Watersport Trends & Popularity

[bturner2]

We started out skiing on doubles with the neighbor that took all the kids in the neighborhood out and taught most very one I knew in the neighborhood how to ski. I think I was 12 at the time. Went that summer then he sold the boat, was out of skiing until I got out of college and a friend bought an old Chris Craft I/O. Slalom was king and my buddy upgraded to a Ski Tique the following year. With the new boat and it's capabilities came barefoot which nearly killed me on several occasions. Left this crew when they turned into barefoot fanatics and only barefooted.

Marriage and kids brought in a new era for water toys. Tubes, Hydroslides, Skuffers, trick skis then wakeboarding took off. Other than pulling the little kids on the Hydroslide and tubes that's all we did for hours on end.

As time has passed we've moved back to our roots trying to get in as many slalom runs in as possible. I'm 65 now and still love getting up on a slalom ski, nothing like that ride. I had a hamstring pull mid summer last year so those deep water starts seem to be getting more challenging. Worked out all winter trying to recover so we'll see how it goes this year. Past that everyone seems to love surfing so there is that if the slalom doesn't work out.

[JohnE]

Ditto to what's been said.

Everytime our boat goes out on the water the slalom ski is in the rack on one side and the surf boards on the other side. I taught my boys to do deep water slalom starts as soon as they were strong enough. Many of their friends (including girls) who come out with us try slaloming, sometimes by dropping ski although a few have nailed single-ski starts.

Having the ski on board means we can do a couple of quick sets whenever the time and conditions are right. Sometimes we'll fish for a couple of hours -- (yes, we fish on our boat!) -- and if the fish aren't biting and the lake is calm we'll switch to skiing for a bit.

Love it. Fish, ski, tube, whatever gets and keeps the family and/ or friends on the water. I am no elitist. I just S*** at fishing.

[wheelerd]

Ditto to what's been said.

Everytime our boat goes out on the water the slalom ski is in the rack on one side and the surf boards on the other side. I taught my boys to do deep water slalom starts as soon as they were strong enough. Many of their friends (including girls) who come out with us try slaloming, sometimes by dropping ski although a few have nailed single-ski starts.

Having the ski on board means we can do a couple of quick sets whenever the time and conditions are right. Sometimes we'll fish for a couple of hours -- (yes, we fish on our boat!) -- and if the fish aren't biting and the lake is calm we'll switch to skiing for a bit.

[pkskier]

Like many have said I grew up skiing (61 yrs old) then knee boarding and barefooting. Have done some wakeboarding and tried surfing, not fond of either. Still get out early to ski before the others wake up. Surfing and tubing is the most popular on Possum Kingdom and skiing is a strong third followed by wakeboarding. In the last 3-4 years there has been a surge in skiing, slalom and double, young and old.

[allzway]

I grew up a kid in the 70's and learned to ski behind a small aluminum fishing boat, but skiiing was definitely the most popular followed pretty far behind by 18 wheeler truck tubes.

The 80's was heaving skiing still with mixed in knee boarding with a little more tubing.
The 90's probably was more wakeboarding, less knee boarding and less skiing, but more tubing.

Today... towables are definitely the most seen on the local lakes, followed closely by wakesurfing, then pretty far behind is wakeboarding, and then almost never ever seen is those skiing.

[wallos]

Glassy mornings before 10 there is always mostly slalom skiers out. In past years there would be many more wakeboarders out early but they are rare now. We mainly surf and surf foil. When we are out early I idle out to the middle of the lake while filling ballast and leave the shore line to skiers. Tahoe is big lake and very easy to sped out. Amazing how many don't get that! Tubers start doing loops around noon and then it's mostly people learning surfing, novice wakeboarders, and rapid growing number of foilers.
Personally I slalomed since the 60's up until I sold my X1 4 years ago. I also haven't wakeboarded much since getting the X20. More because of bad hips (I'm 63) than the wake. Would like to get back into it if I start to get bored surfing. Would be interesting to just get into carving and slashing wake instead of jumping. Like to see a carving trend in wakeboards like whats going on in snowboarding.

