mar / apr 09 Al Vickers Stoney Park
A Beginners’ Guide
Volume Eleven issue Four
RRp $7.95 (inc Gst) NZ $8.95 (inc gst)
Kneeb oard doub les slalo m wake board
Another prime ski location
Ten slalom tips
Essential items
Plus: Ski Racing Aussie Kiwi Challenge News & Reviews southern 80 Instructionals & Much More
Gallery
Cover: Al Vickers at Stoney Park. Contents: An early morning set at Stoney’s
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Features 52 getting started A beginners guide to getting up for the first time. Grab your kneeboard, doubles, wakeboard or slalom ski and get into it. 60 Hawkesbury bridge Robert Storum reports on the NSW ski race classic. 66 Robinvale / euston This issue we travel to another dream destination on the Murray River.
Regulars 13 Ed Notes 16 Letters 19 In Brief: Waterski News 22 Junior Tournament Worlds 23 Safety Campaign Launched 24 Junior Profile: Nicholas Wrenn 29 Disabled Division & Race Worlds 30 Southern 80 32 Green Guide: Summer Travels 36 Emma’s View: Staying Safe 38 SA Kneeboard Comp 40 Controlling Comp Nerves 43 Barefoot Worlds 44 Photographer’s Gallery 74 Essentials: Tool Box 78 Tested: Isuzu D-Max Ute 80 Subscriptions 82 Over & Out
Instructionals 50 Slalom: 10 Quick Tips 64 Wakeboard: The Next Level 72 Kneeboard: 180 & 360.
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SACHA DESCUNS 17 years old Toulouse, France Pic: Thomas Gustafson Travelling Waterski Mag photographer Thomas Gustafson caught 17-year old French skier Sacha Descunds in action. Descunds trains with Vincent Soubiron in Toulouse, and won slalom at the Junior Worlds. He is also a four time European slalom champion, and one time European overall and Jump champion.
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Marc Gray 27 Years Old Sunbury, Melbourne Pic: Sayher Heffernan Marc Gray cutting past on the wide Murray River at Renmark in some beautiful afternoon/evening light. His trip to the Riverland proving exciting for him as he landed his first double backroll the day after this photo was taken.
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Thomas Moore 23 Years Old Edmonton, AB Canada Pic: Thomas Gustafson Thomas Gustafson hopped in the water to take this shot of Moore at Lake Price in Florida. Moore had just signed with Mastercraft Boats ... what better way to remember the moment. 52 / Australian Waterski Magazine
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Lesson
Improving your slalom skiing does not have to be hard work. in fact, when I am coaching a lot of the time the skiers are very surprised at how a simple tip can make the world of difference. here are 10 basic tips to improve your slalom skiing instantly.
Slalom Instant Improvements
Rhythm
Grip
Slalom skiing is all about rhythm and timing. I like to think of it as a smooth pendulum swinging from one side to another. Start with a consistent width and try to go back and forth across the wakes as many times as you can with a fast pace, attempting to reach the same width on both sides. After you are comfortable with the width you are at, keep moving your turns up wider and wider on the side of the boat.
The strongest way to grip the handle for slalom skiing is with the baseball bat grip. Which hand goes up or down is dependent on which foot you have forward. If you’re right foot forward, then you want your left palm up and right palm down. The opposite grip applies if you are left foot forward. When you are cutting cross-legged, or toe side out of your offside, you want your grip open. Conversely, when you are cutting
With Ben Wilso n
Emma Sheers making it look so easy at Stoney park
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open-legged, or heel side out of your good side, you want your grip closed. This will make the wake crossings more balanced and you’ll be less likely to get pulled out of position.
Skiing Position The best basic pull out skiing position requires you to start from a relatively tall, neutral stance with your weight centred over your feet. You’ll also want your elbows slightly bent and low against your vest. Then, when it’s time to pull out, you simply have to sit into that pull out and you will be in a strong position.
Gallery Lesson
Shoulders I recommend that your shoulders remain open, or facing the boat, through the acceleration phase, and try to keep 70% of the load on your back shoulder and 30% on your front shoulder. During the turn phase you’ll want them level and facing away from the boat and towards the back to help carry your direction out bound.
Al Vickers arriving nice and early for the turn
Acceleration I like to let people know that you have to do a lot of work to gain acceleration. Once you have finished your turn and you are about to begin to accelerate, you need to keep in mind that you want to generate as much angle out of your turn before you begin to accelerate, so be patient at your turn. Once you have your desired cross course angle, begin to build your acceleration towards the boat wakes.
Be Early It is essential to get to each ball as early as you can. I like to tell people that the ball is the finish of the turn, not beginning. You should be turning before the ball and finishing it around the ball.
Reach
Turning Position In the turn, you want to be tall with your weight neutral over both feet. You want to have you head up looking forward down the lake to help gain balance. This tall, neutral position will allow you to completely finish the turn before you start to accelerate. [v 11 i 4]
The reach should be smooth and toward the ball, and your handle should be nice and high, not pointing to the water. If your reach goes toward the boat too much it stops you from carrying your outward direction. The outward direction is what dictates line tension, so the longer you can go out the tighter your rope will be through the turn.
Equipment Have your local pro shop help outfit you with the right equipment. No matter what your level of skiing,
there are several choices of skis and many different set ups that will help you progress faster. Having the right equipment is the safest and best way to enjoy your time on the water.
Eyes (Where to Look) Your focus should be in the direction you are going. If you are coming into the turn, use your vision for timing and also to stay level. The same rule applies coming into the wakes. If your head, and therefore vision, is not level, everything will feel as if it is happening faster than it is.
In the turn, you want to be tall with your weight neutral over both feet. Australian Waterski Magazine / 55