48 water skiing terms defined, including monoski, slalom, deep water start, toehold and spray, each explained in a single line.
Water skiing terminology is shared out between three parties: the skier, the boat and the course. That is why one conversation can move from bindings and tow rope to boat speed and buoys without changing subject. The words related to water skiing below take in the three tournament events, the gear and the towed sports that grew out of it, and the words associated with a day on the lake are in there as well. The water skiing glossary further down explains each term in a line.
Must-Know Water Skiing Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Barefoot
- Binding
- Boat speed
- Deep water start
- Double skis
- Figure eight
- Jump
- Kneeboard
- Monoski
- Ramp
- Rudder
- Slalom
- Speed control
- Spray
- Tow rope
- Wake
- Water ski
- Wetsuit
- Whip
- Zigzag
- Buoy course
- Cross wake
- Dock start
- Drop ski
- Footing
- Handle pass
- Perfect pass
- Trick ski
- Wakeboard
- Weight distribution
Water Skiing Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Barefoot | Skiing on the soles of the feet with no skis at all, at speeds well above normal skiing. |
| Binding | The rubber boot on the ski that holds the foot in place. |
| Boat Speed | The towing speed, set to the event and the skier. Slalom runs to a fixed schedule, jump and trick have their own. |
| Boom | The pole extending sideways from the boat that a learner or a barefooter holds on to. |
| Buoy Course | The set pattern of buoys a slalom skier must round, six turn buoys plus the entry and exit gates. |
| Cable Ski | A cable system on towers that pulls skiers around a lake without a boat. |
| Cross Wake | Cutting from one side of the boat's wake to the other. The first skill after a stable start. |
| Cut | Driving the ski hard across the wake on edge to build speed. |
| Deep Water Start | Starting from in the water with the skis on and the knees drawn up, coming up as the boat pulls away. |
| Dock Start | Starting from a sitting or standing position on the dock and being pulled straight onto the water. |
| Double Skis | A pair of skis, also called combo skis, used while learning before moving to one. |
| Drop Ski | Letting one of the two skis go while under way in order to carry on skiing on the remaining one. |
| Edge | The side of the ski dug into the water to turn or to build speed across the wake. |
| Figure Eight | A crossing pattern skied behind the boat that traces a figure eight on the water. |
| Footing | Another name for barefooting. |
| Gate | The pair of buoys a slalom skier passes through on entering and leaving the course. |
| Glass | Flat calm water with no chop. The condition every skier hopes for at dawn. |
| Hand Signals | The agreed signals between skier and boat for faster, slower, back to the dock and stop. |
| Handle | The bar at the end of the tow rope that the skier holds. |
| Handle Pass | Moving the handle from one hand to the other behind the back or over the head during a spin trick. |
| Jump | The tournament event in which the skier launches off a ramp and is scored on distance. |
| Kneeboard | A short board ridden kneeling, strapped in at the thighs. A common first towed sport for children. |
| Life Jacket | The buoyancy vest worn by the skier. Standard equipment and often a legal requirement. |
| Monoski | A single ski with both feet in line, used for slalom. |
| Observer | The person in the boat whose job is to watch the skier and signal the driver. Required by law in many places. |
| Off | The shorthand for a shortened slalom rope. Fifteen off means fifteen feet taken out of the standard length. |
| Perfect Pass | A boat speed control system that holds the towing speed steady regardless of load. |
| Pull | The tension in the rope from the boat, and also a single run behind the boat. |
| Pylon | The post in the boat that the tow rope is attached to. |
| Ramp | The angled jump structure floating on the water, used in the jump event. |
| Rudder | The steering fin under the stern of the tow boat, which also affects how the wake sets up. |
| Show Skiing | Team water skiing performed as a display, with pyramids, ballet lines and barefoot acts. |
| Ski Nautique | One of the long-established tow boat brands built specifically for tournament skiing. |
| Slalom | The event skied on one ski through a buoy course, with the rope shortened round by round. |
| Speed Control | Any system or technique that keeps the boat at a steady speed for the skier. |
| Spray | The sheet of water thrown up by a ski on edge. Its size tells you how hard the skier is cutting. |
| Toehold | A trick performed with the handle held by a foot instead of the hands. |
| Tow Rope | The line between boat and skier, made to a set length for tournament events. |
| Trick | A scored maneuver in the trick event, such as a surface turn, a wake flip or a toehold. |
| Trick Ski | A short, wide, finless ski that turns freely, used in the trick event. |
| Wake | The waves left behind the boat. An obstacle for beginners and a launch ramp for everyone else. |
| Wakeboard | A short board ridden sideways with both feet bound, jumped off the wake for aerial tricks. |
| Wall of Water | The high sheet of spray thrown up when a slalom skier turns hard at a buoy. |
| Water Ski | The sport of being towed across the water on skis, and the ski itself. |
| Wetsuit | A neoprene suit worn to keep warm in cold water. |
| Whip | The fast wide swing a skier gets when the boat turns sharply. |
| Wipeout | A hard fall. A bad one that scatters skis and handle is a yard sale. |
| Zigzag | Cutting alternately left and right behind the boat, crossing the wakes each time. |
#1 Barefoot
A water skiing style where the skier glides on the water without skis, using only their bare feet. It requires excellent balance and technique to maintain smooth and controlled movement on the surface.
