Those who enjoy a day out on the lake tend to love the idea of waterskiing; it is a great sport for those who enjoy hitting the water and having loads of fun.  Waterskiing ranges from fun recreational sports to those doing waterskiing as a competitive sport.  Today there are approximately 11 million people who enjoy waterskiing each year, so it is a growing sport. 

Waterskiing competitions typically focus around three types of events.  In slalom, the skier has to successfully navigate a course around six buoys.  On each run, the boat increases its speed by two miles per hour until the maximum speed for each division is reached.  Once the maximum speed is reached the towrope is shortened by premeasured increments, the course is then tried again and again.  The skier who clears the most buoys without a miss or a fall wins. 

In trick skiing, each skier performs two passes of the course, which consist of 20-second routines of various maneuvers.  Each maneuver has a predetermined number of points assigned.  The skier with the most points at the end wins the competition.  The last type of waterskiing is jumping, in which the skier who jumps the furthest distance wins.  Each division of jumping has maximum boat speeds, which are strictly enforced. 

Thousands of tournaments take place each year, with the competitions ranging from local competitions geared towards beginners to those that are national and world-level competitions for the advanced and elite athletes.  Waterskiing teams consist of three people, the skier, the observer, and the boat driver.  Due to the intensive physical demands involved, most athletes only specialize in one or two water skiing forms so that they can master and excel at their chosen areas. 

Waterskiing has several benefits including building upper and lower body strength, aerobic workout, improving balance and coordination greatly.  Finally, it allows people to step up to a challenge and overcome their fears associated with the sport.  The athletes who tend to excel at waterskiing tend to be comfortable with high speeds, as well as athletic, good coordination, good upper and lower body strength, and a good sense of balance. 

Children are able to start waterskiing as young as 6 years old, the biggest determination is your child’s ability to hold the towbar and keep their balance when they come out of the water onto their skis.  If your child is unable to swim or is uncomfortable on the water, then waterskiing is not a good sport for them.  When you are looking to start your child in waterskiing, you should seek an instructor who is lifeguard certified, as well as knows CPR and first aid. 

You also want to look for an instructor who will use teaching aids to help your child learn to stay steady during takeoff, as well an instructor who has a lot of experience working with new students.  You should never use an instructor who is inexperienced in working with children, as children often has special needs when learning a sport.  You should also ensure that your child is taught the appropriate hand signals for the driver as one of the first things so that the safety status of the skier is well known.  As with any other water activity, a flotation device should always be worn to help your child stay above water. 

The costs of waterskiing vary greatly, with the average cost of skis being between $100-$600 per pair.  You can rent skis, which for the occasional waterskiing experience is a much better option financially.  A life vest, which will cost up to $75, is also needed, as well as most instructors will require waterskiing gloves, which are around $15 a pair.  Often parents must join a waterskiing club so their child has access to the boats and other equipment that they need, which can greatly across the country.  Private lessons are the next biggest expense with classes costing between $25-$115 per lesson.  Remember to always make sure your child is properly supervised when participating in waterskiing to ensure they come home safe and happy.