When you want to go out on the water in a boat from Jax Boat Club for a bit of water skiing, you need to know the right-hand signals. The skier needs to be able to communicate with the spotter and the boat driver.
With the right-hand signals, you'll be able to properly communicate during your voyage out on the water. Here are some of the top water skiing hand signals you should know.
Hand Signals Skiers Should Use
As the skier, you cannot verbally communicate, so you must use hand signals to let the spotter and driver know you're okay, you're ready to go, and other things.
The Skier OK signal
Holding your hands above your head to form a circle with your arms around your head signals to the spotter and the driver that you're okay after a fall.
Ready for Pickup
When you hold your ski or skis above your head, it means you're ready for pickup.
Back to Dock
Tapping your hand on your head tells the spotter and driver you're ready to go back to the dock.
I'm Done
If you're becoming fatigued and you're ready to be done, you want to make a motion across your neck with your hand like your slicing your throat. This signals to the boat you're done and ready to stop skiing.
Other signals to know as the skier include:
Thumb up = Speed Up
Thumb down = slow down
Flat hand out = Stop
Circle with pointer finger and thumb (ok signal) = Speed OK
Flat hand pointed left = Turn left
Flat hand pointed right = Turn right
These signals will help you to communicate properly with those on the boat as the skier.
If the skier isn't making any type of signal after falling, they may be injured. Make sure you circle back as fast as possible to check on them and make sure they are safe.
Hand Signals Spotters Should Use
As the spotter, you're in charge of communicating between the boat driver and the skier. You want to make sure you can do so with the right-hand signals.
Arm Up, Making Circles
This means turning around and communicates to the skier so they know the boat will be turning around.
Arm Out, Moving Hand Up and Down
If you need to let the skier know to stay behind the boat, this is the signal you will use.
These signals will help you to communicate with each other out on the water. Skiers need to be able to let those on the boat know how they are doing and what they want as they ski. Make sure the spotter and the skier are on the same page with signals before heading out on the water.
It's also important to have a trained and experienced boat driver handling things. Make sure the spotter and the driver can hear each other and always stay alert and aware while out on the water.