Ski - Ways To Safety

a slom skier in action as graceful as a water engraved in lines of grace and beauty on the blue water is a great capital letter s s for sense s for safety ski with sense and you'll naturally ski with safety and discover why water skiing has become one of the safest and greatest Family Sports in all the world [Music] [Applause] [Music] to start with let's emphasize that there's a big difference between water skiing and snow skiing the snow skier is entirely on his own once on that slope his performance and his safety are in his own hands but water skiing calls for a team a driver an observer and the skier the skier's performance and safety depend on the ability of these three team members to work together and do the right thing at the right time but perhaps we're a bit ahead of our story water skiing starts with water and therefore it's highly desirable for skiers to be able to swim though it's true that some people have first learned to ski and then learned to swim because of their enjoyment of water through skiing consider taking advantages of the learn to swim programs offered by the Red Cross and other organizations whether you swim well or not it makes sense to wear a reliable life jacket or life belt whenever you go water ski although the wearing of a flotation device is not a formal regulation it sure helps after a fall and makes it a lot easier to retrieve and put on your skis in deep water [Music] water skiing starts with a boat and motor too speaking generally a good ski boat is relatively light highly maneuverable and uses a higher horsepower motor than comparable boats designed for cruising or fishing a good speedometer is recommended because precise speeds are important when you get into competitive skiing among Champions the highest ordinary speed is about 35 mph and that speed only for bar bare foot skiing and men's jumping most skiers have a lot of fun at considerably slower speeds backtack seats are practical so the Observer can always face the skier a wide-angle rear view mirror is another important accessory keeping the driver in constant touch with his skier and of course safe and dependable steering is of Paramount importance in a good ski booat a ski boat is usually built close to the water or more nautically speaking has a low freeboard this makes it easier to retrieve skis and for the skier to climb aboard High free birds are designed more for Heavy Seas and Open Water here A Boarding ladder is a handy piece of equipment now for a look at some of the skier's gear foot binders binder adjustments and Hardware lengthening plates binder plates Runners and attaching Hardware should all be as simple as possible free of sharp or protruding surfaces that could scrape or cut the skin ski lines and handles should be free of complicated hooks eyes and other devices that might entangle catch or cut the skier now let's get back to the team and the teamwork that makes water skiing the great and safe sport that it is the captain of the team is the skier who calls signals to The Observer from the water in gear take up that slack following orders is the driver the team's pilot upon whom so much depends a key member of the team is the safety Observer who keeps a Keen Eye on the skier and relays signals to the driver there goes the slack here comes the next command hit it get it a perfect takeoff as the ski team goes into action a good driver makes skiing a lot more fun and safe Fun by obeying a few Simple Rules he takes off smoothly and maintains constant speed whenever possible he drives in a straight line but when a turn comes up he makes it smooth and safe he's constantly Vigilant and knows what's going on behind him and ahead of him at all times [Music] he gets back to a fallen skier quickly and when he gets in close always shuts that motor off even in neutral a running motor might turn the propeller enough to cause an injury a good ski boo driver gives clearance to this fly bright red with a diagonal white stripe telling him that skin divers are underwater he respects fishermen and stays well away from them he avoids bathing and swimming areas there's plenty of water for everyone the good ski boo driver keeps a safe distance from fixed objects like Piers pilings and docks he never questions the right away of other votes he gives them the RightWay and takes no chances a good boat driver never accelerates his boat while any part of the toe line is wrapped around a skier you'll never take off until the skier is holding the handle with ski tips up in front even then he'll wait for a visual or audible go-ahead signal from his ski now for the third member of the water ski team the safety Observer whose job is to watch the progress of the skier keeping the driver informed of Falls and assisting him to stay clear of other boats swimmers or obstacles The Observer transmits the skier signals but doesn't distract him from the business of handling that [Music] bat when a skier Falls the sooner that boat gets back act the better not only to be of assistance but also to protect the skier against other boat [Music] traffic speaking of Falls they are definitely a part of skiing so learn the right technique when you fall try to avoid dropping [Music] forward fall backward away from your skis to avoid hitting them and possibly picking up a cut or a bruise clasp your hands over your head to signal that you're okay then retrieve your skis as quickly as possible because they'll help keep you afloat always hold one ski up out of the water to warn other boats to stay clear it's up to the driver to return the tow line to the skier as soon as possible so he can continue skiing instead of wasting energy treading water it's best to pass him in a fairly straight line so he can clasp the toe line and let it slide through his cued fingers until the handle comes up and is easily grasped when ready for the driver to take up slack the skier shouts in gear with the slack taken up the skier either nods his head or shouts hit it once up on the water the skier has signals for everything if he wants to go faster he holds his palm up and motions upward if both hands are in in use nodding his head means the same thing when the speed is okay the skier makes the letter O with his thumb and forefinger when he wants to slow down here's the signal calm down motion downwards if a skier wants a certain speed he indicates with his fingers the desired miles hour two fingers then three means he wants 23 M an hour when a skier wants to turn he holds his palm vertical with curving motion of his hand in the direction to desire if he's going to jump he raises his hand up sharply imitating the jumping Arc now for the signal to stop hand up fingers outstretched policeman style and to cut the motor a finger slicing across the windpipe if a skier wants to return to the dock he points to the shore and gives the cut [Music] sign when he's ready to whip off he points to the direction then gives quick circular motions with his hand so we've seen water skiing as it should always be for the utmost in fun and safety a finally coordinated team of skier driver and observer each taking turns at all positions and each carefully following the ski ways to safety to summarize here's William D Clifford executive manager of the American water ski association bill Hi here's a simple truth water skiing is fun but most important it's safe last year some 6 million Americans water ski and this year they're going to be joined by many thousands more yet in spite of this is water skiing accidents have been held down extremely low even though water skiing has become a major incentive for people to buy boats Motors skiing accidents are rare but we must face certain facts there can be and have been accidents and fatalities as a direct result of water skiing but is in all accidents whether they be in the home or on the job they can be avoided by adhering to Common Sense safety practices the vast majority of water skiing accidents can be blamed on ignorance of skiing and boat handling fundamentals or on just plain recklessness or on the failure of some skiers to wear life jackets and belts it is significant that though most intensive skiing is done by organized ski clubs commercial ski schools or Kei shows and competitive tournaments throughout this country that they account for less than 1% of water skiing accidents now there's no trick to this the individual or family skier can have the same sort of safety record know what you're doing in the boat and on the skis and use common sense fundamentals of water skiing and boat handling are available through the American water ski Association or your local ski club up learn and practice the ski ways to safety and you'll enjoy many many accident free years of the greatest fun that water skiing has to offer whenever you see a slom skier in action think of that big double s s for sense s for safety [Music]