Personal skiing quirks

[bbirlew]

Seems slalom skiers are a quirky bunch (at least some of the guys I've skied with!).

While I won't 'out' my ski crew I'll share a few of mine.

-I always face the same direction on the swim grid getting my ski on. Nothing superstitious, but I'd probably fall in the water if I tried the other way!

-I always start with the rope on the left side of my ski (odd for a left foot forward?)

-always squeeze the water out of and adjust the Velcro on my mitts if there is enough setup time between getting up and skiing.

-up until about a year ago, I HAD to get my hair wet before trick skiing. Even when doing a dock start I'd hop in the water before getting my ski on, and then climb back onto the dock to start!!

(I'm sure there are others I'm not even aware of, but you will have to ask my crew about that!)

 

Anyone else care to share some quirks of their own or their crew? I know I'm not the only one!!

 

 

[6balls]

Driver hops up, takes the skiers ski and dumps any water, bag is already on the motor box. Stuff it in there, put it next to the motor box behind driver's seat and wind the rope. While driver gets read to ski, guy who just skied pulls drivers ski up on motor box, takes from bag and puts it on the platform. Handle goes on stern w/soap nearby.

Two guy skiing system between myself and @cowtipperguy.

[SkiJay]

While skiing for three years in a PowerVest, I got into the habit of undoing the Velcro of my gloves while gliding to a stop at the end of each set, then taking off my gloves so the PV straps didn't restrict my ability to reach the laces on my Strada bindings. I never thought it was quirky, just efficient. Now that I'm skiing without the PV, I keep leaving my gloves in the lake because they're no longer attached to the PV straps. Now it's a quirky little habit that I can't seem to break. I'm like the little kid whose mom has to tie his mittens to a string through the sleeves of his jacket so he doesn't lose them now.

[eleeski]

I work really hard at undoing all my quirks. Quirks give a wonderful sense of comfort. Conditions at a tournament will rarely match practice. You must be able ski without that comfortable feeling if you want tournament performances to match practice. Practice violating your ritual will ease the tournament discomfort.

 

Practice pulling on the ski from both sides for sure! Too many starting docks are one way. Don't start your run off balance or tired out from getting the ski on.

 

Wet hair before skiing can really hurt you. If you transition from hot training to a cold tournament that ritual is toxic.

 

New tournament shorts were always lucky - until the tag flapping on my back distracted me.

 

Any quirk I can identify, I try to (at least occasionally) bust it. Hopefully that makes me a tougher competitor.

 

Eric

[Razorskier1]

I just try to go ski. There is very little that I do once I'm in the boat that is a "quirk". What is true is that I'm almost always pressed for time, so the skier switch better happen efficiently or I start getting all hinky about it. Oh, and I do care about my rope. Never wind it in loops with the handle end out!

[mwetskier]

we always flip the rope to the middle of the boat before starting a skier up so you know theirs nothing tangled up or caught under it when you hit the throttle

[Jody_Seal]

Stand on the Platform same direction while putting my bindings on.

Front foot goes in first even though I have double high boots.

Pee before the pull up.

spit right before I roll in for the entry gates all passes.

[Wish]

@Jody Seal. Pee and spit before every pass??? Wow....is dehydration ever an issue??

[Chef23]

I do put my ski on with my right leg closest to the boat but I use a RTP so it is easier to jump off that way.

[RichardDoane]

I carry my own spray bottle of watered down soap, that way the magic water of the

broho and radar lakes is always with me

[Jody_Seal]

yes on the spit, no on the pee on every pass.

My daughter used to sing to her self while she ski's.

My son has no quirks unless being mad at water molecules is a quirk!

My wife' skiing quirk is the inability to comprehend nor receive coaching.....from anyone!

[PatM]

Ear plugs, rash guard (even though I probably don't need one), put ski on from the same side, if in tourny say a prayer to myself before I get in the water, need to have my Superfreak shorts down to my knees, Oh and pee when I have to. "Prop check"

[lakeaustinskier]

Similar to Eric's response what are quirks everyone has gotten rid of? I've gotten rid of worrying about my shorts after I get up. Wherever the shorts are - they stay.

[PatM]

Ya but my legs are so white I'm afraid I'm going to blind the driver.

[MattP]

The driver should not be looking at you

[DaveD]

If you ski right after Jody, try not to drop in the same spot as he did.

[BraceMaker]

My boat has the recessed rear tow point, I like to put the handle in there before mounting the platform, so I can pick it up and hop it.

 

I don't like being handed the handle, or having the rope in the water, or thrown to me, I like to get in with it.

[fu_man]

Is not being able to run-22 yet a personal skiing quirk?

 

@DaveD Is that Tony Clifton on your picture?

