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I'm writing this as a basic intro to a sport that I don't get to enjoy doing nearly enough, water skiing. I say that this is an intro, but there aren't any rules and their is no way to win in recreational water skiing, and, as with all sports the only way this is going to make sense is if you actually go out and try it for yourself. The time I like best for learning how to ski is early morning, you are much more likely to get really smooth water early. That being said I will now outline the basics of water skiing with two skis:

1. First you need to find a boat operator that you are comfortable with, preferably one who has towed skiers before. Then you need a spotter, someone who spends the whole ride just looking at you, why? So that they can see your hand signals, and they can tell the driver if you fall. These are some of the necessary hand signals the spotter is looking for, thumbs up by you means go faster, thumbs down, go slower. Yes, you have to take one hand off of the towrope to make the hand signals, try not to use them in choppy water. A one handed slash across your throat means you are dropping off the rope for whatever reason. Any of these hand signals made by the spotter to you means exactly the same thing, although the hand slash from them is generally a demand for you to let go of the rope.
2. Now we get to the water, which is always cold in my experience. So, you've just jumped off the boat into the water in your life vest and your skis are tossed to you, these skis should be given to you based on how much you weigh, no matter how embarrassing that may be for you. Then you need to get both skis on your feet and crouch, so that both ski tips are just out of the water and parallel to each other in front of your face. If you have trouble keeping them there, try crouching a little more.
3. Next, face the boat with the towrope passing from one side of you, behind your back, and then going towards the boat as it slowly moves away from you. Keep one hand on two sections of tow rope on either side of your body, this is important because if you miss the handle as it goes by the boat has to come all the way around again and start it all over, which is not pleasant for anyone. And swimming in skis is impossible, so you have no chance to catch it if it's out of your immediate reach.
4. Ok, you have the tow rope and you are being pulled through the water while trying to keep you're skis straight, it doesn't matter how long it takes you, get them in

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