enough to accommodate skiing. The water should be at least five feet deep and 2000-3000 feet long. (You’d be suprised how many do not). This means we can still ski Lake Mead…amazing!
There must be enough room for all of the vessels on the water to have at least 100 feet of open space in all directions.
Be familiar with the body of water. Some will contain buoys, stumps, or pilings: be sure you know the locations of all these obstacles before you begin skiing. If you are not familiar with the location, ask someone who is.
You should generally avoid water-skiing either when wind is making the water choppy, or when rain is significantly decreasing visibility.
There should always be at least one person in the boat besides the driver; this person should keep an eye on the skier and alert the driver to any problems and please remember to use the orange caution flag when the skier is in the water waiting to get up or is down.
Also, the skier should always be equipped with a well-fitted life-jacket, as should all the individuals on the boat.
If you are towing skiers, try to avoid crowded areas and other vessels. Be aware of how the wake generated by other boats might affect your skier.Never ski or tow skiers at night or in conditions of poor visibility.
Know the basic set of hand gestures that have become conventional in skiing and are essential to maintaining good communication between the skier and the driver of the boat. Some of the basic hand gestures are as follows: an extended left hand is a request for a left turn; an extended right hand is a request for a right turn; a thumb pointed down is a request for a slower speed; a thumb pointed up is a request for a higher speed; a hand raised with the palm out is a request for the boat to stop; and a circle made with the index finger and thumb indicates that the skier is doing well.