Losing Skis

[csc67]

Some of the people we water ski with start on two skis and then drop to slalom ski - We have lost the dropped ski a couple of times - Is there a way to make the ski not turn over or make it more visible in the water? Thanks

[DmaxJC_ski]

Throw an extra life jacket out at the same time they drop the ski. Usually end up very close together

[Zoro957]

Back in the day, I had a friend who strapped an old oval shaped flotation device to the top side of the ski. It was painted red and it almost always flipped right side up.

[bigskieridaho]

Paint it hunter orange

[Fam-man]

When barefooting I step off an old slalom with the front binding cut down and a back toe strap. The ski is an old HO Mach 1 that happens to be black. After a few lengthy searches I let the kids go at it with spray paint. Now it's is orange, yellow and white high-vis.

The spotters(s) also make a visual marker to the shore for where the ski was left behind. The spotters are 9, 6 and 4 years old and very reliable for marking and finding it.

[fu_man]

yep...bright paint on the bottom or possibly wrap the whole tip of the ski in neon duct tape.

[csc67]

All great ideas - Anyone willing to share their 'paint the bottom' techniques?

[sunvalleylaw]

For a beater drop ski, doesn't have to be more complicated than rattle can day-glo from the hardware store I would think. And do the tip of the ski that may stick up too. I like the idea of a float on the top, and also having the spotters create a visual marker on shore in their mind. Then can play the wind for direction from there.

[Orlando76]

I used to paint my drop skis back in the day, ive tried mulitiple oranges and greens. Nothing seemed to help.

[Cent]

You can put some weight back where the fin is. Dropped ski will float tip up and be quite visible.

 

Kobe made pairs that way to assist beginners learning on doubles. The skis floated tip up easily and made it easier for skiers to control the two skis when floating and starting.

 

I still have a pair and they really help people. The Jove weight was the shape of the plate on top of the fin and went under it.

[dbski]

Years ago we had an old drop ski that would always flip upside down with a black bottom, not good. So I found an old skinny boat fender and screwed it to the front top of the ski. the buoyancy kept the ski from flipping.

[ToddL]

http://www.liquidationsports.com/common/images/products/large/5163lrg.jpg

 

[JAG]

We painted our fins bright fluorescent orange. Seems as though the dropped ski was always upside down. :( BUT, we never lost one.

[Stevie Boy]

What @Cent says, attach a weight on the back.

[Glydon]

X2 on painting the fin with Fluo orange the bottom of the ski is STILL hard to see where the fin stands out like anything.

[braindamage]

Learn to get up on one ski.

 

I've lost countless drops. We used to pick up wood skis at yard sales so we always had 2-3 extras in case we lost one.

 

Best way is to add weight to the back fin so the ski floats vertical.

[Cent]

The weights on the back really work for beginners as doubles and to find skis.

 

Have been using them since the 80s. As have others who borrow them. With tip up they have never been lost.

 

Biggest problem is they get borrowed by people around the lake that borrow them for beginners. In fact they were loaned out at the end of the 2016 season and there loaned out again now. They get around and they get found.