Slalom Mom, Here You Come
If you never learned how to slalom water ski before you became a mother, donat worry: itas not too late. Thereas no rule that says you must be single, svelte (or even blonde) to take waterski lessons! The fact that you have given birth actually means youare probably better qualified for the sport, because anyone who has experienced the pain of labor will hardly notice slapping the water at 40 mph during a waterskiing wipeout!
If youare going to buy your own water skiing equipment, make sure you buy it from someone you can trust. You donat have to buy new equipment, but you want safe, lightly-used equipment. You need skis that fit well and were made for the kind of waters kiing youare planning on doing. The grip on the rope should feel good in your hands, and the rope should be kink and rip-free.
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.
The next most important thing is another famous mother mantra: apractice makes perfect. a Get on the water as often as you can, and when you canat be out there, be on shore paying attention to the other skiers to see how they manage it. Practice the hand signals and do strengthening exercises while on land; they will come in handy once youare in the water and not just to make your arms jiggle less, either.
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!
