Water Skiing Safety

Safety Site

Water Skiing Safety

Monica Palmer, RSRC Safety Administrator

Recreational Safety takes Responsibility & Control

Page Content 1

Many water-skiers and boaters don't realize the potential hazards of waterskiing until it is too late. Familiarize yourself with these waterskiing safety tips:

Learn how to “talk” to one another. Both the skier and boat operator should learn and use proper communication hand signals.
Keep an eye on the skier. Texas law requires a watercraft with someone in tow to have either a mirror at least 4 inches by 4 inches or an observer at least 13 years of age. LCRA recommends using an observer to watch and assist the skier.
Allow extra maneuvering room when towing a skier. Avoid potential hazards and don't ski in front of another boat or in small coves where the ability to maneuver is restricted.
Ski in deep water and away from buoy markers. Avoid the shoreline, shallow areas and areas where there are several boats or people swimming.
Stop the boat motor when near a skier in the water.
After falling, hold up one ski so boaters can see you. A towboat should always stay close to a fallen skier.
Wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
Display an orange flag on your boat. An orange flag warns other boaters that a water-skier is somewhere in the water nearby. Many boating supply retailers stock orange flags or can order them.
Don’t ski in the dark. Skiing is prohibited from a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise.