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I had a thought occure to me this weekend; I think skiing is going to make a silent and certain comeback. I started to think about the boating activities that are coming online every year. This weekend I watched my family use a wakeboard kite to enhance the lift and hangtime either while you're wakeboarding or trick-sking, etc. It looked rediculous, but it made things a little more entertaining too. Does that mean they were bored before? Think about all the activities that are marketed to us boaters: skiing, wakeboarding, kite tubing, kite wakeboarding, kneeboarding, airchair (skyski), surfing, boarding, parasailing (evidently), barefooting, and the list grows exponetially with all the towables out there. I'm sure that there are activities that I haven't even emagined yet. All these things designed to either make something easier or more exhilerating (or to cheat fundamental principles). I think that fundamentally many of them are flawed.
Skiing requires skills and techniques that can only be accomplished through progressive steps and practice. There is no short-cut to skiing the course at 28 off. If you cut the rope before skiing the course at 15 off AT SPEED (36 mph/ 34) then you have deprived yourself of certain fundamental techniques that have not yet been mastered. The path of progression is very clear and cannot be circumvented.
Wakeboarding also encompasses many of the same principles. The airchair also has progressive steps of acheivement. Those activities are definately here to stay and should be valued. Note that anything out in a boat is better for your family than staying at home. That's not my point.
My real point is that skiing is genuine and real. It won't be long before kids realize that the most difficult accomplishments are also the most valuable and rewarding. Many will tire of the various activies and equipment that have sprung up in recent years and they will look to fill the desires they have for boating with something that has lasting muscle. Do yourself and your family a favor, teach them how ski first because it will last them forever.
Although nothing is like the 196, I've skied behind every Nautique V-Drive out there. For teaching basic principles, each boat is just fine. This is no lie, I skied behind the 226 this weekend. You won't be chasing buoy's, but your family won't know the difference.
Skiing requires skills and techniques that can only be accomplished through progressive steps and practice. There is no short-cut to skiing the course at 28 off. If you cut the rope before skiing the course at 15 off AT SPEED (36 mph/ 34) then you have deprived yourself of certain fundamental techniques that have not yet been mastered. The path of progression is very clear and cannot be circumvented.
Wakeboarding also encompasses many of the same principles. The airchair also has progressive steps of acheivement. Those activities are definately here to stay and should be valued. Note that anything out in a boat is better for your family than staying at home. That's not my point.
My real point is that skiing is genuine and real. It won't be long before kids realize that the most difficult accomplishments are also the most valuable and rewarding. Many will tire of the various activies and equipment that have sprung up in recent years and they will look to fill the desires they have for boating with something that has lasting muscle. Do yourself and your family a favor, teach them how ski first because it will last them forever.
Although nothing is like the 196, I've skied behind every Nautique V-Drive out there. For teaching basic principles, each boat is just fine. This is no lie, I skied behind the 226 this weekend. You won't be chasing buoy's, but your family won't know the difference.
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