Water Ski Around the Boat

[Frank]

Some video of my 13 year old son at the local water ski show. Love the music that just happened to be playing. Sportster all the way!

http://www.youtube.com/user/7121Family#pla...l/1/0Wf4VakVGGE

[Bill_AirJunky]

Nicely done.

I have a buddy who loves to to the ATB on his SkySki behind his PS190. Even had a brody knob mounted on the steering wheel to "help" the driver..... like they need it behind that boat. You can palm it easily they turn so nice.

He used to do them one after another, 7, 8, 9 in a row..... we called it Barf-o-rama.

[WakingMeHappy]

Very cool. I have seen someone do this on a Sky Ski but not water skies. Something new to try next season.

[Ndawg12]

that's super cool, I'm jealous, power turns just don't work so well with a vdrive

[obski]

Very cool.

[Bill_AirJunky]

that's super cool, I'm jealous, power turns just don't work so well with a vdrive

We do them with the Vride & a Supra Launch all the time. Definitely takes a little muscle to do it, but it's not really a power turn anyway.

[shade]

I've seen it done on a knee board behind a Ski Nautique 2001.

[Sippi]

When I saw this thread I was thinking it was going to be somebody doing what we call "around the world". He may be doing that but looking at it from my phone it doesn't look like he's going ALL the way around the boat? When we have somebody doing an around the world, driver cuts hard to one side to slingshot them out then cuts hard back in and stops, the ride. Cuts out HARD and litterally goes completely around the boat and ends up on the swim platform on the back of the boat.

[ride_everyday]

I did the around the boat for the first time this year on my wakeboard, it was pretty cool. Its all about the driver...My wakeboard instructor (who is also a ski team driver) folded in the board racks and stowed the bimini top on his MC X2. You get going really fast on the sling shot, but it was pretty cool looking up and seeing the front of the boat aimed right at you. The hard part was riding away, the X2 had trouble pulling out of the last turn, I would almost stall out, but I made it all the way around on a couple occasions!

I wanted to try it with our old Ski Supreme and the ten foot pole, that would be able to make those turns without a problem.

Have not tried it with the Malibu VLX yet, my buddy that drives my boat (while I'm riding) is not comfortable with that kind of driving...yet!

[msuwaterski]

Cool video!

We used to do these in college behind a MC Prostar 190 without a tower. It was a bit more challenging (and stupid). Everyone in the boat had to duck at the same time as the rope went over the window. Always a crowd pleaser!

[Bill_AirJunky]

When I saw this thread I was thinking it was going to be somebody doing what we call "around the world". He may be doing that but looking at it from my phone it doesn't look like he's going ALL the way around the boat? When we have somebody doing an around the world, driver cuts hard to one side to slingshot them out then cuts hard back in and stops, the ride. Cuts out HARD and litterally goes completely around the boat and ends up on the swim platform on the back of the boat.

We've done several different variations of ATB over the years. Including Around the Boat & Back (boat does a 360, rider goes around all the way ending in same direction), & a double ATB (2 riders - see pic). Several people have called it Around the World too. But being on a SkySki, none of them have ever ended at the swim platform, but always ended by driving away.

[Molarbu]

When I saw this thread I was thinking it was going to be somebody doing what we call "around the world". He may be doing that but looking at it from my phone it doesn't look like he's going ALL the way around the boat? When we have somebody doing an around the world, driver cuts hard to one side to slingshot them out then cuts hard back in and stops, the ride. Cuts out HARD and litterally goes completely around the boat and ends up on the swim platform on the back of the boat.

We've done several different variations of ATB over the years. Including Around the Boat & Back (boat does a 360, rider goes around all the way ending in same direction), & a double ATB (2 riders - see pic). Several people have called it Around the World too. But being on a SkySki, none of them have ever ended at the swim platform, but always ended by driving away.

Do they go in different directions around the boat?

[Bill_AirJunky]

Do they go in different directions around the boat?

You got it. In the pic, the rider on the left (me) just rode the whip as the boat turned. The rider on the right is the one who's rope actually crossed over the bow of the boat.

