There are some facts about water skiing that everyone should remember and follow when on the water. Water skiing can be a very fun and exciting sport, if you remember the facts about water skiing and stick to them. Nearly 17 million Americans water ski every year. Very few of those people have never been seriously injured in a water skiing related accident during any season. The death rate from such accidents is ten times less than the injury rate. Water skiing is safe when skiers and boat drivers know and use common sense rules. Be safe and be smart. A moderate ability to swim is advisable for a water skier, but be a great swimmer does not mean that you do not need a well fitting personal flotation device. Wearing one of these vests is essential to a safe and fun ride. Water skiing is an adventure between the skier, the observer, and the boat driver. The skier and driver should agree in advance on the general path of the boat. A skier who turns in the same direction that the boat driver is about to turn the boat will get line slack that could result in a fall or getting tied up in the line. This is why one important fact of water skiing is that using hand signals do work and make the ride a lot safer. Using hand signals between the driver and the skier is one of the most important things to remember about water skiing. The size of the area needed for water skiing safety will vary with the shape of the body of water. Each boat using a water way for skiing should operate in a corridor about two hundred feet wide. The boat driver is responsible for keeping the skier away from dangerous areas as well as giving him a good ride. He must also keep the boat a safe distance from the shore, docks, and other objects in the water. Be on the look out for other boats about to enter the ski area. If this would happen, shut down the boat and wait for the area to clear. This is an important fact because it is the boat driver’s responsibility to be on the watch for downed skiers. Remember to always stay in control. Being safe means making good judgments and remember that any vibration or effects of sun, wind, and waves can impair your judgment. And do not stay on the water too long.
