BKistler

Most likely no public access. Whether or not the operator will offer memberships of some kind remains to be seen.

Talked to Mark Jackson, head of Polk Sports Marketing (and former Cypress Gardens skier). They are currently working on a plan to operate the ski lake. I’m not at liberty to say who it is but the group involves a company well known to BOS. I quizzed him about the trick lake. Options are to use a natural lake on the other side of the parkway or use the adjacent Lake Myrtle.

It’s immediately adjacent to Elite Cable Park. Who will run it is a big question. It will take knowledgeable volunteers. The Winter Haven crowd are show skiers and have a home on Lake Silver. (Kudos to the City of Winter Haven for that.) Perhaps the Lakeland Water Ski Club? Some new group?

I get the same impression.

It’s a good question that you pose. I’ve had the stuffing knocked out of me more than once jumping back in the day, although I was among the first to wear a helmet. I’m not a flipper and haven’t experienced any serious head bangs while tricking. For me the bad trick falls are the backward neck snappers. I want to point out that one of the most dangerous of boat-towed sports, in my opinion, is tubing. The potential for head and neck trauma is very real, especially since many people ride prone and the head and neck are not supported by an erect spine.

It’s fantastic and will greatly improve the appeal of the trick event.

Wow, Joel almost 12k both rounds. Jake right on his heels. Great tricking.

@skierjp Just drove past Spirit Lake 20 minutes ago. Funny how some traffic lights are not operating and others are. I’m seeing spotty light damage. No major flooding. Things would have been different if we got the 16-20 inches of rain predicted. I guess we got something like 11”.

Like the instant trick scoring.

Our lake in WH is the highest it has been in 48 years. It was abnormally high before the storm.

Thanks. So far ok in Winter Haven. Haven’t lost power, boat doing ok in boathouse. Eye still approaching sp we haven’t seen the worst of it. Flooding will be incredible.

Low cost. Convenient and safe. Teenagers can hang out all day and have a blast.

Cable skiing is fun but strange. No wake. The rope pulls up. The pull is not solid since the cable sways a bit from side to side. You have to ski to the outside of fixed turns or you lose speed. Dock starts are at right angles, not straight ahead. Got to try it at least once. Will never replace a boat in my opinion.

Kyle always does a good job. The tournament was well run. Kudos.

After Regina crashed, she pointed down course and the boat went back and picked up a wad of weeds that I had seen floating around earlier. I thought she was going to ask for a reride but apparently did not. The lake has a lot of eel grass or some such in it.

I was finally able to look at your picture. Your position is fine, it just needs to pivot forward at the ankles so that you are squatting directly on top of your binders. All those who have chimed in are basically saving the same thing.

Might be the format. JPEG should work.

Body

You said you were able to “plane up.” What is your bony position once you get on plane?

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Don’t stand up too soon. I agree with @Clydesdale. Stay in a squat then rock forward onto the balls of your feet. If you have enough strength to rise from a squat on land, should be able to do it on the water.

A shout out also to Eric Lee who placed second in 65+. Also winning gold in tricks were Janie Fausold 65+ and my pal Leza Harrison 70+.

Steve is a great guy and I’m proud to call him a friend. I’m so glad he won. Old farts rule.

Yes. A tire breakwater which was the subject of a recent post. Cypress Gardens used the same technique.

I doubt seriously that gars are the problem. We have them in our lake and the only damage to buoys comes from two legged mammals.