SLALOM
Water skiing and its modalities
Water skiing is a sport in which an skier is pulled behind a boat by a rope over water, skimming the surface. The three major water skiing categories are:
Slalom
In slalom, the competitor has both feet on just one ski and must do a zigzag going around the buoys on the track. In a championship, what counts in the slalom race is the number of times the skier manages to complete the track. The winner is the skier who can clear the highest number of buoys at the shortest rope length. At each run of the course, the skier must shorten the rope to the next rope length. This is the most popular type of water skiing.
Truques
In Tricks competition, the athlete uses a trick ski and has two 20-second runs to perform tricks that have point values. Tricks are figures such as spins and jumps performed in the water, with the handle in the skier’s hands or feet.
Saltos
In Jump, the skiers uses two skis and jumps over a ramp of variable high. The winner is the one who jumps the farthest and successfully rides away. In order to measure the distance jumped, three observation points are placed along the course. At each point, two judges observe the point at which the skier comes in contact with the water.
Everything you need to know about professional Slalom
The aim of this competition is to navigate around six buoys in a zigzag pattern. The buoys are positioned alternately - three on each side of the course of the boat toals - and the skier straight down the center of the 360-meter long course.
The shortening of the rope that pulls the skier according to pre-established sizes it´s the slalom's major difficult
These increments start at 18 meters of rope length and gradually decrease at each run completed, to 16m, 14m, 13m, 12m, 11.25m, 10.75m, 10.25m, and 9.75m. If skier decides each rope length he or she will begin.
Boat speeds are controlled by automatic pilot.
The speed in men’s professional category is 58km/h. The speed in women’s professional category is 55km/h. For 35+ skiers and amateurs categories, the speed is 55km/h or lower.
The winner is the skier who can clear the highest number of buoys at the shortest rope length. At each run of the course, the skier must shorten the rope to the next rope length.
Classes & Practice
And if you are an enthusiast of this sport, know that CEAI is a center dedicated exclusively to water skiing, with certified infrastructure for competitions, scheduling for classes and SLALOM practice.
Click here to find out how it works scheduling for Slalom classes and practice or contact us via WhatsApp.