First Time Water Skiing and Wake Boarding

When I wrote out my post ‘In the Pipeline’ a couple of weeks ago, I hadn’t ever used Meetup.com.

However I was idly Googling away last week, looking for outdoors groups in amongst job hunting and checking out university courses. One such search threw up a few results, and one of them really caught my eye. It was a group in Brisbane, not activity-specific which suited me well, and I’m not sure what but something about the way it was described connected with me and made me feel that this was a group for me.

I signed up to Meetup, requested to join the group, and was soon accepted and looking through the range of brilliant activities they had coming up – various day hikes and multi-day hikes, kayak trips, snorkeling, rock hopping and swimming, and more and more things were being added quite frequently, as in this group everyone is encouraged to organise and share their own activities too.

Most of these activities seem to fill up really quickly – a good sign, but it means you have to get in fast! I have my name down for a few things further off, but then suddenly a new event popped up for the coming Sunday (yesterday): Water Skiing and Wake Boarding. I had never been interested enough in these activities before to make the effort / spend the money to try them, but the chance to meet up with some new people and take part for just the price of a share of the boat fuel seemed good, so I signed up for myself and Adam.

We got to the right place on the Pine River without any problems (now that I have finally worked out how to use my phone as a Sat Nav effectively!) and soon met up the others who had signed for this meetup, Eric and Tamie. Both were really friendly, and we all stood around chatting while we kept an eye out for the boat to arrive.

When the boat pulled up to the little riverside beach and introductions were made, it seemed like this was going to be a good day – everyone seemed so friendly and welcoming, and although I was nervous about trying something I had never done before, I was also pretty excited.

Adam and I were the only ones who had never done it before, and we got into the boat for the first trip out (it wasn’t big enough to take everyone at once). David, who had organised the meetup and had all the kit, drove the boat and Tamie had the first go. Tamie had water skied before, though not for a while, but she seemed to pick it up again straightaway and was off with no trouble. No skill trouble anyway, she did have a bad knee that gave her some trouble every now and then, so sometimes even when she was looking good she would have to let go for a break.

Tamie on water skis

Tamie’s turn over, Adam asked to go next. He was given some instruction on how to start, then he was in the water and trying it for real. He got so close to getting up several times, and after a number of attempts he was able to get up – but he couldn't quite manage to stay up once there. On the boat, there was lots of talk of how well he was doing for a first-timer to get up so quickly.

Adam almost up on the water skis

Eventually Adam’s turn was over, and mine began. I had listened carefully to all of the tips that had been given out, and I tried to take everything on board and visualise what to do. Full of nerves and concentrating hard, I waited in the water for the boat to take off and pull me along.

Me, getting into the starting position

I was amazed when I managed to get up first time! I didn’t stay up long, but it still felt incredible to get up out of the water. I couldn't stay up for long at first, but I had a few more attempts, and each time I managed to get up and adjust my balance a little, until one turn had me skiing along behind the boat. 

It was exhilarating! I felt so good! When I fell in that time, I was just itching to try again. I had about 3 good skis, I tried turning a bit and although I wasn’t too good at that yet, I did manage to get out of the wake behind the boat. My final go was the longest, I concentrated hard the whole time, not trying to do anything too clever but just enjoying the ride – and it did feel amazing. 

Eventually the boat had to turn, and I made it about halfway round the turn before I couldn’t keep it up any longer. The excitement and adrenalin had meant that I hadn’t felt how hard I was working, and hadn’t realised how exhausted my muscles were. Trying to climb back onto the boat was really hard after that, and I even needed a bit of help! But I felt so good, you couldn’t wipe the grin from my face.

Tamie got back in for another go back to the beach, and then we stopped to swap over. This time Eric got in, along with Gerie (David’s wife), and their little toddler Sienna came along for the ride too. David and Gerie said they could take one more, Tamie didn’t want to because of her knee – she said she was quite happy with the skiing she had done – and Adam graciously said that I could go again.

Eric had also skied before, though not for a while. He also got up with no trouble and skied along well. There had been talk about other toys, like a single ski and a wake board, and next up Eric had a go on a single ski. A couple of attempts, and he was up and skiing.

Eric on the single ski

Gerie took over the boat controls next for David to go on the single ski. I’d had an inkling that he would be good, especially as he had all the gear, but it was still so impressive to see! He moved around all over the water with such control, and he looked so relaxed, it was fantastic.

David on the single ski

David on the single ski

Gerie got on the single ski next, cruising around and making it look easy.

Gerie on the single ski

Gerie on the single ski

The next toy on the water was the wake board. 

Eric had a go first after a brief lesson on how to get up. it took him a few attempts to get the angle right so that he could rise up onto the water when the tow started, and on the boat it was mentioned how tricky the start is. It wasn’t long though before Eric was up and boarding along behind us.

Eric wake boarding

David got on the board next, and again he was so impressive to watch. He could play around all over the wake, flick the board around to change which way he was standing, goofy or regular, and even get some air jumping the wake! Brilliant entertainment for us, and he looked like he was enjoying himself too.

David wake boarding

David getting some air on a jump - I didn't manage to catch the best bit, but it was really impressive!

Casual one-handed wake boarding

Following on from such an impressive display, it was my turn… David stayed in the water while I got in to help me get the board on and give me a quick lesson on how to get up, then I was on my own.

Getting a bit of assistance with the board.

No first-time-up this time, as getting up on the board felt very different to the skis. A couple of attempts to adjust the angle though, and on my third go as I was bracing myself for a face-plant into the water, I suddenly realised that I had made it, I was up! 

My first time up on the wake board!

I couldn’t quite believe it, but then as I was moving along some of the turning seemed to just make sense to me, and I was able to play around a little before I came off.

Another few goes and I was able to fairly reliably get out of the wake, turn out to the side, come back in and then surf off the wave created by the wake. It felt fantastic! Even more exhilarating than the water skiing. I loved it!! I really couldn’t get the smile off my face now, and even through lunch back at the beach I kept grinning like a fool.

After lunch the boat made a couple more trips out. I managed to get a bit of a hard landing at one point when I accidentally got the leading edge of the wake board dug in, and when that happens you get flipped so quickly there is nothing you can do – except hit the water hard!

Adam had some more time on the skis, and after just a few more goes he was making the getting up part look pretty smooth. I was really happy for him when he managed to stay up for a little while. Then he had another go and stayed up even longer, then longer still until he was looking much happier.

Adam water skiing

Adam water skiing

David and Gerie had their turns on the wake board again – David turning and jumping, Gerie cruising and looking relaxed and cool.

Gerie wake boarding

I had my one last go on the wakeboard too, as I hadn’t the massive face-plant to be my final wake boarding experience. I took it a bit easier this time, not trying to rush it. I stayed on the wake for a little while before heading out to the side. I put in a few gentle turns, then surfed the wake a little. I even managed to get back on top of the wake for the first time, though I decided against crossing off the other side in case I hurt myself again… I had a few wobbles, but managed to stay up, and when I let go as we passed the beach I felt really happy with my last turn.

What an amazing day! Although all of my muscles are rebelling right now – when you’re having so much fun you don’t realise how hard you are working, but your muscles still know about it and they are making sure to remind me now!