[Slvr Bulit]

Well said Rbuss4

[rbuss4]

My two boys, the neighbor and I still get up and get in our slalom runs before the wind comes up and lake gets crowded most mornings; then another run as the sun is setting. During the day we all surf. My wife and others who are around fill the boat, and all enjoy it together. Slalom is more for the hardcore of us, and surfing brings everyone else together for the greater part of the days.

[tex]

Before his passing Dave Goode developed a new trick ski just for that - https://store.goode.com/goode-mk1-trick-ski/

A 54" trick ski and from what I've heard he got the edges tweaked so they don't catch very easily plus you can go slooow like 14/16 so the edge catches are less brutal. Heard with a hardshell these are a HOOT. If they weren't a grand I'd be selling my D3 and getting one.

I will say the sentiment around traditional slalom is better than its been in years, the community is way more inclusive the tournaments are more friendly. Its a different sport than it was and that's a good thing. 15 years ago there were a lot of *****s about.

I have a friend who has ridden one and loves it. Hard to shell out that kind of cash but finding a 43 or 44 can be tough!

[88 PS190]

Hard to find a trick ski for a fat ars like me!

Before his passing Dave Goode developed a new trick ski just for that - https://store.goode.com/goode-mk1-trick-ski/

A 54" trick ski and from what I've heard he got the edges tweaked so they don't catch very easily plus you can go slooow like 14/16 so the edge catches are less brutal. Heard with a hardshell these are a HOOT. If they weren't a grand I'd be selling my D3 and getting one.

I will say the sentiment around traditional slalom is better than its been in years, the community is way more inclusive the tournaments are more friendly. Its a different sport than it was and that's a good thing. 15 years ago there were a lot of *****s about.

[chrislandy]

Ummm, he is based in the UK, and specifically mentions Europe...Must be a geography thing...

Glad to see their numbers increasing, I am not in the competition scene here in Australia but on our lake there are still a lot of really good slalom skiers, but the lure of the social/visual/party aspect of surfing/wakeboarding is strong.

The USAWS Active membership is down, so idk how you think slalom is on the rise. Must be California math

As Mark says, not in the US. You guys have to stop thinking so local!

the IWWF has over 40 scoring skiing comps this year in Australia, and in 2019 over 200 registered comps in Europe (traditional skiing)

[tex]

Man I wish I had access to a jump when I was younger... I'da killed that thing.... or it woulda' killed me trying... but always wanted to try it.

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By far my favorite thing to do on the water. Loved my days of skiing in pro shows where I jumped some years averaging 29 jumps in a day. That being just in shows and not in-between shows for fun! Sucks being 56 and the knees telling you to pick out a trick ski soon! Hard to find a trick ski for a fat ars like me!

[86Skier]

Public lakes in Texas....I just ride my foil. Mostly tubers and surfers. I will break out my wake skis on occasion but usually just drive. Our semi private site is mostly slalom with a few jumpers followed by tubes, wakeboards, and trickers

Man I wish I had access to a jump when I was younger... I'da killed that thing.... or it woulda' killed me trying... but always wanted to try it.

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[tex]

Public lakes in Texas....I just ride my foil. Mostly tubers and surfers. I will break out my wake skis on occasion but usually just drive. Our semi private site is mostly slalom with a few jumpers followed by tubes, wakeboards, and trickers

[Mark rsa2au]

The USAWS Active membership is down, so idk how you think slalom is on the rise. Must be California math

Ummm, he is based in the UK, and specifically mentions Europe...Must be a geography thing...

Glad to see their numbers increasing, I am not in the competition scene here in Australia but on our lake there are still a lot of really good slalom skiers, but the lure of the social/visual/party aspect of surfing/wakeboarding is strong.