Water-skiing is dangerous, full stop. Water can contain floating objects that do damage upon contact, even at 30kts. I've known a barefooter who lost the entire sole of his foot when he hit a floating piece of wood. Mind you, he was doing some considerable speed.
After tearing back tendons (numerous times), knee ligaments (coming off at 55kts when the speedboat driver changed direction without indication to me), and suffering various other minor injuries, I came to the conclusion that water-skiing would eventually kill me, so I gave it up.
It wasn't a decision I made lightly. I realise now, that the greatest amount of fun we had was not actually skiing, but riding a plain, circular disc of 10mm marine ply about 1.2M in diameter, and trying to keep it up and stable.
Anything over about 12-14kts saw you come off, as the drag on the ply exceeded your ability to grip the board with your feet.
However, I did end up pulling a marvellous and entertaining stunt of carrying a wooden chair upon takeoff with the disc, whereupon once one was up and skimming with the disc, one (very carefully) could swing the chair around behind oneself, and place it in the correct position on the disc, thus enabling one to sit in the chair whilst skimming along happily at 12 kts.
However, the biggest entertainment part for spectators came when one parted company with the chair and the disc when the boat driver sped up, or one lost some concentration. And yes, I do have pics. And yes, it was a long time ago.
B&T, I don't know what the solution is to your problem. Probably taking up knitting. There's a degree of risk in everything we do, and the danger of injury increases with speed. I trust you regain full vision again, and that you suffer no long-term consequences.
Last edited by onetrack; 23rd Oct 2011 at 10:19.
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