#2 Binding
The foot attachment on the water ski or wakeboard that secures the skier’s feet in place. Bindings come in various styles and sizes for optimal support and performance depending on skier preference and skill level.
#3 Boat speed
The velocity of the boat towing the water skier, crucial for creating the right conditions for different skiing activities. Faster speeds are used for slalom skiing, while slower speeds suit beginners or trick skiing.
#4 Deep water start
A method to begin water skiing where the skier starts submerged in the water with skis on, then is pulled up to the surface as the tow boat accelerates. It’s a foundational technique for all skiers.
#5 Double skis
Also known as “combo skis,” these are a pair of water skis used for beginner and intermediate levels, providing stability and easier learning. Skiers often progress to a single ski as their skills improve.
#6 Figure eight
A pattern skied by athletes, characterized by carving a figure-eight shape on the water’s surface. This maneuver requires skill in managing turns and maintaining momentum while crossing the boat’s wake.
#7 Jump
In water skiing, a “jump” typically refers to an event or maneuver where the skier launches off a ramp to achieve distance and perform aerial tricks. In competitive settings, skiers are judged on the length of the jump and the execution of any aerial maneuvers.
#8 Kneeboard
A kneeboard is a type of water sports equipment similar to a wakeboard, but designed for the rider to kneel on it rather than stand. Kneeboarding involves being towed on a hydrodynamically shaped board at planing speed behind a motorboat.
#9 Monoski
A type of water ski where both feet are placed in-line on a single board, providing greater speed and maneuverability for slalom skiing. Preferred by advanced skiers for its aggressive carving ability through the water.
#10 Ramp
An inclined surface on the water used in jump events, where skiers accelerate towards and launch off to achieve distance in the air. The ramp height and angle are critical for maximizing jump length safely.
#11 Rudder
The fin-like device located at the rear of the ski boat, which helps steer and stabilize the craft. In skiing, rudder adjustments are crucial for precise boat handling and creating ideal wake conditions.
#12 Slalom
A competitive form of water skiing involving a single ski, where the skier navigates through a course of buoys, making tight, controlled turns. Slalom highlights a skier’s balance, precision, and timing.
#13 Speed control
A system or technique used to regulate the speed of the boat consistently, providing a steady and predictable pull for the water skier. Effective speed control is essential for matching the skier’s skill level and minimizing falls.
#14 Spray
The cascade of water generated by a ski cutting aggressively through the surface. The size and shape of the spray serve as a visual indicator of a skier’s speed and edge control.
#15 Tow rope
The tow rope in water skiing and other towed water sports is the line used to connect the skier or rider to the boat. The rope must be strong, flexible, and of appropriate length to ensure safety and optimal performance during skiing or boarding.
#16 Wake
The wake is the wave that is created by a boat as it moves through the water. In water skiing and wakeboarding, the wake can be used by skiers and riders to perform tricks, jumps, and maneuvers. The size and shape of the wake are influenced by the speed of the boat and its hull design.
#17 Water ski
A water sport activity where an individual is pulled across the water on skis by a motorboat or a cable ski installation. It combines balance, strength, and the thrill of gliding on water.
#18 Wetsuit
A close-fitting neoprene suit worn by water sports enthusiasts to maintain body warmth in cold water conditions. It’s essential gear for extended periods of water skiing in cooler climates.
