Course skiing at Table Rock - Big Cedar Lodge

[jhughes]

We booked Big Cedar for a trip next summer. From everything I hear it should be a total blast for the family. Of course we're bringing our boat (reserved a slip) and will be on the hunt for slalom courses. I know there are some old threads about courses being here or there at Table Rock but what's the lay of the land these days?

[HPskier1]

Little cow creek would be closer to you but also there are ones at Baxter up little Indians creek, up the Kings river 2 miles past kings river marina, point 15 up the James river and across from Hideaway resort. I still think the best sking is at little cow even if the course isn't exactly accurate

[Sethro]

Hi Steve! Is the one on the James River the one near Cape Fair I skied with you? But that appears to be quite a distance from Big Cedar Lodge.

[kpickett]

The course at Little Cow is really narrow (at least it was last time I skied it). Not really good as a course, but it makes you feel like a really great skier!

 

The one on the James river near Hideaway is really only good super early in the morning. It's in a heavy traffic area.

 

The one on the James river north of Cape Fair (it's really up around the corner from Bridgeport) is owned by my buddy. It's in an ok place. There's not a lot of boat traffic, but when a boat goes by you have to wait 15 minutes for the water to settle down. It's a well maintained course - perfectly straight. We always welcome other skiers up there. It's a long way from Big Cedar, though.

 

I don't know the other two.

[Skid]

Funny that you just posted this. I booked my flight from Florida up to Table Rock last night. Gonna be doing some skiing with my parents the last weekend in September and first of October.

We've been making the trip to Table Rock since I was a kid. Learned to ride a slalom ski there.

As far as courses go, I think Little Cow might be your best bet. There used to be a course down near the 86 bridge(close to big cedar), but when we cruised down there last fall, it wasn't in. When we skied it in the past, it was prone to rollers from boats passing by the cove.

Nice thing about the course in little cow is that the cove right next to it (big cow creek) is super long so you can run some nice free skiing passes if the course is blown out.

If you are used to having 55 meter buoys as a reference point, the course at little cow doesn't have them. If you are used to having them (I rely on them heavily) what I would recommend is doing a 2-ball start. Use the 1 ball boat guides as 55 meters buoys, and ski the course with 3 ball as your 1 ball. If anything, it's skiing buoys and working on your pullout for the gates.

Just go out there and enjoy the time with your family. Table Rock is by far my favorite public lake and skiing in the Ozark Mountains is a real treat!

 

[Skid]

Funny seeing this. I just booked a flight from Florida to Table Rock the last weekend in September/first of October. Went last year around the same time and it was awesome!

If you are going to be staying at Big Cedar, your best bet will probably be heading up to Little Cow Creek. Mile marker 13 (I believe).

Course isn't going to be record capable, but you'll be turning some buoys.

The course does lack 55 meter buoys. For me, I rely heavily on 55 meter buoys. What I did was use the boat guides at 1 ball as 55 meter buoys and ski the course using 3 ball as a 1 ball. That way you get to run some buoys and don't go crazy miss timing your pull out for the gates. It's great for working on your position in the pullout.

Nice thing about Little Cow is that the cove right next to it (big cow creek on a lake map), is super long. You can get some nice free skiing passes in if the course is blown out.

If you don't want to make the trip up there, maybe check out the cove near the 86 Bridge. We skied on a course over there a few times, but when we went to go check it out last year, buoys weren't there.

Biggest thing is just to have a great time ripping around. Table Rock is a fun lake to ski on and when you are surrounded by the Ozark Mountains, it's hard not to just enjoy the ride.

Here is some video of me doing a two ball start last year in Little Cow. https://instagram.com/p/BLzD8dCASze/

 

[HPskier1]

@Sethro yep it's me, how has the river been slking up north. The closest course to big cedar is definitely little cow.like @kpickett said its narrow but if your just looking to have some fun it's a great spot early morning.more than a few time did @GroovyGrant and I feel like we had a semi private lake. Next would be Baxter or the one at hideaway. Baxter is ok, not always super maintained but a good spot. As always with public courses bring some extra buoys because you never know you will find. Grooveygrant does a great job maintaining the one up on the James River.