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Sit Skier Progressions

1.      FREEDOM WITH THE “WORKS”

Skier Profile:

  • For skiers with severe balance and coordination concerns without independent sitting balance 

Equipment:

  • Freedom Ski
  • Outriggers
  • Quadback
  • Quadgrips or Secure Handle

  • Quick Release used in boat

Starting Position:

  • Head Up
  • Lean back as much as possible
  • Resist force of water against upper body by using the secure handle or quadgrips

  • Identify signals skier will use (hand or head)

Skiing Position:

  • Usually this skier has one position for starting and skiing

  • Head up!

Progression:

  • Encourage skier to maneuver from inside of wake to inside of opposite wake

2.      FREEDOM WITH THE “WORKS”

Skier Profile:

  • For skiers with balance and coordination concerns or scared and apprehensive skiers

  • Capable of maintaining a sitting balance by holding the cage

Equipment:

  • Freedom Ski
  • Outriggers

  • Rope in Starting Block

Starting Position:

  • Head up
  • Lean back as much as possible
  • Resist force of water against upper body by “hooking” arms through cage, or using the quad grips or secure handle

  • Identify signals skier will use (hand or head)

Skiing Position:

  • Hands “hooked” through cage as far forward as possible
  • Neutral side to side leaning – stay balanced over center of ski
  • Head up!

  • Skier leans in direction of cut

Progression:

  • Encourage skier to maneuver from inside of wake to inside of opposite wake

  • When appropriate encourage taking handle out of block after start (see Freeing Handle From Block and Skiing Position below).

3.      FREEDOM – ROPE IN BLOCK

Skier Profile:

  • Typical first progression for individuals without severe balance concerns (Student is able to Independently sit in cage without holding onto cage)

  • Skier successfully cutting Freedom with outriggers from inside of wake to opposite inside of  wake

Equipment:

  • Freedom Ski (without the outriggers)
  • Rope in Starting Block
  • Quick Release used in boat
  • Lean back as much as possible
  • Resist force of water against upper body by holding ankles or cage support (do not hold handle during start)

  • Identify signals skier will use (hand or head)

Freeing Handle From Block:

  • Head up!  Don’t look down at handle.  (“Look at the people in the boat”)
  • Hold handle with both hands

  • Give handle a quick, sharp, jerk backwards (toward ankles) to release rope from starting block

Skiing Position:

  • After skier has freed rope and handle is in hand, keep hands low, arms almost straight (handle as close to ankles as possible)
  • Chest resting on knees
  • “Point” handle at boat when cutting

  • Skier leans in direction of cut

Progression:

  • Do not cross wake until rope is clear of starting block
  • When appropriate encourage taking handle out of block after start

  • After skier has rope in hand encourage to cross wakes by leaning in direction of cut

4.      FREEDOM – ROPE IN HAND

Skier Profile:

  • Skier is crossing both wakes and maintaining balance 

Equipment:

  • Freedom Ski
  • Deep “V” Handle

  • Quick Release used in boat  (Note: Even though the skier is holding the handle it is more likely for the Deep “V” to get caught on equipment that a standard handle)

Starting Position:

  • Position #1 (Note: This is the preferred method making for an easier transition to standard handle)
  • Deep “V” bridle placed over ski tip
  • Handle low, arms almost straight (handle as close to ankle as possible)
  • Elbows or biceps squeezing top rail of cage for added support
  • Head up (“Look at boat”!)
  • Lean head and shoulders back as far as possible (“Pinch a credit card between your shoulders blades")
  • Position #2 (Note: This is preferred by some individuals with weaker sitting balances)
  • Deep “V” bridle placed over ski tip
  • While holding the handle “hook” it behind the knees
  • Lean back as far as possible, arms almost straight, by pushing against knees
  • Resist the pull of the boat with support gained by having hands (still holding the handle) on knees
  • Head up (“Look at boat”!)
  • As the skier’s body comes out the water slowly move the handle off the knees and allow the boat pull to bring skier to the skiing position
  • NOTE:  Occasionally the handle will become “stuck” on the knees by the force of the boat pulling the skier out of the water.  The skier must be prepared to physically lift the handle off knees overcoming the pull of the boat.

