May 18, 2013
May 8, 2013
Keys to Better Performance
Keys to Better Performance
Skiing is a challenging sport. The continual chase for more buoys can be the most rewarding feeling when it works in your favor. However, it can be terribly frustrating when things don't feel quite right. Lets take a look at three key elements to help your buoy count move in a positive direction.
Training Partners
The people you ski with have an extremely big influence on your skiing. Finding someone who you trust behind the wheel is always a big first step. From there it is important to find a ski partner who motivates you to get out, train and become a better skier. Look for someone who has a similar schedule to you and can go skiing at the same times. It is crucial to train with positive people who make skiing fun and aid in your addiction to round that next buoy.
Videoing
Videoing your sets and reviewing them after you ski is more beneficial than most people realize. A single pass in a slalom course happens so fast that it is near impossible for our brains to process all the moves that we make. For this reason K.C. and I have started using video much more. By watching video you can slow it down and actually process the moves that you make verse the movements you should be making. There are many very helpful videos of talented water-skiers on the Internet as well. These allow you to see what skiers at higher levels are doing and from there you can take bits and pieces to incorporate into your own style. By studying your own movements you train yourself to become more aware of what you are actually doing on the water and it
gives you more control in the course.
Journaling
Keep a descriptive journal of your skiing is a must. Recording your training sessions on paper and knowing what off water training you did along with conditions, ski settings and what you were working on for each set allow you to track the ups and downs of your skiing. By journaling you discover what works best for you and allows you to pinpoint exactly what aids in your success. Reviewing your journal should help you stay on you’re A-game all season long by knowing exactly what you have to do to peak at the right time and how to set yourself up for big tournaments.
Think about integrating theses aspects into your skiing this season. The time we get to spend actually on the water going through the course is minimal. By working on your skiing off the water you can become a better skier and really take advantage of your on-water training.
Apr 29, 2013
Apr 17, 2013
Break Out of the Slalom Box
New spread in this month's WaterSki Mag. Different style but pumped on the result, since Radar released the Satori I've been excited do different things on it. Just go have fun.
Apr 6, 2013
Apr 2, 2013
Wilson Bros. Photo Gallery
Over the last year we've had dozens of photo shoots resulting in hundreds of photographs, some landed in print or various places all over the interwebs.
Below is a collection of our favorite shots within the last year, enjoy.
K.C. at Lake Tuskawilla by Scott Atkinson
Brooks at Radar Lake by Bill Doster
K.C. at Blue Lake II by Bill Doster
Brooks at Lake Butler by Aaron Katen
K.C. at Blue Lake II by Bill Doster
Brooks at Lake Tuskawilla by Todd Ristorcelli
K.C. at John's Lake by Bill Doster
Brooks at Lake Tuskawilla by Bill Doster
Mar 14, 2013
Slump Busters
Slump Busters
The dreaded slump, it’s something we never want to get in but time and time again we find ourselves in the middle of July struggling during a time we should be excelling. A slump normally starts slow, a few sets in a row not going to plan and all of the sudden the wheels fall off and it feels like you have lost everything. It is easy to lose your cool but stay calm and realize that though it may feel like the world is ending the sun will surely rise again.
When you feel yourself skiing below what you expect take a step back and look at your skiing from 30,000 feet. It is extremely easy to get tunnel vision when it comes to our own skiing. We get so focused on running one more bouy that by the middle of the season it is easy to forget about body position and think only about that next little red ball. Spend a few sets at your opening passes and really focus on the following items that play pivotal roles in our skiing.
Speed
Carrying constant speed throughout the entire pass is crucial to success. Feeling fast on our skis comes from intense acceleration. This acceleration comes from slowing too much at the bouy and then trying to load the rope instantaneously at the finish of the turn. Instead, once your turn is complete and angle is set begin to rebuild your speed progressively all the way through the second wake. At this point you can begin to carry that speed and direction out to the next bouy. Slowing in the turn is inevitable, how you deal with that speed is what allows you to be light on the line.
Balance
Standing balanced on your ski allows you to move together as one unit. If unbalanced, you are fighting yourself constantly. a balanced position is found when you are in a shoulders over hips over feet position. If all those things are in line and moving together you are being as efficient as possible on your ski. If any one of these elements is ahead of or behind the other, you are fighting yourself and not in control of the direction you are taking. Being fluid in the course is possible when you have seamless movements that flow together and allow you to stay in the level, shoulders over hips over feet position.
The most important thing is to remain calm, skiing is fun and don’t lose perspective of the situation. Always be sure to check your equipment and make sure nothing has moved and confirm your ski buddy isn’t playing a bad prank on you. Video is another good tool in this scenario. Take some video of your skiing and compare it to a time when you were skiing your best. It can be hard to feel what you are doing wrong but seeing it in comparison to your best skiing can help simplify things. Keep working thorough the rough patches in skiing and you will back to running PB’s in no time.
Feb 1, 2013
Jan 11, 2013
Slalom Sessions with K.C.
What's going on in the world of K.C. Wilson?
The new year has just begun and I'm excited as ever for what's to come! The semester just started and it seems like it will be a good challenge, but plenty of exciting things to learn none the less. And... (drum roll please) Super stoked to announce that I am signing with O'NEILL! Simply put, O'Neill is dope. And to be able to join their newly revamped team with my bro Brooks and West coast shredders Terry Winter and Makayla Haw is going to make it even better. Ideas and possibilities of things we can do to help the sport of water skiing is going to be great. The year is starting of great, but I believe the best is still yet to come.
Anything big to expect for 2013?
I have no doubt that 2013 will be a great year in water skiing. Everyone finished the season so unbelievably with awesome scores that without a doubt the expectations are high. And that is exactly what fires me up to keep pushing myself to learn new things to be the best I can be. I always like to dream big and have high goals, so just like any business it is my job to make sure those goals are accomplished. Finally, with the 2013 season being my first summer out of juniors I plan on going all out and taking risks. Why not make all the rookie mistakes while I can? That's it that's all folks!
Jan 2, 2013
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