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Water ski ballet line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The ballet line in a water skiing show consists of a group of many girls waterskiing simultaneously. First, they will all be skiing on one ski. This is called slaloming. They all do what is called a “hop-dock” (see "Hop-docks") which is where they all jump off the dock together at the right moment in order to be pulled away by the boat. Usually they all link arms to ensure stability off of the dock; the trick to this is for them to keep their eyes focused forward on the skyline and to stick their chest out. Before “hopping” off the dock and riding away the skiers keep their ropes coiled in their hands, as the boats slowly idles away the coils will be released. Once the rope is taught, they hop off the dock with their free foot and simultaneously let the boat freely pull them away off the dock. After successfully making their “hop-docks,” the girls will keep their arms linked in order to maintain an even distance between each of them.
The point of ballet line is to perform synchronized movements out on the water similar to a ballet. They often have two or three passes in front of the crowd. The first pass is a one hand pass where the women are holding onto their handles with one hand and are synchronized in their movements for their free hand and free leg. The second pass is a toe hold pass. Their feet are holding the rope using a toe hold on the handle which wraps around the top of their feet. They then have two free hands for their synchronized movements which is usually more pleasing to the eye. For their entrance into the shore for their applause, the keep their arms locked together and swing around into the beach by letting go of the handles in a sequence manner. Once they swing into the shore and step out of their bindings, they walk onto the beach hand-in-hand while their names are announced. Then they retrieve their skis left in the water and exit the show course waving.