Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

[gregnva]

Obviously dropping one ski has it's pro's and con's. But on the con side, as we all know, is that the dropped ski is at risk of being run over or lost.

In thinking about it, I was wondering if you attached a line to the ski that's going to be dropped, with the observer in the boat hanging onto the other end, ensuring there's enough slack as to not interfere with the skier.

Then, when the skier drops the ski, the observer in the boat quickly starts reeling it in.

Is this a doable idea or a very stupid one?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

Sounds stupid. What are they going to do, drag the ski skipping and flipping behind the boat while you are skiing? You'll either get hit with the ski or tangled in the rope. If it's a big issue for you, duct tape an orange retreiver trainer to the top of the dropped ski. It'll make it easier to see and keep it floating boot up.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

Here you go, they even make something specifically for this
http://www.liquidationsports.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=4794699528814887169

 

[gregnva]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

The thought was that the observer in the boat would pull it into the boat...

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

The thought was that the observer in the boat would pull it into the boat...

Put a ski on a rope and drag it behind the boat at 25+ MPH once. The ski is going to be bouncing and flipping around like crazy. Pretty much no way you are going to hold onto it to pull it in, and even if you do - its pretty well guaranteed that it'll smack your skiier at least once before you were able to pull it in.

Completely unsafe - and silly

 

[SeanT]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

Agreed.

 

[Tig]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

I would envision tripping the skier or breaking his leg with the flopping ski.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

I can imagine a very ideal set of circumstances where it MIGHT work, and part of that includes perfect timing between dropping the ski and a spotter VERY quickly hauling it in. However, there would be ZERO room for error and a very high likelihood of someone getting hurt and/or losing the ski PLUS the line, at which point someone could catch it in a prop.

Not trying to crap on you - just very earnestly pointing out that it's not a good idea in my opinion.

 

[KC4YIN]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

We were where we could ski away from our start point where others with us were in the water. We would have the driver make a circle and when the skier came around in front of us he would drop the ski close enough for one of us to retrieve it.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

ANother option is to search craigslist or garage sales for a $20 piece of crap set of combos and use one as the drop ski. Then if you do lose it, its no big loss.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

We painted the fin on the bottom of the ski flourescent orange. Normally our ski always floated bottom up, this made locating the ski a bit easier.
It was the job of the observer to observe where the ski was dropped.

 

[gregnva]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

"Is this a doable idea or a very stupid one?"

So far the "very stupid one" has the vote lol

I personally do the deep water start with one ski so I don't have a concern about dropping one.

But I appreciate the comments - I too thought at first that the ski would bounce horrifically once dropped.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

About 90% of the time a dropped ski turns upside down. The upside down ski would bury the tip and be more problem than just bouncing around.

 

[electricjohn]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

Severe rope burns to the observer came to my mind first.

 

[Slide]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

Combine the ideas: Buy a crap off ski, paint it bright orange, and tie an empty milk jug to the back of it. Nobody will want your ugly cheap ski and it will be easy to find.

 

[convergent]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

Everyone keeps saying that the ski always turns upside down when dropped. If the skier is careful at how they retrieve their foot, this is not the case in my experience. I'm just getting back into skiing and have been dropping one because I've not managed to do a successful deep water start. I have had no problem dropping it top side up. Just gradually pull you heel out and the suction of the water will pull the ski off and it shouldn't topple.

Also, I've started just dropping the ski immediately so its right where we started. I realize that for a beginner this probably isn't going to work, but if you do know how to slalom and just need the help getting up, its actually easier for me to drop the ski before we are even up to full speed. You do have to wait a few seconds though or you won't have enough speed to stay out of the water! Found that out the hard way. This also works better from the perspective that you can start out off in a cove or something rather than it being dropped out in a main channel.

And I also vote that trying to tie the ski to the boat is a really, really, really bad idea.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

The issue with keeping the ski up isn't always related to how you drop it, but waves from other boats and general lake conditions make it more likely that the ski will turn upside-down before you come back to get it. I like the dog-trainer idea since it will be visible regardless of ski orientation.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

I hesitate to use the word stupid but foolish comes to mind. It also has the potential to be dangerous should it get caught in the wrong place.

 

[Nolaner]

Re: Dropping a Ski, Would This Work?

I agree with everyone that it's a bad idea, when I was doing shows we'd wear harnesses for certain acts, and if the spotter wasn't fast enough on the quick release we'd get dragged for a bit. Even going at slow speeds and being released within seconds was miserable; I'd bet getting a rope tied to a ski wrapped around your ankle and yanked off your feet at slalom speeds would end your season pretty quickly, and then you'd keep dragging until the boat could stop.