What are you looking at?

[skihard]

So last night three of us were on the water skiing together and the discussion of edge changing and initiating the edge change came up between us when we were switching skiers. All 3 of us are very different in our abilities, speeds, and line lengths for the record.

 

Interesting that the discussion brought up the following question - What or where are you looking at when you finish the turn, load, and pull for the next buoy? And how does that help you initiate your edge change?

 

Me personally I look at the back corner of the boat at the end of my turn than once I'm loaded I try to focus on the first wake which helps me feel the first wake and then initiate my edge change. Once my change starts I try to look about 15 feet in front of my next buoy to keep my angle into the start of my turn.

 

I know a whole bunch of you on BOS are way better than I am but it struck me when all three of us had different focuses.

 

So here it is - WHAT DO ALL OF YOU LOOK AT AFTER YOU LOCK & LOAD?

[ForrestGump]

I might be looking one place, but I'm thinking about beer.

[oldjeep]

I've been told to look straight across the lake, and not at the boat or ball. Seems to work since I invariably wind up heading towards whatever I'm looking at.

 

- beginner level course skier 30-32@15 off

[A_B]

Depends on who is in the boat.

[wilecoyote]

Someone here a while back said to look down the rope, and I did, and it helped. Then I stopped doing it. Now, when I remember (beginners have so many things to remember) I still look down the rope, and on most passes when I do, it helps. I'm only talking about the finish of the turn to the first wake, at that point I switch my focus to the direction I'm headed. Probably the short line skiers don't do this but for us beginners (pb 4@ 52kph) I think it helps you get your hips and chest up and aligned with the direction of pull. ie, until it's second nature, anything you can do to improve your stack will reap huge rewards in the course.

[Bill22]

what @oldjeep said is what my coach told me.

(-15 / 34mph skier)

[Chef23]

I have to admit I don't really know. I know where I look on the pull out for the gates and that is about it. After that it is mostly instinct for me. I am a mid 35 skier.

[Marco]

I look back to check out my spray.

[Skoot1123]

@marco beat me to it.

 

Seriously though I try to spot the next turn buoy and keep my eyes level. Picking a point a few feet in front of the buoy helps a little with timing as well.

[A_B]

Terry Winter says to look over the bow of the boat when you come out of the buoy and focus on the next buoy. I tried this, but stuff happens and I forget about it.

 

I guess I look at the right hand gate ball into the gates and then across the wake out of the buoy.

My big focus is keeping my eyes and shoulders level around the buoy. What happens after that is variable.

[Wayne]

I try to read the logo on the back of the ski boat and then when my eye catches the bouy I look at that. The problem is my vision is terrible and I could never get used to contacts so I can't really see the next bouy until I'm well across the second wake. So I tend to look off at the shore in line where I think the next bouy is going to be.

 

I notice if my vision drops and I focus on the wakes my stack falls apart (which happens a lot).

[chris55]

I look across the course just before the apex of the turn and the buoy and since I am going where I am looking....it helps but I have to keep my head up and shoulders square. Every time I don't do it I end up narrow even at 30mph 15off.

[LeonL]

From the apex of the turn to the white wash you should not look over the rope. It causes you to close to the boat too much. Of course, some say you should close yourself to the boat, but I believe that's old thinking

[OldboyII]

Immediately after coach tells me not to look at the wakes I start looking at the wakes which I should not look at. )

[crashman]

http://forum.ballofspray.com/discussion/6422/sound-advice-or-crazy-talk#latest

 

For me looking at the opposite shore causes me to drop my shoulder too much. Looking down the course keeps my head and shoulders more level. I think the answer to this question depends on what you are attempting to accomplish with respect to body position.

[mikegile]

I like to look at the next bouy AS SOON as I know I will make it around the current one. This keeps head level and keeps you moving laterally, not down course.

[Wish]

Andy told me to pick a spot on the second wake and ski to that spot. It's served me well so far. Tried all the others. But honestly there's more then a fare share of thoughts on this all with validity. Don't think there is a right or wrong but more of what works for you. ,

 

What's Nate lookn at? And you should see his 2,4 side. Everybody's different.

 

 

[Wish]

Not really the chin past the shoulder look like 1 3 5. So I guess if you keep your vision more down course, you ski like Nate...but if your vision is more cross course, you ski like Nate. Win Win

 

 

[andjules]

I really think the answer depends on where you are in the learning progression & what you're struggling with. Many are passionately against looking across the lake, but I really think that applies more to experienced/shortline skiers, who typically need to not rush the turn or overload the line, are trying to stay level (as per @crashman 's comments), and have also learned not to ski directly at the ball.

 

If, however, you're still learning the course and having trouble developing an aggressive-enough lean, I'd still advise looking across the lake, picking a tree and pulling for it (even though it's a habit you'll want to slowly give up as you advance).

 

I've also noticed that several pros turn their head across the lake a bit more aggressively on their offside turn, and @Wish 's photos of Nate above are a good example.

[Horton]

Simply being aware of where you are looking will help many skiers keep their head level.

 

 

[Fine409]

Put me in the camp also of having to turn and look across the lake on my offside turn. For some reason if I don't do that I will sometimes stall out or get a bit of tip rise