TRADITIONAL Slalom: Starting the course With Dan Rini Sr. There are countless water skiers out there who are comfortable skiing on one ski and want to move on to the challenges offered by a slalom course. But how do you start? What skills do you need to develop? The Ontario Water Skier got answers to these questions and more from Ontario coach Dan Rini Sr., who is also father to National Team members Dan Jr. and Matt. Matt was a member of the gold medal winning Canadian team. I've been open-water skiing on a slalom ski for a while now, and I would like to try a novice tourna- ment this summer- but I've never been on a slalom course. What skills do I need to develop? The big difference is timing. In open water you can turn when you want to, but in a slalom course you have to round the buoys as you reach them. You'll need to learn to time your pull and turns. These skills will come only with practice on the course. I hear about "preturn", "edge change" and "pull" in slalom skiing. What do these terms actually mean, and how do I put them together? Starting with the "pull" (just exiting a buoy), you will be on the outside edge of the ski with arms straight and hips to the handle. Pull through both wakes, and 10 feet (3 m) past the second wake, with the next buoy approaching, shift to the inside edge. This is the "preturn": you are still skiing in the same direction as your speed decreases. Now the ski begins its arc as you round the buoy- you're in the turn. As you exit the turn, you begin the next "pull" phase toward the next buoy. What about speed and rope length? Where should I start? Speed varies with individual height and weight, but the slower you go, the easier it is to run the course. For example, a person 140 lbs (64 kg) or more might start slaloming at 26 mph (42 kph), where a child might start at 18 mph (29 kph). On initial runs use the full rope length. When you can run the course easily take 15 feet (5 m) off the rope and then progress by increasing the boat speed per the rule book. I've also heard about "weight back", "neutral" and "weight forward" styles. What does this mean? And, how do I know what I am? These terms describe how your weight is positioned over the ski. "Neutral" is optimum, but while you learn you may want to try to have your weight 70/30 back to help keep your hips forward for maximum pulling power through he wakes. Remember "neutral" is a must to achieve a proper turn. The first time I try the course, should I do the whole thing? Is there a way to "ease into" the course? The "mini course" is a good way to start and is a must for children. To use the "mini course" the boat drives between the boat guide buoys and buoys 1, 3 and 5. The skier goes around the skiing buoys on the right and the boat guide buoys on the left, reducing the width of the course from 75 feet (23 m) to 32 feet (10 m). This is effective for skiers who have problems going through the wakes. When you're ready for the full-size course, the next step is to ignore the entrance and exit gates, and to turn inside (not around) all six buoys. Progress to going around the buoys, and finally add the entrance and exit gates. Your timing will develop and in no time you'll be running the full course. Any common mistakes I should look out for? One of the most common mistakes is rushing the pull. Take time after rounding the buoy to set yourself slowly and smoothly into the correct pull position, leaning away from the boat, back on your ski, arms extended fully, with hips up to the handle. You can now pass through the wakes without having the boat pull you up and out of position. I don't have a course on my lake. How can I prac- tice? And where can I try a course before entering a tournament? It's very difficult to practice without a course. The best idea is to contact clubs in your area or even better, make a date with a water ski school. Dan Rini Sr. operates Rini's Water Ski School in Sydenham, near Kingston.