|
|
|
|
These
guidelines are not intended to be
comprehensive, but rather a reminder of a
few key ideas to make your day on the water
safe and enjoyable.
Drivers
-
Always
shut off the engine when people are
getting into the water or into the boat.
-
Always
ensure the skier and rope are clear
before starting the engine. Be
particularly careful about the boat
drifting into a skier or the rope on
windy days.
-
Make sure
your signals between rider and driver
are clear. In particular, decide in
advance what the rider will say when
he/she is ready to start. “Go” and “No”
sound alike, so pick signals that cannot
be confused with “wait”, “no”, “hold
on”, etc.
-
Know the
lake/river where you are skiing. Be sure
to check that the area where the rider
will ski has at least 8 feet of depth
and preferably 10. If in doubt, scout
the area before skiing.
-
Disconnect
the rope from the tower/pylon when not
pulling a skier to avoid the possibility
of the handle falling in the water and
the rope causing injury.
-
Leave the
alcohol on shore until you are finished
driving and riding.
-
Always
keep the skier on the driver or
starboard side when returning after a
fall. Return at idle speed when within
50 feet of the skier.
-
Before
accelerating, ensure all skis and
equipment are secure and passengers are
safely seated.
-
Know where
to go in case of emergency, or who to
contact on shore for first aid equipment
or information.
Observers/Rope Handlers
-
Never let
the rope get wrapped around your hand
(or any other body part) while the
handle or any part of the rope is in the
water.
-
As the
driver is picking up a rider, ensure
that the rope does not get caught on any
part of the boat, a foil in the rack, or
caught under a ski.
-
Always
keep a cover on the hydrofoil when it is
in the boat or in a foil rack. This
prevents people from getting cut on
sharp edges, reduces the chances of the
rope getting caught on the foil, and
protects the boat vinyl and fiberglass
from damage.
-
Notify the
driver if the skier is down and
communicate skier signals to the driver.
Riders
-
Before
getting into the water, check your
equipment. Ensure bolts are tight, your
seatbelt is not worn, your rope and
handle are not damaged in any way, and
your helmet and vest are in proper
condition.
-
Always
wear a helmet while riding.
-
If you
plan to jump the ski, use a safety
device beyond the rubber heel straps,
such as ankle straps or CinchMax
Footstays.
-
Always
keep the rope and handle clear of your
body so that if the rope unexpectedly
tightens, you could not get hurt.
-
Always use
an automatic trick release, such as a
CinchMax release or Comptech release, so
that if the handle or rope catches the
hydrofoil or skier while skiing, the
probability of injury is reduced.
-
When
learning new inverted tricks, always use
a manual trick release with an
experienced operator.
-
Stay
within your abilities. Keep the boat
speed slow enough that you stay in
control.
|
|
|
|
|
