First ever jump

[coxjon]

Heading out to the US from the UK again this summer for some time with the buoys.

 

Really fancy having a go over a jump even if I just do it a couple of times, is it worthwhile having a go?? Don't want to kill myself 8o)

[disland]

Of course

[Horton]

Make sure you learn from a pro and with the right gear

[coxjon]

Out with Tom Asher and his good lady so some good coaching! Just nervous having never done it!

[RazorRoss3]

With the right coaching it will go fine. Post video.

 

[klindy]

+1 - go for it. Learn from the best with good equipment and you'll have a rush (and accomplishment) which can never be duplicated.

[A_B]

Discount everything that @HamWallace says as well, as he is a self-professed jumpaholic....

[evolski]

It's a blast. when you first learn you'll go over relatively slow. It's a completely different sensation on the ramp. You'll be in good hands with your coach. Put the helmet on and you'll feel cool. Have run.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

Relax John, fatalities among first time jumpers are very rare. In fact I can only think of 3 in the last few years. Come to think of it, one of them was a Brit who had to have a few pints to get his courage up before his attempt:)

[skier2788]

I learned last year it is fun to flop. Just remember knees trees freaze. I found it hard to stay flat and balanced at first but it gets easier. It is a rush the first few times.

[gator1]

It is a rush forever if you keep going farther. Dead stick autos in the helicopter, 190 in the vette, cliff drops, $100 mil deals, snorkel deep pow, 39.5, nothing comes close. 25 yrs later I still dream it.

[I5boi]

Is this (1st jump) something a 40 year old can/should do? Sounds like fun!!

[coxjon]

thanks Bruce!! I just imagine headbutting the ramp haha!

[A_B]

Ever hear the song "Live like your dying"?

[6balls]

My first was at MW Regionals. Never jumped but our best jumper blew his knee in practice and we needed 5 guys to score. I was told the whole knees, trees, freeze and sent onto the water. Landed a 38 footer.

Seemed easy enough so next pass took a cut at it. Man that jump is slippery! I ended up sideways in the air with one hand on the handle, all stretched out like a slalom skier rounded a ball and yelling expletives until impact. That fall sucked.

 

[lpskier]

Be very careful. Water ski jumping can be very dangerous. For your wallet. Ever see what a pair of jumpers cost? And you'll be buying a pair as soon as you get a taste of that action. Good luck.

[danspence]

I had jumped a hand full of time in England but when we went out to the US I went and had a few sets with Tom and June and can honestly say they are awesome. So laid back and they make you feel so welcome. They helped my jumping come on so much. Between them they know their stuff!!

[drewski]

Knees Trees Freeeeeze!

 

The biggest thing will be to stay on your toes. Its nerve racking because you think you will go forward but think about jumping off a picnic table. You land on your toes (ball of feet) and can keep walking forward. If you land on your heels, you tend to roll backward into the picnic table. This is what helped me land my first jump. The feeling from water to hard stiff jump is really strange the first time and you have to keep everything in your core tight to hold your position.

 

Hope this helps! Post a video when you do it.

[MattP]

You can see mine here

http://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/6624/mr-ballofscores-matt-page-lands-a-jump

Tom & June are awesome people and coaches. Only reason I don't have jump gear is I can't afford it currently.

[usaski1]

Anyone can do it. Here I am going over the ramp in my back yard!

 

[coxjon]

Wow they are great videos for first jump!!

 

I'm expecting a nil pois for a head over heels dive haha!

 

The idea of the jump and landing I'm confident with, it the hitting of the ramp which could be fun.

[ToddL]

@Drewski covered most of the basics, but I wanted to point out what @skier2788 said... Balanced. In other words, first jumps are about zero edging with the skis. You basically are dragged somewhat slowly right over the ramp. With the boat to the right side, there is a tendency to edge and lean slightly away from the boat to stay wide to the left. For plop jumps you cannot be edging like that when you are on the ramp. Any edging and you will be falling to the side as you come off the top of the ramp.

 

The ramp is more slippery than the water. Skis sit in the water but "on" the ramp. So when plopping on the ramp, your skis must be perfectly flat and your body perfectly centered between them with zero edging.