Skiing Position:

  • After skier has freed rope and handle is in hand, keep hands low, arms almost straight (handle as close to ankles as possible)
  • Chest resting on knees
  • “Point” handle at boat when cutting

  • Skier leans in direction of cut

Progression:

  • Emphasis on starting with rope in hand

  • Skier crossing both wakes

5.      Comp1 – DEEP “V”

Skier Profile:

  • Skier is successfully starting, with handle in hand, (within two attempts) using the Freedom Ski
  • Skier is crossing both wakes with confidence, maintaining proper body position

  • Skier is comfortable with speeds up to 20 mph

Equipment:

  • Comp1 Ski
  • Deep “V” Handle

  • Quick Release used in boat  (Note: Even though the skier is holding the handle it is more likely for the Deep “V” to get caught on equipment that a standard handle)

Starting Position:

  • Position #1 (Note: This is the preferred method making for an easier transition to a standard handle)
  • Deep “V” bridle placed over ski tip
  • Handle low, arms almost straight (handle as close to ankle as possible)
  • Elbows or biceps squeezing top rail of cage for added support
  • Head up (“Look at boat”!)
  • Lean head and shoulders back as far as possible (“Pinch a credit card between your shoulders blades”)
  • Position #2 (Note: This is preferred by some individuals with weaker sitting balances)
  • Deep “V” bridle placed over ski tip
  • While holding the handle “hook” it behind the knees
  • Lean back as far as possible, arms almost straight, by pushing against knees
  • Resist the pull of the boat with support gained by having hands (still holding the handle) on knees
  • Head up (“Look at boat”!)
  • As the skier’s body comes out the water slowly move the handle off the knees and allow the boat pull to bring skier to the skiing position
  • NOTE:  Occasionally the handle will become “stuck” on the knees by the force of the boat pulling the skier out of the water.  The skier must be prepared to physically lift the handle off knees overcoming the pull of the boat.

Skiing Position:

  • After skier has freed rope and handle is in hand, keep hands low, arms almost straight (handle as close to ankles as possible)
  • Chest resting on knees
  • “Point” handle at boat when cutting

  • Skier leans in direction of cut

Progression:

  • Skier is experimenting with jumping the wakes and landing in “sweet spot” of opposite wake at speeds up to 26 mph

6.      Comp1 – STANDARD SLALOM HANDLE

Skier Profile:

  • Skier is starting independently

  • Skier is consistent with starts on a Comp1 ski (within two attempts)

Equipment:

  • Comp1 Ski
  • Higher cage or raised sling position

  • Standard Handle

Starting Position:

  • Note: It is not recommended for a skier to use the above listed Start Position #2 with a standard handle)
  • Tow rope is placed on one side of ski tip (Skiers will develop a preference for which side of the ski tip to place the rope.  Usually, the rope is placed on the side of the tip opposite the skier’s  stronger cut)
  • Handle low, arms almost straight (handle as close to ankle as possible)
  • Elbows or biceps squeezing top rail of cage for added support
  • Head up (“Look at boat”!)

  • Lean head and shoulders back as far as possible (“Pinch a credit card between your shoulders  blades”)

Skiing Position:

  • After skier has freed rope and handle is in hand, keep hands low, arms almost straight (handle as close to ankles as possible)
  • Chest resting on knees
  • “Point” handle at boat when cutting

  • Skier leans in direction of cut

Progression:

  • Skier jumping both wakes rhythmically and consecutively at speeds up to 30 mph

  • Introduction to Mid Buoy Slalom Course

7.      TRICK SKI

Skier Profile:

  • Skier is independent with mounting ski in water and maintaining static balance

  • Skier is consistent with starts on a Comp 1 ski using a standard handle (within two attempts)

Equipment:

  • Trick Ski (By WSDA definition a trick ski can be no wider that 30% of its length.  However, for  instruction, a modified symmetrical wake board or trick ski will suffice)
  • Lower sling form position used in slalom

  • Standard or Trick Handle

Starting Position:

  • Keep handle low (at feet) and lean away from boat 

Skiing Position:

  • After start keep handle low and close to body

Progression:

  • Skier should cut over both wakes before attempting tricks

  • After skier is comfortable try a side slide (90 degrees to boat) then progress to 180 degree and 360-degree tricks

8.      Comp1 - ADVANCED

Skier Profile:

  • Consistently jumping wakes and landing in “sweet spot” 

Equipment:

  • Comp1 Ski
  • Raise Sling Position

  • Move Cage Back

Progression:

  • Experiment with shorting towrope to 40 feet (35 feet off), increasing speed up to 32 mph

  • Holding cut through both wakes

9.      SuperComp

Skier Profile:

  • Completing the mid buoy course at 30 mph 

Equipment:

  • SuperComp Ski

Progression:

  • Skiing mid buoy slalom course at short line (40 feet or 35 feet off rope) at speeds up to 36 mph for men and 34 mph for women

  • Skiing full buoy slalom course at 60 feet or 15 feet off rope (slower speeds to start with)

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