[Brady]

@scotchipman. Why don't you post your quirks about boat cleanliness after getting out of the lake? Ya know, like your 3 separate wipe downs and your trailer cleaning system. Or your wiping down the bottom of the engine compartment. Is it any wonder why you have the cleanest Malibu in the western united states!!! Feel free to use my 197 any time you would like.. Please use your quirks on my boat too. :)

[jipster43]

I have a ski partner who developed the quirk of having to pee in the middle of my set! I think it was a passive aggressive attempt to keep me from surpassing his bouy count.

[6balls]

@douglaslbrady my OCD is ALL OVER boat cleanliness and organization. I can live w/a mess in someone else's boat (though don't understand it) but mine is spotless.

[XR6Hurricane]

One handed jock strap adjustment to get things back in place after takeoff. Whether ladies are in the boat or not.

[robscholl-OF]

Cannot ever leave the lake without running a clean full pass at the end of my last set. OF

[Wish]

Wife wishes my boat cleaning and organization would bleed off into the house. Not hapnin.

[6balls]

@wish, my wife wishes my OCD in the boat would NOT bleed into the house!

[bbirlew]

I knew I wasn't the only one!

 

@eleeski, I'm actually one of the most laid back skiers you'll meet (I'm probably one of the only guys left to use the 'tournament handle'. In fact, last time @ Canadian nats I think I had to borrow one from the guy in front of me since they couldn't find the tournament one!

 

The jumping in the water before tricking thing started off as a "always start in the water and get my hair wet" thing (even in down to 4deg Celsius water!) but a few of the tourney lakes around here had really muddy shorelines and my back foot would get slippery on my ski. One day my back foot came flying out in the middle of a wflipb. Jumping in and then getting out for a dock start was a way to simulate a water start without risking a slippery ski.

I don't do it anymore, but it served its purpose to get me comfortable before tournaments.

Nothing wrong with a little pre ski ritual to help you find your 'ideal performance state'!

[PT Mike]

Not my quirk but a ski buddies and this is no BS. Once he's on the platform, in his ski and ready to go he stands there and drains his bladder! He doesn't drop his shorts either, just stands there and pee's. I told him he should really talk to someone about this.

[Ed_Obermeier]

I'm pretty much with @Razorskier1 and @elleski. Differing conditions, different handles, different boats etc don't affect me too much. I just wanna go ski. I will admit to one quirk, which in some circles I'm pretty much known for. I wear a nose plug on getup and I keep spares in my boat, friends boats, my ski bags etc so I'm never without one. For whatever reason I can't get up without getting water crammed up my nose so probably 20+ years ago I finally started using a nose plug. Pull it off immediately after pull up, put it on before next pull up. That and a honking big metal knee brace on my right knee. Everyone is so used to the nose plug they quit making fun of me long ago.

[XR6Hurricane]

Nothing to make fun of Ed. Some people just can't avoid getting water up their nose for some reason. My father even has trouble in the shower. I don't know if it is the design of the individual's nose or what. I've never been able to dive without getting water up my nose, even if I exhale. For some reason, falling when skiing usually isn't a problem for me though. Guess it happens so fast that everything locks up.

[usaski1]

I always exhale through my nose as I'm getting on off the platform, it does prevent water up the nose.

[ToddF]

Right glove on first.

[bogboy]

Pt mike, I hope he doesn't sit down on your hatch cover before he slides in.

[GAJ0004]

I am left foot forward I face the driver side when I put my ski on. I put my front foot in first. I don't like to slalom behind the same boat two days in a row.

[BraceMaker]

I'm opposite on that @GAJ0004 I go RFF and face spotter side, and do back foot first always.

[Brady]

@PT Mike. If my buddy did that on my boat, i would accidentally put by boat in gear full throttle every time he stepped on my platform. That would be nasty to clean off.

[KcSwerver]

At each end of the course i start with both feet in, but if i fall mid-course, when the boat picks me up i always start one foot in. I should start one foot always because its better on my back.

I always end up with my reflex boot on a good five minutes before i go so as soon as my slot opens up im ready!

 

Oh and i always do lucky adjusting with my fin by not hanging it off the dock/swim deck.

[boarditup]

I always blow the water out of my nose after getting up. I refuse to wipe my face even if there are remnants so I don't end up with slick gloves. This can lead to interesting photos.

 

I always put in my rear foot first.

[Zman]

With @Jody_Seal dbl boots, but front foot goes in first, just seems easier

[Joeprunc]

@PT Mike I have a friend that does that too. He got a bladder infection once and will never pee in the water again, I got over it pretty quick.

 

I always get in my ski front foot, then rear, facing spotter (LFF). When I'm in my boat I always like to go last, I want everyone else to have a good set before I do. I smile after every pass.

[will]

LLF....hard shells....facing drivers side......rear in first..... adjust liner...buckle......Front foot .....adjust liner....buckle......repeat adjustments again.....flak out rope in water behind boat prior to one hopping in.

Then on the ends......work rope to center....no matter who's driving.....drives me nuts if the rope hangs off the gunwales.......other then that not much........