Travel & Leisure Facts and Notes

Here you are, out on vacation with the family, and everyone wants you to try waterskiing. The kids all say you should come along, and your husband says, aGo for it!a Still itas bad enough that they dragged you out in front of all these people in your bathing suit, but now they want to strap to you a motorboat and drag you around, too? Itas fine to be nervous, but learning to balance and stay up isnat nearly as hard as learning to balance a family and keep it together!

Donat worry, though. Just keep a few things in mind, and youall be skiing like a professional in no time. The first thing to think about is equipment. If you buy your own, itas fine to buy it used. Just make sure itas still sturdy and in good condition. The skis should fit your feet and your grip should feel good in your hands. The rope canat have any tears or kinks.

Donat worry how you look out on the lake. This isnat a fashion show. You want something with a lot of coverage that will keep you warm, since youall be wet with the wind blowing on you. This will also help you keep from getting sunburned all over, not to mention ogled. Besides, once you have a life preserver on, no one cares how you look.

When it comes to attire, remember: youare not looking to win any swimsuit competitions. Instead, you want to protect yourself from the elements and from falls. Any water sports shop should be able to outfit you in a suit that will not only keep you warm but will slenderize; you can choose one that also has the extra, added bonus of covering up those stretch marks!

Now that you know the hand signals, have the rights ski, a sturdy grip and rope, and a life jacket, you are ready to find a driver. You will want someone who has done this before. Towing a water skier requires knowing the hand signals and the ability to speed up in the right way. Once you are up, he will have to keep a steady speed and make only gradual turns.

This is complicated enough without having the driver and skier learning how to do this at the same time. Even with an experienced driver you arenat going to become an amazing skier in one try. Thatas okay. Your kids will be happy that you had the courage to try.

Practice is the only way to get better. You can even practice, in a way, as you wait your turn. You can watch others to see how they did it and get tips from others around you. You should practice your timing and your hand signals.

Before you know it youall have gone from Boring Shore Lady to Slalom Mom. When you go out with your family and have fun, youall have the kind of joy-filled memories you always hope for from vacations. And this is one less thing your kids will poke fun at you for!