Before You Buy a Slalom Water Ski

Welcome to the Getting Started In Slalom Waterskiing Articles. Today you'll learn everything you need to know to introduce you to the sport, including information on buying a slalom water ski and life vest, which foot to put forward on your ski, deepwater starts, hand signals, crossing the wakes, buying a boat, slalom driving tips, water / boating safety, and more.

Today's lesson focuses on the first step, buying a slalom water ski.

Before rushing off to the ski pro shop to buy the slalom water ski that best matches the color of your wetsuit or life vest, take a moment to consider several factors: different styles, features, sizing, bindings, fins, and most likely, a test run. The ski style should closely reflect your skill level and the type of skiing you want to do. The features of the ski determine how it will perform.

Styles

There are four categories of slalom water skis; wide body, shaped, traditional, and world class. Wide body skis have added width, making them great for beginners who need the added stability. Shaped skis are a combination of wide and traditional skis, making them ideal for both beginner and experienced skier, but with more stability than a traditional ski.

More on Styles

Traditional water skis are popular among competitive skiers in that they will hold an edge and turn easily. World class skis are for the serious and advanced or expert skiers in that they are extremely aggressive and offer more speed control while running the slalom course.

Features

Bevel is used to describe the side of the water ski, or the transition area between the side of the ski and the bottom of the ski. Beginner skis generally have sharp beveled edges and more advanced skis have more rounded bevels. Rocker affects the performance of the ski or board in the way that the greater the curve, the tighter the turn.

More on Features

The softer the flex, the tighter the ski will turn, the more the ski will bend. Tunnel/concave: an inward bent shape of the underneath portion of a slalom water ski. Tunnel is used to improve tracking around high speed turns.

Sizing

The size of your slalom water ski is very important. You want a ski that best suits your skiing speed and body weight. Learn More...

Bindings/Boots

You want your ski bindings (or boots) to be snug but not tight. If the boot is too tight you run the risk of breaking an ankle, leg, or knee because the ski may not properly release from your foot upon falling. There are several different kinds of boot make-ups. Typically there will be a high wrap binding in the front, which snugly covers the entire foot as well as high on the ankle.

More on Bindings/Boots

In the back there could also be a high wrap binding (the entire foot fits into like a boot), or an adjustable rear toe plate (you simply point your foot straight into a dome). Generally these bindings are made of a heavy foam material, however in recent years hard shell bindings made of a stiff plastic have come on to the market.

Fins - Try Before You Buy

Fins are the tracking and turning device located on the bottom of the rear of the ski, keeping the ski traveling in the direction in which you steer it. Most importantly, demo a ski before the purchase. No amount of research helps if you are unhappy with the ski. Most pro shops allow ski demos for a fee, but, many remove the cost in the event you end up purchasing the ski from them.

• Tuning Your Water Ski - Bindings & Fins