How You Can Go From Clueless Mother To Slalom Mom
If you never learned how to slalom water ski before you became a mother, donat worry: itas not too late. Thereas no rule that says you must be single, svelte (or even blonde) to take waterski lessons! The fact that you have given birth actually means youare probably better qualified for the sport, because anyone who has experienced the pain of labor will hardly notice slapping the water at 40 mph during a waterskiing wipeout!
Itas vital to buy your waterski equipment from an experienced vendor. It doesnat have to be new, but it does have to be well-cared for. Look for a rope that has been stored properly, with no kinks or rips, and a grip that fits your hand comfortably because youall be hanging onto it for dear life when you are learning how to slalom ski. Make sure your skis fit you perfectly and that they are the right size for the kind of skiing youall be doing.
The most important thing to remember before you begin learning how to slalom water ski is something moms already know by heart: safety first. Make sure that you have the best and most appropriate waterski equipment, including skis that fit you, a sturdy rope, a comfortable grip, proper water skiing attire, and a boat with an experienced captain.
Staying safe should be your number one priority. Sure, youare always telling your kids that, but you should heed that advice this time. Either take some lessons or take the time to have an experienced water skier tell you how itas done, especially the hand signals. Once youare out behind the boat no one can hear you, and hand signals become essential.
When you have all your gear, the next step is to make sure you pay attention to your instructor and learn the techniques. This includes the hand signals that youall need to use to communicate with your boat driver, who wonat be able to hear you no matter how loud you yell once youare in the water being towed and heas behind the wheel of the boat.
This is complicated enough without having the driver and skier learning how to do this at the same time. Even with an experienced driver you arenat going to become an amazing skier in one try. Thatas okay. Your kids will be happy that you had the courage to try.
Practice is the only way to get better. You can even practice, in a way, as you wait your turn. You can watch others to see how they did it and get tips from others around you. You should practice your timing and your hand signals.
With enough practice, perseverance, and solid teaching, you can become a slalom mom. The words that every mother utters to her children will come in handy to you, too, as you watch from the lake as your grip bounces away in rush of water ahead of you: aIf at first you donat succeed, try, try again.a
