How To Retrieve a Downed/Fallen Water-Skier or Wakeboarder

Here's How:

1. Be attentive and wait for your crew to tell you the water-skier or wakeboarder is down or has fallen.
2. Check surrounding boat traffic and turn the boat around and head for the person in the water.
3. When you get to within 100 ft. of the skier slow the boat until there is no wake.
4. Approach the skier on driver's side (port), never losing sight of the skier.
5. Slowly drive beside the skier with a minimum of five feet between the skier and the boat.
6. If the skier is done, skip to number 11. If you are retrieving the skier for another run, just as the stern of the boat gets to the skier, begin turning the boat around clockwise and head in the opposite direction.
7. As you slowly head in the opposite direction, the towrope should drift within reaching distance of the skier.
8. Remain at a slow speed until the skier has the rope and there is no slack.
9. Put the boat in neutral.
10. Wait for the person in the water to signal to go again and hit the accelerator.
11. If the skier is ready to get back in the boat put the boat in neutral just before the stern reaches the skier.
12. If the skier drifts away from the boat ask them to grab on to the rope and pull them to the back of the boat.
13. Turn the engine off when the skier is within five feet from the rear of the boat.
14. Ask the skier to hand their equipment, i.e. ski, board, etc. to someone in the boat.
15. Put out a ladder if one is available or assist the skier in getting onto the swim platform.

Tips:

1. Designate someone in the boat to watch the rope to make sure it does not get underneath the boat.
2. Designate someone in the boat (a spotter) to be in charge of getting the skier's equipment back in the boat.
3. If the person is inexperienced with waterskiing or wakeboarding, explain to them the retrieving process before they get in the water.