IT’S SUMMER, AND World Cup games don’t kick off until late in the afternoon. So you’ve got ample time to get out there and try your hand (and feet) at a new sporting pastime.
Over the coming (hopefully stone-splitting) month’s we’ll bring you some top tips on how to take on those sports you’ve always liked the look of, but didn’t quite get around to. This week… water-skiing!
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Give it a go if… You like the water (you’ll probably spend more time in than out as a beginner).
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What you need: A speedboat or a jet-ski, someone to drive said vehicle, a life jacket, about 30 feet of ski-rope and, oh yes, water-skis.
I can’t afford any / all of that, now what? There are several great operators offering lessons or the water-skiing experience. You can expect to pay around £30 or €50 to get started.
Where? There are probably more, but here’s a few phrases to Google alongside ‘water-ski’ to put you one step from walking on water: Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, Summerhill Co’ Meath, Dripsey, Co. Cork, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Galway City, Craigavon, Co Armagh, Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh.
Cushendall man Marty McGarry follows the Giro D'Italia Peloton on water-skis. Niall Carson
Niall Carson
Anything I can do before taking it on? After a day’s skiing you’ll be sore in muscles you didn’t realise you had. The best thing to do as preparation would be core strengthening exercises such plank and push-ups; and some squats would give your legs great practice in getting up while keeping your back straight.
Top tips: Staying up on skis is difficult enough, but the hardest part is getting up in the first place.
Once you’re comfortable in the water and the boat moves to tauten the rope (did we mention you”re holding tightly to the rope?) tell the driver when you’re ready to go with legs close together within six inches), knees bent and skis pointing straight in the air.
Keep your arms straight at all times. Once the boat speeds up and you start to feel yourself get pulled out of the water, keep your back straight and straighten your legs slowly – forcing the skis against the water – until you rise like some sort of magnificent aqua-phoenix, dripping with awesomeness and lake water.
Once up, don’t lean forward, keep your knees bent and let the boat do the hard work.
Sports you should definitely try this summer... water-skiing
IT’S SUMMER, AND World Cup games don’t kick off until late in the afternoon. So you’ve got ample time to get out there and try your hand (and feet) at a new sporting pastime.
Over the coming (hopefully stone-splitting) month’s we’ll bring you some top tips on how to take on those sports you’ve always liked the look of, but didn’t quite get around to. This week… water-skiing!
Give it a go if… You like the water (you’ll probably spend more time in than out as a beginner).
What you need: A speedboat or a jet-ski, someone to drive said vehicle, a life jacket, about 30 feet of ski-rope and, oh yes, water-skis.
I can’t afford any / all of that, now what? There are several great operators offering lessons or the water-skiing experience. You can expect to pay around £30 or €50 to get started.
Where? There are probably more, but here’s a few phrases to Google alongside ‘water-ski’ to put you one step from walking on water: Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, Summerhill Co’ Meath, Dripsey, Co. Cork, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Galway City, Craigavon, Co Armagh, Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh.
Anything I can do before taking it on? After a day’s skiing you’ll be sore in muscles you didn’t realise you had. The best thing to do as preparation would be core strengthening exercises such plank and push-ups; and some squats would give your legs great practice in getting up while keeping your back straight.
Top tips: Staying up on skis is difficult enough, but the hardest part is getting up in the first place.
Once you’re comfortable in the water and the boat moves to tauten the rope (did we mention you”re holding tightly to the rope?) tell the driver when you’re ready to go with legs close together within six inches), knees bent and skis pointing straight in the air.
Keep your arms straight at all times. Once the boat speeds up and you start to feel yourself get pulled out of the water, keep your back straight and straighten your legs slowly – forcing the skis against the water – until you rise like some sort of magnificent aqua-phoenix, dripping with awesomeness and lake water.
Once up, don’t lean forward, keep your knees bent and let the boat do the hard work.
Enjoy it.
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