Is Skiing Passe'

Stilljester · 09-13-2022, 03:06 PM

Hoping it's not to passe, I just finally got up (on two skis) this year! Watersking has been on my bucket list of things to accomplish, since I was a teen.

Suppose now I need to add "on one ski" as the next goal.

Descant · 09-13-2022, 04:01 PM

The boats are so different now. In the 50's and 60's there were aq lot of flat bottom , 15-16' boats that could pull a skier with 50 hp. No wake, so it was easy to ride a disc, aquaplane, trick skis, slalom, etc. I learned to jump with 50 hp on a ski jump in Paugus Bay. Not many of these around any more. As boats got bigger, and added deep-vee hulls, wakes got bigger and less suitable for all sorts of skiing. On smaller, calmer, lakes I think there is still a lot of skiing. We even changed the law a couple of years ago so that certain, specially equipped, slalom boats don't need an observer practicing on a certified course.

ApS · 09-23-2022, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

The boats are so different now. In the 50's and 60's there were aq lot of flat bottom , 15-16' boats that could pull a skier with 50 hp. No wake, so it was easy to ride a disc, aquaplane, trick skis, slalom, etc. I learned to jump with 50 hp on a ski jump in Paugus Bay. Not many of these around any more. As boats got bigger, and added deep-vee hulls, wakes got bigger and less suitable for all sorts of skiing. On smaller, calmer, lakes I think there is still a lot of skiing. We even changed the law a couple of years ago so that certain, specially equipped, slalom boats don't need an observer practicing on a certified course.

We (and our neighbors) had 14' boats. In the days of the required "ski-belts" we pulled skiers behind either one, depending on who had the most gasoline! But in Winter Harbor, it was only a mile trip to refill at Winnipesaukee Motorcraft. Right next door, we would mail letters or buy groceries.

Ours, a lighter wooden powerboat had a 20-HP Mercury--theirs, a 30-HP Evinrude on a fiberglass boat. We progressed through two skis to one--and we discovered that was where the fun was. I don't see the fun with a wakeboard. Some spectacular stunts are possible, but nobody here seems to have any wakeboard skills!

"Sky-skis" are something else! There's a reason most wear helmets.

Starting on one ski was easy from a dock or float. You just gave the boat a 30-foot head-start, and gave a short leap onto the water. With a little practice, you could also land at dock or float!

You still see slalom skiers carving graceful turns, but they're usually out early, before oversized boats tow tubes to throw a choppy wake.

We'd ski in the rain...

Pineedles · 09-24-2022, 12:26 PM

Ah yes, skiing was wonderful in the 60s and 70s. I too had a 14' sears aluminum with a Scott 14 hp engine that could pop my barely 60 lb sister out of the water. For myself, male cousins, and other older relatives we employed our PennYan with 100hp inboard to pull us. Not too many seen these days. I did see my first E/foil this summer, It looks fun to do.

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09-13-2022, 03:06 PM	#1
Stilljester Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 54 Thanks: 2 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Hoping it's not to passe, I just finally got up (on two skis) this year! Watersking has been on my bucket list of things to accomplish, since I was a teen. Suppose now I need to add "on one ski" as the next goal.

The Following User Says Thank You to Stilljester For This Useful Post:
XCR-700 (09-13-2022)

09-13-2022, 04:01 PM	#2
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,598 Thanks: 1,418 Thanked 1,705 Times in 1,109 Posts	The boats are so different now. In the 50's and 60's there were aq lot of flat bottom , 15-16' boats that could pull a skier with 50 hp. No wake, so it was easy to ride a disc, aquaplane, trick skis, slalom, etc. I learned to jump with 50 hp on a ski jump in Paugus Bay. Not many of these around any more. As boats got bigger, and added deep-vee hulls, wakes got bigger and less suitable for all sorts of skiing. On smaller, calmer, lakes I think there is still a lot of skiing. We even changed the law a couple of years ago so that certain, specially equipped, slalom boats don't need an observer practicing on a certified course.

The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
XCR-700 (09-13-2022)

09-24-2022, 12:26 PM	#4
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,550 Thanks: 1,072 Thanked 672 Times in 369 Posts	Ah yes, skiing was wonderful in the 60s and 70s. I too had a 14' sears aluminum with a Scott 14 hp engine that could pop my barely 60 lb sister out of the water. For myself, male cousins, and other older relatives we employed our PennYan with 100hp inboard to pull us. Not too many seen these days. I did see my first E/foil this summer, It looks fun to do.