What is the primary role of a water ski observer?

The primary role of a water ski observer is to alert the driver if the skier falls or signals. This responsibility is crucial for safety during water skiing activities. The observer’s role involves watching the skier closely to provide information to the boat driver about the skier's condition and any necessary actions. When the skier falls, the observer must communicate this to the driver to ensure that the boat can be safely brought to a stop or turned around to retrieve the skier.

In contrast, other roles mentioned, while they may be important in certain contexts, do not align with the core function of an observer during water skiing. For example, navigating the boat and controlling the speed of the boat are responsibilities that typically fall to the driver. Ensuring that all passengers wear a personal flotation device (PFD) is certainly important for safety, but it is not the primary duty of the observer while actively water skiing. Thus, the observer's role focuses specifically on the interaction between the skier and the boat driver to maintain safety and immediate communication during the skiing operation.