Stupid Water Skiers

[pjcmodem]

This little funny goes back to the 1970's. My dad and myself were fishing on Belle Isle, MI (in the Detroit River). We were watching a few guys trying their hand at water skiing.(Obviously their first time)

So there's this boat bobbing in the water with two guys in it. One as the driver and the other as a spotter. One guy is standing on the beach with his feet in a set of skis holding onto a ski rope with about a 50 ft coil of rope along side of him. (you see where this is going)

The man on the skis screams at the driver of the boat, "let it happen cap'n!". The driver gives the boat all the throttle, the rope uncoils at like 50 million miles per hour and this fool goes flying like a rocket 50 feet into the water. We were laughing so hard I think I peed my pants. (hope the guy was alright) I bet his arms grew 6 inches on that one!

 

[Old Gray Hair]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

This post needs a video!!

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

Merely being in the Detroit River in the 1970's probably constitutes either stupid or suicidal (polution, etc.) Maybe the waterskier was not so stupid after all. At least he was trying to minimize contact with the water. Although how he was going to stop without getting in contact with the water is a little confusing.

TerryMSU

 

[dlindeblad]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

I witnessed something similar while on Lake Superior in Munising Michigan. It was my cousin and his friends with a parasail. Needless to say he did the same thing as his face bounced off the water at mach three for about 25 seconds. Once the boat driver realized he wasn't getting airborne, as he was chunky, he finally stopped the boat and hauled him in minus his shorts.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

As a kid learning how to waterski, my sister thought she had timed the release of the rope so she could glide in close and inbetween the docks. She misjudged and ended up nailing the doc doing 10-15 mph. No blood but she doesnt ski anymore either.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

We used to "launch" ourselves from the end of a dock.The trick was to jump forward and slightly up just as the rope tightens.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

Did someone want a video ???

Roxanne Cottage 08-04-08 030.mpg - 2.37MB

Turn the sound on.
Buddy of ours that insisted to me "full out off the dock, I do not want to get wet"
After much reasoning that with our outfit he needed half throttle at best I gave him what he asked for.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

Oh lord....

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

Rotflmao

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

The result would have been better had there not been so much slack in the line. He's lucky to still have arms

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

I do beach starts all the time on a slalom ski... Well, not technically beach starts, we are in ankle deep water with 3-4 coils of rope, depending on the boat. Boat takes off, and you just let the boat pull you out. No jumping required, it is more just stepping up.

I've done TRUE beach starts on kneeboards that I didn't care too much about!

 

[older fart]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

That is the key 3-4 coils. We used beach starts for years, with a beach delivery. Easiest way to take a trip 'round the lake and not get wet.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

Here's when we did it my way.

Roxanne Cottage 08-04-08 032.mpg - 8.49MB

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

back in high school I was pulling skiers on lake Wheeler in NC. One guy, he was in his late 20's, said he was so good He couldn't be thrown off the rope. Ya, right. Throttle up, turn hard, let centrifugal force do the rest.

No harm just a bruised ego.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

I do beach starts all the time on a slalom ski... Well, not technically beach starts, we are in ankle deep water with 3-4 coils of rope, depending on the boat. Boat takes off, and you just let the boat pull you out. No jumping required, it is more just stepping up.

while i've not done it in a while as i'm gettin old. but when i was a kid, i used to start same as you. but instead of a couple coils, i just picked up the slack with my other hand. would pull the ski rope over my head, when the slack was gone. the small amount of slack from the rope over my head was enough. i'd do one hop and be up every time. did that for years...
i don't remember learning to do it, but would guess i fell fwd. a few time... but after yer hip. it's the only way to start. nice and dry...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stupid Water Skiers

yeah, i USE to jump start. i feel it in my bones now.