first man made ski lake in the world

[Dirt]

I thought Horton Lakes was the first man made water ski lake in the world. Was there one before it? Jodi Fisher posted something on twitter about Radar Lake.

[ForrestGump]

Radar was the first manmade lake with turn islands, if I remember correctly.

[enjoiskiing]

hmmm. it seems as Horton has not seen this post yet. maybe he is actually working for once...http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-money-mouth.gif

[Steven]

I think Shane's correct on this one

[Horton]

I do not know what you call those dry spots at each at the end of the lake.

I do know that they are older than I am and the boat drives around them.

 

[rawly]

I think enjoiskiing's correct on this one.

[Horton]

Radar was one of the very early man made tournament lakes. Horton Lake was first. I believe water was being pumped late 1968. Very soon after Horton Lake was filled Radar, WetSet Village and Thomason’s Ski Ranch were built. The exact chronology escapes me. Within 10 years after Horton Lake the number of similar lakes was beyond knowing.

It is a bit of family pride. In water ski history my Dad will be remembered as the first person to design and build a private ski lake.

[Horton]

Note: I know the date because dear old Mom tells me that they were filling the lake the for the first time when I was born. 12/11/68

[Horton]

NOTE # 2

Dave can tell you that there are islands on Horton Lake #2. I think he tried to remove it with his head once. Speaking of Lake #2, is that were a Canadian tried to remove Dave's leg? I love to hear Dave tell the story about the doctor using a hammer to get the metal rod in his leg... 

[skidawg]

Born n 68, holy cow, & I'm the one with the old man avatar

[Jody_Seal]

Hopfully this wont cause issues but was not Robin Lake at Callaway Gardens the first man made waterski lake?

[Horton]

Hmmm I do not know about Robin Lake. Have always been told Horton Lake was first lake specifically designed for skiing. Hell, my Dad is in the hall of fame because of the lake. It seems like a bad time for find out it is not true.

[Than_Bogan]

I would think a very important phrase here is "lake specificially designed for 3-event water skiing."

Otherwise all sorts of "silly" candidates could be found, including the lake I ski on now (Lake Cochituate in MA), which was man-made as a resource for Boston in the 1800s, and has had skiing on it since at least the 1950s.  (Those dates might be wrong, but that's not my point anyhow.)

[Horton]

yes

[Dirt]

I thought Horton Lakes was the first, as Thanimal said, "lake specifically designed for 3-event skiing" of this pioneering design. If you look at lake 1 there are very few changes to the current lakes being built today. He got it right the first time and in the middle of the Mojave Desert of all places. 

[Horton]

Dave,

I am going out there this weekend. Do you want me to look for where you head hit th island? Should be a dent.

[MattP]

Robin lake is the world’s largest manmade white sand beach and was opened in 1953 and the Masters was first held there in 1959. Robin Lake how I understand it was not designed to be lake only dedicated to skiing. Horton - your dad still ROCKS!

[ForrestGump]

Per Radar Lake's website, construction on it was not started until March of 1972. 

http://radarlakeevents.com/aboutus.aspx

[Dirt]

Horton, I still remember exactly where it hit. I also remember begging your dad to give me a shot of demerol.

[Drago]

Dr Horton (*).... NO!

[Horton]

Did I ever tell you about getting stitches in my foot with 20 year old Novocaine? The good Dr is unaware that Novocaine has a shelf life less than 20 years. F****ing Hurt like HELL!

[Dirt]

Or maybe his is aware of it and keeps it around to pay you back

[Jody_Seal]

The event began in 1959 at Callaway Gardens and is held annually during the Memorial Day weekend.

The Robin Lake site at Callaway, built specifically for the Masters, boasts an expansive pavilion with covered stadium seating, http://www.masterswaterski.com/history/

Yes maybe the term should be more specific! first dedicated dug waterski lake for tournament waterskiing.  Hortons Rocks!

[enjoiskiing]

@Horton

I can remember when Dr Jack stiched up my head last year. He must have used the same Novacaine. Hurt like hell.http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cry.gif

[Horton]

Did you get any "numb"? Just figured out who you are... yea that was a HOLE in your HEAD.

 

[enjoiskiing]

No, no numbness at all.

Heard you were going to be in the area, was wondering if you would like to swing by on Saturday by so i can beat you in slippery slalom http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif

[Horton]

Hmmm are you runnning 39? Straight boat path? If not, I will let you stay home and practice.

[clemsondave]

There is a lake near me that is very old, but it was not dug for skiing. I think it was an old mill pond from the Civil War era. There are historic markers and some grave sites dating back to then.

 

The bottom is about 3-4' of silt. It's like walking on a cloud. Water looks like coffee/cream, but it skis great.

[enjoiskiing]

no not 39, but i can run my 38.

i have also gotten one ball at 39 with a surf board. hope to see you saturday afternoon. where it all started [: