Nothing can ruin a good day of skiing or riding faster than a bad pull, and with the exception of a few world-class tournament drivers, most of us could stand to fine-tune our driving skills.

S t a r t

If you're driving a tournament boat, you don't need to slam the throttle when the skier shouts "Hit it!" This is especially true of inboards, which have far more low-end acceleration than most skiers can handle. Apply enough power (medium throttle) to get the skier out of the water and then, as soon as the skier starts to level off, come up to speed quickly. This will give you and the skier time to get set for the gates. As you approach, line the boat up with the middle of the course, anticipate the pull, and compensate with the wheel and throttle.

T h r o u g h T h e B a l l s

Steering a straight course and maintaining a steady speed may require you to compensate for the skier's pulls using both the wheel and the throttle. Outboard and inboard/outboard boats with the ski eye near the stern require more compensation. Corrections should be subtle and smooth, even with a big and aggressive skier. Add throttle only after the turn, not during it. Be ready to counter-steer as the skier sets up and pulls toward the wake. Rather than glancing first at the course, then at the instruments, and finally at the mirror, try to see everything at once. Focus on the next set of boat guides and look down the course in increments instead of focusing on the far end of the course.

E n d i n g

If you are turning for another pass, drop your speed a few miles an hour and make a small- to medium-radius turn that won't send rollers down the course. When stopping to rest or shorten the line, don't whip the boat. Instead, pull back on the throttle as you turn the boat slightly to the left. Regarding crashes, ask the skier if he or she would prefer that you return quickly or slowly to minimize rollers and to allow him or her time to recuperate from the fall. If asked to return quickly, spin the boat and pull back on the throttle immediately after the fall, then idle back to the skier. This method avoids trailing rollers on the return.

Note: Automatic speed-control devices make slalom driving much easier.