After you have mastered skiing on double skis, the next step is to learn how to ski on one ski, commonly known as slalom skiing. Though there are many techniques to learn how to ski on one ski, a common practice is using the drop ski method.

Here is our How to Guide on Mastering the Drop Ski Method

1) First determine which ski will go on the drop foot and which ski will go on the forward slalom foot. The drop boot should be on snug enough that it won’t come off during your start, but loose enough that you’ll be able to remove your foot easily.

2) Designate someone in the boat to keep track of the location where the skier drops the ski in the water.

3) Get up on two skis as you normally do, whether it is a deepwater or dock start.

4) Never drop a ski in a high traffic area because you are at risk of your ski being run over and also ruing the boat.

5) After you have mastered skiing on two skis, slowly begin to practice transferring your weight to the ski that will be in the front boot binding. You may want to practice lifting your drop ski out of the water, putting it back down when you feel out of balance.

6) To transfer to one ski put approximately 85-90 % of your weight to your forward foot ski. Use the ski with 10-15 % of your weight as a balance keeper. Slowly lift your drop foot out of the ski.

7) Once the drop ski is gone, carefully place the drop foot in your slalom ski’s rear toe plate, behind your forward foot. You can also drag your toes in the water for a few seconds to help with balance.

8) Initially stay behind the boat to get the feel of being on one ski. Once you feel comfortable try crossing the wake by pointing your ski in the direction you want to go.

9) Once the skier falls the driver should pick up the skier and immediately go pick up the dropped ski.

Go on, give it a try!

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