Can I Waterski If I Can’t Swim?

Most water-related activities are intriguing, but when you can’t swim, it can make them not so much fun because you are afraid you might, you know, fall in the water and drown.

Thankfully, being able to swim is not that important in determining whether you can or not go waterskiing.

So, can I waterski if I can’t swim? You can waterski if you can’t swim because you will be wearing a lifejacket when you go water skiing anyway, and any place you rent gear from will teach you about the basics of waterskiing safety. Before going in the water, you must know the hand signals, though.

In this article, we are going to learn how to stay safe while water skiing, even if you can’t swim at all.

Can I Waterski if I Can’t Swim?

Waterskiing is one of the experiences you should at least have once in your life, and fortunately, it is one of the few water activities that are safe for people who can’t swim.

Here are the reasons why waterskiing is safe for people who can’t swim.

Safety Education
Life jackets
The safety Lanyard

1 – Safety Education

No matter what water skiing place you visit, they must educate you about the safety basics such as the proper grip and posture, when to stand up and when to dock, and, of course, what kind of start will you be using.

They should also recommend the safest place for skiing during that time, the features of each piece of equipment, and which is more suitable for you.

Teaching you what you should do if you fall and what signals you should use is essential, but there also must be a spotter for your safety.

2 – Life Jackets

will be your best friend in many water activities; if you are worried about falling off, the life jacket will support you in the water.

It’s actually required by the law in many states to wear a life jacket while water skiing and in many other water sports, so even if you can swim, you should still wear one.

3 – The Safety Lanyard

You should also wear the safety Lanyard; it will come with your water skiing equipment; usually, one of the people renting your waterskiing will recommend attaching it to your wrist and helping you.

Even if they don’t, you should ask for help whenever you are confused or don’t fully understand something.

You can also attach the safety Lanyard to your life Jacket if you want.

Safety Rules for Non-Swimmers when Waterskiing

Here are 7 great safety tips you can follow if you can’t swim.

Wear a life jacket
Never ride at great speed
Choose the proper water and weather
Learn all safety tips from a professional
Learn all the required water skiing hand signals
Have a spotter around
Choose a place with a lifeguard

1 – Wear a Life Jacket

You should never water ski without your life jacket on; it will keep you from drowning.

However, before wearing the life jacket, you should check on a couple of things first: ensure that it doesn’t have any tears or holes and that it is overall in good condition, wear it properly and make sure it’s tight enough but not too tight that you can’t breathe..

2 – Never Ride at Great Speed

You can waterski fast. I mean, waterskiing is so fun because you’re going super fast. However, you need to make sure you’re not going past the speed limit in the area.

Also, you should slow it down once you are out of the water; however, the driver you are going with already knows that, so you don’t have to worry about it.

3 – Choose the Proper Water and Weather

The most critical factor in water skiing is choosing the right weather and water. You should avoid skiing on windy or rainy days and also avoid skiing in restricted areas.

It would be best to choose a nice sunny day because windy weather will make the water too rough.

Choosing the proper water for you is also quite important; avoiding rough water, such as the ocean, is best for your first-time water skiing.

Instead, try riding the water ski in a calm river or a lake, then you can try water skiing in the ocean once you master waterskiing or feel comfortable enough.

If you’re renting your gear or boat at a reputable water skiing place, they will guide you through all of that and teach you what’s the best entry point and if there are established paths in the water for skiing.

4 – Learn All Safety Tips from a Professional

All water ski rentals are obligated to train you and teach you about safety tips; however, not all places are responsible and professional.

So if you rent from a place that doesn’t provide you with all the information you need, you can ask them or try to go somewhere else.

5 – Learn the Required Water Skiing Hand Signals

All water skiers need to learn some hand signals to communicate with the boat operator and spotter. If you cannot swim, these hand signals might just save your life, as you’ll be able to communicate to the boat operator and observer that you need help.

Here are some of the common hand signals that water skiers should know and their meaning:

Thumps up – Increase speed
Thumps down – Decrease speed
Hand raised vertically with the palm facing the boat – Stop
Hand raised horizontally pointing to the left – Go left
Hand raised horizontally pointing to the right – Go right
Moving one hand across the throat in a slashing motion – Cut the motor
Creating an “O” shape with the thumb and index finger – I’m OK, or the speed is OK
Clasping both hands over the top of the head – I’m OK
Patting the top of the head with the palm of your hand – Ready to go back to shore/dock
Raising the skis over the head – Ready to be picked up from the water

Always discuss the hand signals you will be using with the spotter before going out on the water to make sure that you’re using the same signal and avoid any confusion.

6 – Always Have a Spotter

You need to have a spotter or an observer along with the boat operator when waterskiing, no matter your skill level. The spotter’s job is to sit at the back of the boat to watch over the skier and communicate with the boat operator in case anything goes wrong.

In order to communicate properly with the spotter and boat operator, you need to learn the previously mentioned hand signals.

7 – Choose a Place with a Lifeguard

If you know a place around you where you can water ski that has a lifeguard, it will be the ideal situation.

However, that’s not always the case most rivers, lakes, and some beaches do not have lifeguards, so if you can find one, it‘s highly recommended.

What we would not recommend at all is going water skiing with a friend, alone, in a place where there is no one around. We get the adventure vibes, but safety is more important.

What to Do if You Fall in the Water While Waterskiing?

Falling in the water while you can’t swim can be frightening and can easily make you not a fan of water for the rest of your summer, so it’s crucial to learn what to do if you fall in the water while waterskiing.

Keep your calm
Try to get back on it.
Reach out for help
Avoid swimming
Relax and wait

1 – Keep Your Calm

The most important thing is that you should stay calm and not panic, the life jacket will immediately lift you, and you won’t sink for even a second.

Panicking can drain your energy quickly, and you will need to stay calm to think clearly and start following the next steps.

In the vast majority of cases, the spotter will see you have fallen down and tell the boat to come back around and get you. If this does not happen for whatever reason, another boat will notice you and pick you up.

2 – Reach Out for Help

If you can’t reach your boat easily and they have not come back for you, there is only one thing left to do, start reaching out for help; if there is someone or some boat around you, keep one hand up and wave it to them and wait till they notice you and come to help.

You should also signal to whoever is near you that you are okay. If you did as mentioned above and had a whistle on your vest, you can use it in this situation to signal for help.

3 – Avoid Swimming

If you are so close to the shore, then yes, you can try to swim; however, if you see the beach and think it’s close enough, in water, the distance can be tricky, so if you are more than fifty feet, do not try to swim.

Swimming can tire you out, and in most cases, that is the reason why people drown.

If the current is against you and pushing you away from shore, you should not try to swim against at all. Instead, you should try to swim across it until you get out of the current, and only then should you start swimming to the shore.

4 – Relax and Wait

Instead of trying to swim while wearing the life jacket, relax and wait for help to reach you. The life jacket will keep you afloat, so just stay vertical so it’s easier for people to notice you.

Again, you should have an SMB and you should inflate it right away.