Retire in Paradise

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed, or use one of the many feed readers available from the 'subscribe' button. Thanks for visiting!

Did you happen to see the internet video of Rachel Ray learning how to water ski? Chances are it was put up so many of us could see her in a swimsuit, but I started wondering about who was giving her skiing lessons. After all, slalom water skiing has usually been associated with 1970s daredevils. Whoever was instructing her, however, sure made it look easy.

The few times I attempted to water ski were mainly due to peer pressure (How often do you get the opportunity to do this?), and although I was able to get up and ride around a little bit, it was too nerve wracking to do on a regular basis. It is different now that there are methods for learning how to waterski without falling.

When you feel the rush of water under you and your family and friends decide to go even faster, youare a bundle of nerves as youare hunched over and barely hanging on. I didnat even get close to figuring out how to slalom water ski because I was too busy concentrating on how not to fall flat on my face in the water!

It seems like these days, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and tubing have become more popular than water skiing. But if youave ever watched somebody whoas really an expert at slalom water skiing, then you know how exciting and elegant it can be. When you factor in the technology thatas being used these day, especially when youare training in Hollywood, then it is not difficult to see how much safer and easier it can be.

One of Hollywoodas little secrets, which I noticed in the Rachel Ray video, is using an aluminum abarefoot boom,a which attaches to the front of the boat and lets new skiers practice good posture and proper weight balancing. All this is done at a fairly slow speed, somewhere between 10 to 20 mph depending on the age of the skier.

This pole concept helps guard against the initial rope jerk that comes with an acceleration of speed, and allows the skier to lean back with the skis in front. Then the new skier can drag the rope behind them in order to figure out how it feels to be holding on to something that wonat even support you. In no time, youall be up on skis behind the boat and learning how to slalom.

The best part about this boom idea is that it is really acts like a training device that anyone could use, besides a good friend to adjust the boat throttle, it looks like you could basically teach yourself! I know it’s important to use correct posture, and for that I think a good trainer would help, but if I had to chance to build up some confidence - gradually - I think I could learn how to slalom waterski.

The basics I know are to keep your shoulder blades back, arch your back, weight on the hips, and feel your ankles go out in front of your knees as you get going faster. If you dig in your ankles, you can really start to feel light on the water. I think water skiing might make a comeback if we have something like Rachel Ray, that Hollywood celebrity!