#19 Whip
In water skiing, a whip refers to a sharp, fast turn of the boat that translates into a quick, wide swing for the skier. It challenges the skier to maintain control and use the energy for stunts or a rapid change in direction.
#20 Zigzag
A pattern of alternately cutting left and right behind the boat, often to traverse the wakes and showcase control. This action requires skill in quick directional changes and edge control on the skis.
#21 Buoy course
A series of buoys set in a specific pattern that a slalom skier navigates through, demonstrating precision and control. Each buoy successfully passed adds to the skier’s score, with missed buoys resulting in penalties.
#22 Cross wake
The action of moving from one side of the boat’s wake to the other while skiing. It’s a fundamental skill that can be used for gaining speed and preparing for jumps or tricks.
#23 Dock start
A dock start in water skiing is a method of beginning the sport where the skier starts from a stationary position on a dock rather than in the water. The skier positions their skis or board, holds onto the tow rope, and is pulled up and into the water by the boat.
#24 Dock Start
A water skiing method where the skier begins from a stationary position on the dock and gets pulled into the water. It requires precise timing and balance as the boat takes off.
#25 Drop Ski
In slalom skiing, this term refers to the action of dropping one of the double skis in the water to continue skiing with the remaining single ski. It’s a transition step for skiers moving to slalom skiing.
#26 Footing
Also known as “barefooting,” footing is a style of water skiing where the skier glides on the water without skis, only using the soles of their bare feet. It demands excellent balance and technique.
#27 Handle Pass
During a trick or wakeboarding, a handle pass is the act of passing the tow rope’s handle behind the back or over the head to switch hands. It is integral for complex spin tricks and maneuvers.
#28 Perfect Pass
A speed control system used in boats to maintain a constant and precise speed desired by the water skier. This technology helps create optimal conditions for consistent skiing and timing during courses and tricks.
#29 Trick Ski
A short, wider ski with no fins, allowing for maximum maneuverability during tricks. Trick skis are designed to enable skiers to perform spins, jumps, and other stunts with agility.
#30 Wakeboard
A wakeboard is a small, mostly rectangular board ridden similarly to a snowboard but on water. It is typically used in wakeboarding, where the rider is towed behind a boat over its wake and especially up off the crest to perform aerial maneuvers. Wakeboards feature bindings that secure the rider’s feet to the board.
FAQ
What is the spray called when a water skier cuts hard around a buoy?
Spray, and a big one is usually called a wall of water. The plume thrown straight back off the tail of a ski or a boat is a rooster tail.
What is water skiing on one ski called?
Slalom skiing. The ski itself is a slalom ski or monoski, with both feet in line, and the skier rounds six buoys per pass through the course.
What does 15 off mean in water skiing?
It means fifteen feet have been taken out of the standard seventy-five foot slalom rope, leaving sixty. Each successful pass shortens the rope again, so twenty-two off is a harder round than fifteen off at the same boat speed.
What is water skiing without skis called?
Barefooting, also called footing. The skier runs on the soles of the feet, which needs considerably more boat speed than skiing on skis.
What is it called when a water skier falls?
A wipeout. One bad enough to scatter skis, handle and everything else across the water is a yard sale, and landing face first is a face plant.
What do you call being towed behind a boat under a parachute?
Parasailing. It is a separate towed sport rather than a form of water skiing, since the rider hangs under a canopy instead of standing on skis.
What are the three tournament water skiing events?
Slalom, tricks and jump. Slalom is skied on one ski through a buoy course, tricks are scored maneuvers on a short finless ski, and jump is scored on distance off a ramp.
The gear (binding, tow rope, handle, trick ski, monoski, wetsuit), the boat (boat speed, wake, pylon, speed control, observer), the course (buoy course, gate, off, ramp) and the moves (deep water start, cross wake, cut, wipeout). The water skiing glossary above covers them.
What are some Water Skiing terms for beginners?
“Deep water start,” “Double skis,” and “Slalom” are some Water Skiing terms beginners should start with. They represent fundamental techniques and equipment newcomers encounter while learning.
What are some funny Water Skiing terms?
“Face Plant” and “Yard Sale” are some funny Water Skiing terms, humorously depicting a fall where the skier hits the water face first and a wipeout that scatters gear, respectively.
