How to drive the course

[cranker]

Hi all,
Just a quick question, I have joined a club that has a course (private lake, sort of) so that my son can do some training on a course.
However each other time he has run the course an instructor was driving, now it will be me.

How should I drive the boat, what tips can you give me, I am happy to replace any balls that come free but I'd rather do a better job of driving.

At the moment there are not many ski courses in Australia, most got taken out because people were worried about law suits, so this is the only course inn the Sydney region, so I don't really have anyone to ask except you guys.
Thanks, for some wisdom,
shaun

[jasper]

RE: How to drive the course

"How to drive the course" is a fairly broad topic. But I'll see if I can be comprehensive enough to give you a start.

A speed control eliminates one of the toughest components. I highly recommend getting one, either Perfect Pass or AccuSki.

The best way to learn to drive is to ride with a good driver and have him talk you through what he is doing and why. Then ride and ride and ride to observe. If that is not an option, Schnitz has a good write-up on his site: http://www.schnitzskis.com/pages/460851/index.htm - Go to the bottom 1/4 of the lengthy page of ski articles at this link and look for the blue font and the article titled "THE QUICKEST – FASTEST- EASIEST – CHEAPEST WAY TO SKI BETTER FAST 8/19/04" He's got some good pointers.

Drivers maintain a good centerline through the course using one of two methods, or a combination of both: 1) notice where the right-hand boat-guides visually "hit" on the rub rail while you are driving as the boat is at speed and centered driving through the course. Maintain those "hits" at the same spot. 2) look all the way down the course and fix your vision on an object far ahead that would keep the boat in the center-line. Drive to that point. Using either method, you can glance in the mirror to check the center-line path to see if you are holding straight. Maintain a relaxed grip on the steering wheel vs. a white-knuckled grip. I use quick, short corrections if I must. Read Schnitz's notes and then practice, practice, practice. The more you do it, the better you will get so long as you pay attention to what you are doing and constantly strive to improve.

For me driving takes immense concentration. No radio/cd. No conversation. My goal is to give the skier the best possible pull through the course each pass.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[darrel409]

RE: How to drive the course

All excellent tips by jasper. Avoid all power turns, you dont want to send rollers down the lake.
Driving for good skiers is way harder, and takes longer to learn than it looks.

[fwMiata]

RE: How to drive the course

i read that you are also supposed to finish out the course at speed even if the skier falls, then idle back and pick them up.

[jasper]

RE: How to drive the course

fwMiata, good point. Finishing out the course even if the skier falls is done in tournaments so the times (speed) can be verified. To save time in practice sets we just stop the boat when the skier falls, turn at idle to avoid throwing rollers down the course, and idle back to the fallen skier. If a skier wants to know if the balls he made were at regulation speed tolerances, you either need to have all bouy timing, take the splits, or finish the course to check the times. I'm not that precise if I miss a pass. Some folks are.

[jdarwin]

Driving tips

One of tools I use in driving tournaments is to bring the right side boat guide buoys under your right elbow as you proceed thru the course. This should get you pretty close to center no matter the boat. Also, I use this process beginning with the 55 meter buoys and look in the mirror as I pass thru them to visually check my path. Once in the course, it is very difficult to do that visual check in the mirror especially with shortline skiers. Reference points on the front of a boat work well if you intend to drive only one model of boat. But I never know what boat I'll be driving in a tournament so I've come up w/ this method of centering.

Also, one of my pet-peeves is not having the PP set prior to the 55's. Make certain that you have achieved enough throttle throw to engage the system (audible beep) prior to the 55's. Nothing is more frustrating than pulling out for the gates and having the boat out run you.

[Hollywood]

RE: Driving tips

jdarwin, how about if the boat is still turning instead?? Ha I love that one.