I drive a boat coaching skiers for a living. This is the first time in over 10 years I have been wrapped with a rope. I normally have a hat on, and do believe had I been wearing one this would not have happened. Despite my initial reaction of leaning forward, the rope still made it over my head but just barely. Had I not leaned forward it would have certainly wrapped my neck instead of my eye/forehead. This past winter Chet was pulling a different skier and the rope made it around his neck.
It’s obviously a hazard of the sport. There are a few skiers who I will never pull without a shock tube and the list grew by 1 skier today. I should have paid attention to the warning signs (rope coiling up against my back) when this individual skied, but I didn’t. Lesson learned on my part.
I don’t know if any driver has lost their life to a rope around the neck in the sport of waterskiing but you could see how it is possible (“freak” accidents happen). If you are a skier who has the strength to pop a handle with enough force to wrap the driver or passenger for that matter, please use a shock tube. It would be a shame for someone to end up seriously injured, and had it been one of my kids I can see how that could easily be the case.
But the face will heal, nobody was really hurt, I learned a lesson and I can’t wait to get back in the boat and drive some more!