Slalom Math

Regardless of how one completes the course, the distance traveled by the skier is at least that
traveled by the handle. The handle always travels along an arc from buoy to buoy (a pendulum). The
length of an arc is determined by the product of the radius and the angle in radians.

The amplitude (traveled by handle) is reasonably similar for purposes of calculation for line lengths
of 35 off & shorter.

Then clearly the length of the arc traveled gets quite a bit longer at shorter line lengths. Assume for
calculations that the handle comes out to a point three feet inside the buoy line (this won't work for
39.5 off and shorter, the handle is likely 4 to 5 feet inside the buoy line at these line lengths, but
permits reasonable calculations for the angle of the arc traveled).

Assume two right angle triangles behind the boat, the hypotenuse is the length of the rope and the
length of the short leg(opposite) is the distance from the center of the wakes to 3 feet inside the
buoy (34.5 feet). Using the sine function and sine tables; the angle of the rope from the longitudinal
centerline at the pylon to the assumed maximum width of the handle is sin[34.5/Ropelength]. Using

this method we obtain the following angles for varying line lengths on one side of the boat.
35 off angle = 600
38 off angle = 690
39.5 off angle = 760
41 off angle = 900

Therefore the angle of the arc traveled at each of these line lengths is double the angles shown
above (one side to the other side).

35 off arc angle = 1200

38 off arc angle = 1380
39.5 off arc angle = 1520
41 off arc angle = 1800
 Arc length = Rope x arc angle in Radians.
length

There are 2π (approximately 6.2832) radians in a complete circle,

So:
0 0 0
2π radians = 360 , 1 radian = 360 /2π= 180 /π.

Therefore:
0
180 = π Radians or 3.1416 Radians
0 0
35 off arc length = Rope (40) x 120 /180 x π = 84 feet
length
0 0
38 off arc length = Rope (37) x 138 /180 x π = 89 feet
length
0 0
39.5 off arc length = Rope (35.5) x 152 /180 x π = 94 feet
length
0 0
41 off arc length = Rope (34) x 180 /180 x π = 107 feet
length

As seen in the above, clearly the arc length becomes much more formidable at 38 off and beyond.
One has to travel an additional 10 feet from ball to ball when shortening from 35 off to 39.5 off! The
total distance traveled through the course may vary, this depends on the velocity traveled along the
minimal necessary arc path. That is, those that “create space” may travel a greater overall distance
than those that ski “ball to ball”, but that at the extreme short line, those privileged to complete it
describe that path width like that of a “garden hose”. Either way, the concepts regarding the length
of the arc increasing as the line shortens stands firm.

At 34 mph one has about 2.68 seconds to travel from one side of the arc to the other, so the longer
the arc gets as the line shortens, the faster one must accelerate and decelerate. No wonder it gets
so much harder as the line shortens. So if a greater distance is traveled in the same time, average
speed traveled by the skier must be greater.

The perspective of the changes in velocity (acceleration/deceleration) is quite impressive. This

provides even more evidence as to why slalom skiing isn’t easy.
 What about VRope?

If:
VRope = Rope Vector Velocity
0
Ω = Rope angle (to boat)
VBoat = Boat Velocity

Then:
0
VRope = Cosine Ω × VBoat
0 0 0
Ω = 90 , Cosine Ω = 0 × 34 mph = VRope = 0 mph (rope speed at the buoy 41 off)
0 0 0
Ω = 76 , Cosine Ω = .242 × 34 mph = VRope = 8 mph (rope speed at the buoy 39.5 off)
0 0 0
Ω = 69 , Cosine Ω = .358 × 34 mph = VRope = 12 mph (rope speed at the buoy 38 off)
0 0 0
Ω = 60 , Cosine Ω = .500 × 34 mph = VRope = 17 mph (rope speed at the buoy 35 off)
0 0, 0
Ω = 0 Cosine Ω = 1.00 × 34 mph = VRope = 34 mph (rope speed behind the boat)

What about VMax?

Assume:

VMax = VHandle = VSki

(for the most part skier speed is equivalent to handle speed)
0
Ψ = Skier path angle
0
Ω = Rope angle (to boat)

VHandle =VRope × 1/Cosine Ψ0

or
VHandle = [Cosine Ω0 x VBoat] × 1/Cosine Ψ0

0 0
Assume Ψ = 53 behind boat (1/Cosine 53 = 1.701)
Then:
Vmax= 34 × 1.701 = 57 mph

0
A 15 off skier probably doesn’t generate a 53 angle behind the boat, but for the sake of illustration if
one assumes a skier path angle generated somewhere in that range, think about the ΔV required as
the line shortens; 0 to 57 to 0 mph in 2.68 seconds at 41off, 34mph!! For that matter the ΔV’s at 35off
are quite impressive!

Try doing that in any car of your choice!