Any Waterskiing Pole Vaulters?

[DecaRag]

Just curious - how many vaulters out there also enjoy waterskiing? Jump? Trick? Slalom? Barefoot? Wakeboard? Kneeboard?

Post responses about your w'skiing experiences.

[SKOT]

I compete in 3 event (slalom, trick and jump) at the collegiate level. i'm absolutely terrible at all three events (4.5 @ 34mph, 450pts in 1 pass and 45' in jump), but it sure is fun! somehow i earned a spot as captain of the Hope College water ski team!

[DecaRag]

Isn't w'skiing in MI and IL a short season? I'll bet the water is pretty cold...

I learned to ski when I was 6 years old. My dad was a high school FB and T&F coach, so that gave us time during the summers to waterski. He talked me into going over a jump once, then my sister as well. Good times!

I've found that pole vaulters and waterskiiers seem to have the same interests and personalities. Both are athletic and enjoy the excitement of going fast, trying new things, and improving their skills. I never competed in waterskiing until after I left college and the decathlon - started going to some novice w'ski tournaments in slalom and trick, and learned to barefoot. Enjoyed it alot, but figured that if I skiied at tournaments - I got about 10-20 minutes on the water, where as if I stayed at my local lake to ski, I could ski all weekend for about the same cost.

Also, my feet (that are worn out from years of running and jumping) seem to enjoy the water much more than continued pounding on the track. So, now I just coach T&F and enjoy summer's at the lake.

[ashcraftpv]

I'm pretty big into wakeboarding, although I really don't get to do it anymore. I wakeboarded in Indiana growing up from April until October. Its called a drysuit. Very good investment.

[SKOT]

Isn't w'skiing in MI and IL a short season? I'll bet the water is pretty cold...

right after september 11, a bunch of chicago skiiers did a little fundraiser and we skied on the Fox River outside of Chicago on December 1! the water was 37 degrees and the air was colder but, it was for a good cause, and 114 skiiers raised over $12,000!

The collegiate water ski season goes from the weekend after labor day until mid/late october for nationals. it can get pretty cold the last few weeks up here in MI.

I doubt i will compete outside of college. as you said, you barley get 10 minutes on the water! i go for the fun of it. lets say that college water ski tourneys have a rather "active" social element as well. we know how to have a good time

[CrossBarHOpper]

Slalom and Wakeboarding are just my second two favorite past times beside polevaulting

DecaRag what lake do u go to In Ok

[DecaRag]

We have a small city lake - about a mile from my house. It's busy on late afternoons on the weekends, but not at all early mornings and evenings during the week. We used to have an active ski club, with slalom course and jump - but seems as though the active members have either moved, aged, or lost interest.

Some others around here like Kaw Lake.

Lake Ponca.

[cpmathis]

I'm all about wakeboarding. I like getting the big air, go figure. But yeah I normally get out a few times a month to Clinton lake if any of you know where that's at. Also like to go to Lake of the Ozarks once or twice, but that's more for partying and such since there are so many people going there now. Makes the water way to rough.

[OUvaulterUSAF]

Ponca Lake is choice conditions during the day. I grew up slaloming on that lake.

[Robert schmitt]

I got chills down my spine. I skied in shows for 12 years. kneeboarded on the water ski tour for one year. My best events are kneeboarding and barefooting, Could do a little on freestyle jump but really hated hitting a jump at 40mph with 3-6 guys and throwing a front flip. A couple sprianed knees was enough. I've done just about everything --
barefoot
kneeboard
jump
slalom
shoe ski
trick ski
wake board
air chair
mixed doubles
pyramids
ski on a conoe paddle
sheet of plywood and various other pieces of lumber!
been a human ski

I think growing up hanging from a rope really helped me pole vault in HS with out a coach!

[DecaRag]

Slalom skiing (correctly) forces good body position with the rope pull with the hips forward and the shoulders straight, and the arms straight - somewhat like being in a good invert position but before the turn and pull on a vault.

If you have ever slalomed in competition, you know how quickly you get behind if you are out of position - just like how quickly you bail out of a badly executed vault.

A lot of similarities - maybe the reason many vaulters also like waterskiing, along with the challenge and the thrill of both.

[ladyvolspvcoach]

haven't been on waterskis for a long time. But I used to be a professional hang glider pilot! The last time I was on waterskis we hooked a 1000' line to a ski nautique and a hang glider outfitted with a glider release mechanism. Actually, we never touched the water. We pilled up about 20' of line right in front of the glider on shore. the boat went straight down the lake at 18 mph. Once the line began to pull on the coiled bit we shook the glider and the boat slammed the throttle full open. When the line got the the control bar of the glider you lean back trying to stop the boat. A half a second later you were 500' up and climbing. Woo Hoo!