 

There is a drill I call the glide. You basically edge out to the left of the boat's wake, wider than where the ramp will be. Then, flatten the skis, get centered, and get into jump stance, and allow the boat to pull you back towards the wake. Even better is to have the boat driver drive to the right side of the slalom boat guides. Then, you can practice your glide timing so that you glide through a set of boat guides perfectly flat, balanced and not on edge.

 

Given that the boat pulls you back to the right during the perfect glide, you will target the bottom left corner of the ramp and take a path diagonally over the ramp exiting closer to the top right of the ramp. Thus, the first time over, you want to further to the left of the ramp when approaching, then time your glide to meet the ramps bottom left corner.

 

Jump stance is basically knees and ankles bent, weight on the balls of your feet (a.k.a. on yor toes), hips over your ankles, chest up and slightly forward, head up, handle low and in. "Knees" is an easy reminder of this position, but there is more to it than just that. It is a forward and upright stance with knees and ankles bent.

 

When you first approach the ramp, you should lean forward into it slightly. Think how you would do the same if you where to run up a mall hill. Since the ramp is more slippery than water, your skis will slide faster once they are on the ramp. By leaning into the ramp, your skis will catch up with your body and be perfectly under you at the top. If you make the mistake of leaning back as you come onto the ramp, your skis will get up in front of you and you will be falling backwards off the top.

 

So, many people say "trees" because you want your body slightly forward, but your head up. Also, it is best to look past the ramp. If there is an object on the horizon in line with the ramp, then look at that the whole time. Look at it through the approach, on the ramp, in the air, and thought the landing. If you look at the ramp you will drop you head down... Look down, fall down.

 

The "freeze" of knees, trees, and freeze is about being strong like a statue. You need to keep your muscles flexed and strong in the proper position the whole time: approach, on the ramp, in the air, through the landing. Many people lose their freeze either on the ramp or in the air. Stay like a staue through the whole process.

[ToddL]

@Drewski covered most of the basics, but I wanted to point out what @skier2788 said... Balanced. In other words, first jumps are about zero edging with the skis. You basically are dragged somewhat slowly right over the ramp. With the boat to the right side, there is a tendency to edge and lean slightly away from the boat to stay wide to the left. For plop jumps you cannot be edging like that when you are on the ramp. Any edging and you will be falling to the side as you come off the top of the ramp.

 

The ramp is more slippery than the water. Skis sit in the water but "on" the ramp. So when plopping on the ramp, your skis must be perfectly flat and your body perfectly centered between them with zero edging.

 

There is a drill I call the glide. You basically edge out to the left of the boat's wake, wider than where the ramp will be. Then, flatten the skis, get centered, and get into jump stance, and allow the boat to pull you back towards the wake. Even better is to have the boat driver drive to the right side of the slalom boat guides. Then, you can practice your glide timing so that you glide through a set of boat guides perfectly flat, balanced and not on edge.

 

Given that the boat pulls you back to the right during the perfect glide, you will target the bottom left corner of the ramp and take a path diagonally over the ramp exiting closer to the top right of the ramp. Thus, the first time over, you want to further to the left of the ramp when approaching, then time your glide to meet the ramps bottom left corner.

 

Jump stance is basically knees and ankles bent, weight on the balls of your feet (a.k.a. on yor toes), hips over your ankles, chest up and slightly forward, head up, handle low and in. "Knees" is an easy reminder of this position, but there is more to it than just that. It is a forward and upright stance with knees and ankles bent.

 

When you first approach the ramp, you should lean forward into it slightly. Think how you would do the same if you where to run up a mall hill. Since the ramp is more slippery than water, your skis will slide faster once they are on the ramp. By leaning into the ramp, your skis will catch up with your body and be perfectly under you at the top. If you make the mistake of leaning back as you come onto the ramp, your skis will get up in front of you and you will be falling backwards off the top.

 

So, many people say "trees" because you want your body slightly forward, but your head up. Also, it is best to look past the ramp. If there is an object on the horizon in line with the ramp, then look at that the whole time. Look at it through the approach, on the ramp, in the air, and thought the landing. If you look at the ramp you will drop you head down... Look down, fall down.

 

The "freeze" of knees, trees, and freeze is about being strong like a statue. You need to keep your muscles flexed and strong in the proper position the whole time: approach, on the ramp, in the air, through the landing. Many people lose their freeze either on the ramp or in the air. Stay like a staue through the whole process.