Waterskiing

The requirements for Waterskiing merit badge were revised effective January 1, 1998.

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while waterskiing, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  2. Do the following:
    1. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.
    2. Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.
  3. Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards or 75 meters in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25 meters using an easy resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100 meters must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating as motionless as possible.
  4. Know the Water-Skier's Safety Code. Promise that you will live up to it. Follow it in all water work for this badge. Know the safety precautions that must be used by the boat operator in pulling skiers.
  5. Show the following water-skier signals to safety observer in boat: in-gear, start, faster, slower, speed required, speed OK, turns, stop, back to dock, cut motor, skier in water. Help others to ski by acting as the safety observer in the boat.
  6. Show you can adjust binders that fit, to fit. Put on skis in knee-deep water.
  7. Make a shallow-water start on two skis without help.
  8. Show you can fall properly in avoiding an obstacle. Drop handle and coast to a stop without loss of balance.
  9. Show you can recover skis that have come off during a fall. Put skis on in deep water. Make a deep-water start on two skis without help.
  10. Show you can cross both wakes and return to center of wake without falling. Repeat three times.
  11. On two skis, jump off the wake. Lift both skis clear of the water.
  12. During a demonstration run, lift one ski clear of the water for 2 seconds. Then do the same with the other ski. Show that you are steady and comfortable on skis at all times.
  13. Ski on one ski for 30 seconds. Show reasonable control.
Requirements: