Mastercraft81SnS Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 I have always wondered what lakes in Michigan have a ski course. I have wanted to get in to course skiing more and more, but I can’t find any lakes besides the one I live on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted February 15, 2016 Baller_ Share Posted February 15, 2016 @Mastercraft81SnS, where do you live? Or, maybe the better question is: where in Michigan are you willing/planning to travel? Public lake courses are difficult in Michigan, due to the heavy restrictiveness of the DNR, but there are some. I'll try to help you find some, if I can. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted February 15, 2016 Baller_ Share Posted February 15, 2016 @scotchipman, a few of these sites no longer exist (Placid Waters, the site in Charlotte) and all of them, except for Belleville Lake Water Ski Club, are private lakes. I also got the impression that @Mastercraft81SnS was looking for public courses. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastercraft81SnS Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 @MISkier You are right that Im looking for public lake courses. Sadly the ski school in Charlotte is closed that was before my time. I live near the Charlotte area Is there any courses near by? Side note the 81 mastercraft my Dad owns is from the Charlotte ski school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Greg Banish Posted February 15, 2016 Members Share Posted February 15, 2016 What we more likely need is also a listing of where Ballers ski. For example, I'm on Pine Lake (Oakland County), and ski with my neighbors a lot. You might have some luck linking up with someone who has access to one of the private lakes/courses and come out the occasional session. It's not hard to convince us to ski and we're often looking for a third. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted February 15, 2016 Baller_ Share Posted February 15, 2016 @Mastercraft81SnS, the closest public water to you would be the slalom course on the Grand River that the MSU ski team uses. I live near East Lansing, so I know the area very well and also know what a desert it is for available slalom courses. I am always looking for gravel pits and other opportunities to lease a lake in the area, but it is just not that common. After the ski school closed in Charlotte, the land owner leased that lake to a ski club for some time. They later decided to discontinue doing that, but I don't know why. Maybe you could try to find out who owns the property now and whether they would be willing to let you use it. Below is video of one of my first slalom lessons at Charlotte, when it was still a school. I think this is around 1991. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted February 15, 2016 Baller_ Share Posted February 15, 2016 @Mastercraft81SnS, I think one of the other things you could do is find out who owns this lake near you. It's big enough for several simultaneous courses. If you need some advice on approaching the owners, I have been successful in the past and have a form letter and other tips for proposing an arrangement with the owner. FYI, I have a portable slalom course, should you suddenly find yourself able to access this lake or other private site. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Edbrazil Posted February 16, 2016 Baller Share Posted February 16, 2016 We went TOUR-ing at Charlotte, MI in 1987 and 1988. Think the place was called Ski Paradise. Deena set one of her World Records in jumping there in 1988: 47.5m (156'), a mark that stood for 8 years before it was exceeded. That was when women were still jumping at 5 feet. Those 2 tournaments had plenty of off-water intrigue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Glock Posted February 16, 2016 Baller Share Posted February 16, 2016 Does silver lake in Fenton still have a course? I used to live out there and it was great early mornings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoner Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 @Mastercraft81SnS Green Lake south of Grand Rapids and Austin Lake south of Kalamazoo have courses. Rumor has it that Lake Leelanau up north still has a course but not sure if my buddy keeps up on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Glock Posted February 16, 2016 Baller Share Posted February 16, 2016 The msu course is pretty good on the grand river. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Andre Posted February 16, 2016 Baller Share Posted February 16, 2016 Don't just try to find the course,find the owners first and ask for permission to use the course even on a public lake! Be prepared to repair any damage that you could cause.Have spare bungees,tie wraps,spare bouys and maybe magnets. I own a course on a public lake and would welcome any skiers that would ask permission first and have stuff to repair the course.Also,you'll meet new ski partners for when you're missing a third... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastercraft81SnS Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 @Andre Thats a idea. There seems to be a few public courses around and I would preferably go to a public course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller wart Posted February 17, 2016 Baller Share Posted February 17, 2016 Warning this public slalom course info comes from along time ago. Therefore, the sites might (probably) not still exist but... Lake Templane in Centreville Boardman Lake just south of Traverse City There is a river (perhaps the Albion River?), just south of Albion. (This is/was one of the best tournament sites in MI. There was something in the water that resulted in great slalom scores and probably some three-eyed fish.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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