The trick is to not ever cross ropes. Both riders have to be careful to turn sharp at the end or they can collide (which might be a bigger problem when your riding foils).

I always wanted to setup a video shot under a bridge.... video camera pointing down, and the different ATB variations under it.... so you can see the path everyone takes. In that pic you can see the boats path pretty easily, and the rider on the right has yet to make his final turn but I have already done it (rider on left).

I've seen the Emerald City Ski team do a triple too..... all three skiers on different length ropes and going the same direction around the boat. It's pretty wild because the guy on the longest rope is haulin a55 & the guy on the shortest rope has a problem sinking because he has no momentum. I believe the world record is done this way & was like 10 or 11 skiers.

[Sippi]

Just lifted the boat for the night and figured I'd mention this variation, mainly bc we do them right before dark at "feeding time" for all the gators on the river. Obviously only works if you don't go down before your "done" riding but anyways. The gators are everywhere down here but don't ever bother you. Still when you wakeboard/ski past a 12 footer that's few feet away, it's pretty hard to not trip over the butter and keep goin (this was me about 45 mins ago). So I signaled to my buddy driving (in a very "calm" waving of the hand then pattin my head), he takes a hard but quick left, sending me out towards the drivers side, then cuts back right a bit still going forward then cuts the throttle. I cut out hard to my right and take a big mellow turn (if you cut too sharp you lose your speed and won't make it) then coast on in to the platform. Had a good one tonight and actually ollied at the very end on to the platform (platform is about ankle deep below water so it wasn't much but just enough to not eat s***), timing is everything.

Just thought I'd share for those of you that ride in gator infested waters, it works GREAT in the late fall, early spring rides too when it's cold!

[Eric LX]

Our ski team has been doing the ATB for a few seasons with one skier on a slolom behind a ProStar 190 and standard pylon. Duck is the big thing when your the driver or spotter. I haven't pulled it yet but will probably give it a try next season.

A team just north of us does the double in the same direction.

[Frank]

Love to see some video of the other variations. Need to try something new next year.

[Sippi]

Next year? Is everybody done for the season?

[Eric LX]

Next year? Is everybody done for the season?

Up here in Wisconsin the leaves are turning and the teams are all packed up. We haven't winterized yet but probably only a few weeks away.

[Baddog]

Very cool. I have seen someone do this on a Sky Ski but not water skies. Something new to try next season.

Why not now? Season's far from over especially where you are.

[badluck]

Nice

[Jimmypooh]

We tried that once this year, but with no success. Anyone have any advice for the driver of a VLX? When do I power on power off? How hard are the turns?

[areamike]

We do this all the time. Pretty cool. I have actually done it barefooting then drop to my butt and whip around the boat then stand back up.

[Frank]

The Sportster seems to turn better to the right than left. You need to be going about 40, pull back to neutral and turn hard right. As soon as you are turned around spin the wheel back straight and ease the throttle down, if I hammer it the prop just cavitates. It works best with a light load. One thing we noticed is the driver should not wait until the skier goes all the way around, as soon as the boat has turned, throttle down and the skier will follow. As my son is younger I make a slight turn to the left to help sling him out before I turn right. In the future I don't anticipate that he will need this extra boost. Hope this helps.

[WakingMeHappy]

Very cool. I have seen someone do this on a Sky Ski but not water skies. Something new to try next season.

Why not now? Season's far from over especially where you are.

I should be able to get the Bu in the water one more time. Bow season is fix’in to open in a few weeks. My priorities are based on the time of year…water sports, hunting, fishing, backpacking, ect.

[Baddog]

Very cool. I have seen someone do this on a Sky Ski but not water skies. Something new to try next season.

Why not now? Season's far from over especially where you are.

I should be able to get the Bu in the water one more time. Bow season is fix’in to open in a few weeks. My priorities are based on the time of year…water sports, hunting, fishing, backpacking, ect.

Well, if that's the way you are going to be, you will just have to send out some nice venison jerky.