Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted November 6, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted November 6, 2015 This poll is more for the skiers that do not live on or primarily ski on man made ski sites. Poll more for the boat life skier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Yes - both courses I use are on public water and there are 2 or 3 more nearby that I don't use which are on public water. Private ski ditches are pretty rare in MN, only ones I know of are New Germany, Quarry and one somewhere up near chisago. Of the 2 I use, 1 is fixed course the other is submersible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller aupatking Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Only place within an hour from here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted November 6, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted November 6, 2015 Public lake courses in Michigan must be removed or sunk at the end of each day, with some grandfathered exceptions. Simply put, our state does not have a slalom-friendly policy. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skihart Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 That's all I ski unless I am in a tournament or in Florida at Rini's or TWB's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RazorRoss3 Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Mon-Friday. 750 acre public site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 I ski almost exclusively on public water except for tournaments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GOODESkier Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Almost all of my training happens on the Columbia River......... My own little touch of paradise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahopkinsTXi Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 @MISkier most of the courses around here including ours only needs to be sunk on the weekend. Makes it manageable. I ski our public course 99% of the time. Every so often I get invited to a club for a few sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller gregy Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Not frequently but I do have a portable course on public lakes for when the private lake gets too dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PatM Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Home site is public water. Limited number of private sites in New England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller adkh2oskier Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Always ski a course on public water, nearest manmade pond is a 2 and a half hour drive, so my only skiing on a MM pond is at tournaments, 4 or 5 times a season at best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DefectiveDave Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Almost always ski on public water except for tournaments or the occasional visit to a private lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bill22 Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Yes, but it is portable and we take it home after every use. We put in a permanent course and it did NOT make it two weeks! Someone cut all the buoy lines. http://forum.ballofspray.com/discussion/comment/208825#Comment_208825 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted November 6, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted November 6, 2015 @ahopkinsTXi, how long has that particular course been in existence and maintained on that lake? You are very fortunate to have that much access. When I renewed my public lake course permit this year (i don't use it very often), the DNR representative told me they were happy that they could actually grant it. They had been experiencing backlash in the northwest lower peninsula and had even been forced to conduct public hearings about some sites. My public lake is on the northeast side and we haven't had that drama....yet. And, I have the restrictions on my permit to remove/sink the course each day. I can't use a WallySinker, as my location is only 6 to 8 feet deep. So, it is much more effort to comply. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller TallSkinnyGuy Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 I bought an EZ-slalom portable this season and have used it about once each week since mid-August. Have to put it in and pull it out each time. Takes us a little more time than average because our water is about 90 feet deep where we set up the course and I had to add a couple hundred feet of anchor line to each end (thus, more time dropping and pulling up anchors). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chris55 Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Only on public lake we have just one slalom in Geneva Switzerland and almost downtown. So the scenary is beatifull. Except twice a year for tournement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LZywicki1 Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 Skied ours Wed. We have had our permit for 15 years, not up till 10am Monday and down by 1pm Saturday, before Memorial Day and after Labor Day it can stay up permanently. Larry -----<| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Orlando76 Posted November 6, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 6, 2015 We have a portable course left in year round on public water, what a nightmare. Also a permanent course magically appeared 2 minutes from my door step on public water, a lot less headache. Ski occasionally on private water when opportunity presents itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ed_Obermeier Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 It's a rare treat to get to ski a private site, very infrequent. Almost always on public water, bigger half of the time using a portable course. Have to get out early to get any decent water. It is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller rodltg2 Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 I am surprised on how many ski a slalom course on public water. Here in Sacramento Ca I think it's easier to get access to private site vs setting up a course on a public water. I used to set one up on Folsom lake. You had to get there while it was still dark and get off by 8 or forget it. I got ticketed for obstruction of a waterway one morning and decided it was time for private site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricski39 Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I grew up skiing in a cove that was nestled in the back of Lake Thurmond, SC. Eventually we got tired of fisherman puncturing our buoys and started looking for a pond somewhere in SC that we could lease from the land owner. That's where I am today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 Public lake , couple of times a week submersible in front of the house. Private course couple of times a week when able. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 I have been skiing on the same public water since I was 5. I am fortunate to live on the lake now. I can think of 3 private sites in New England and only one of them has a club you can join. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted November 7, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted November 7, 2015 Public water in NY, LaPOINTS' SKI PARK and Lucky Lowe's in Florida. I guess technically, Lucky's is "public" as it is a natural lake with other owners, primarily an orange grove owner, but I've never seen another boat on the lake that wasn't launched from Lucky's ramp. Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller baja Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 The Quarry in Corona, CA is a great club with a private site within 30 minutes of the OC. PM me if you'd like to give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Waternut Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 Right now I'd say I'm half and half but now that I have a surveyed course on my public lake, I will likely be using it more than the private lake. Even on a perfectly smooth day, I'm amazed how different those 2 courses feel. The private course is semi hard bottom at 3-6 feet deep with the deepest area being in the boat path. The public course is a soft mud bottom at 5-8 feet deep consistently getting deeper to one side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bill22 Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 As many others have said, I ski on private lakes for 1-3 tournaments each year and when I pay for lessons. But mostly on public water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller wolfgang Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 I have never skiied on a private lake but have watched from shore and spotted from the boat. I like to think that our Saturday and Sunday morning group (6 or 7 direct drives - but never before 9 am!) are pretty good at tough conditions. We may be building up skills that can help in tournaments but still have a collective sigh when a tubber or bass boat "runs the course" while we wait our turns. Weekdays however are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marco Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 We used to ski exclusively on a public lake. We had a great time camping with lots of friends, had a pontoon boat that we would anchor near the course, and all our boating friends would raft up at the pontoon and we'd hang out and ski all day. Then the Forest Circus decided that camping at the lake was not a good use of public land so they shut us down. That was the deciding factor in forcing me and a few of my ski pals to build our own private lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller aupatking Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 Public water, boat came out of an inlet right as we were getting to the course. Good sized rollers at 2 ball. About made @art90notch an organ donor. We're looking for land and lake builders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Drago Posted November 7, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 7, 2015 Free ski on public lakes, but no courses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller mmosley899 Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 used to, not much in the past 15 years. Mike's Overall Binding USA Water Ski Senior Judge Senior Driver Senior Tech Controller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller HPskier1 Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 Public course on tablerock lake with @GroovyGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller bbirlew Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 Growing up in northern BC we had 5 public lakes within 45 minutes of town with slalom courses. That was in the 90s but I'd imagine the courses are still there for the most part... Now I'm in southern BC (Vancouver island) and still no private sites anywhere close, but 2 courses on Sproat lake that we frequent and help maintain. Mornings and weekdays can still be great water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ALPJr Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 Yes. There are 4 public lakes with courses from 10 to 45 minutes from our house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bill22 Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 @ALPJr you guys are lucky to have so many course on public water! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 I ski on a public lake in a Massachusetts state park along with Chef23 and Than. It's 20 miles west of Boston. If you drive on the Mass pike you drive right through our lake. The ski club was established back in the early 70's and we've always had a great relationship with state park staff along with the fact that they view this lake as a recreational water sports lake with many other water sports like crew and sailing competitions, canoe and kayak, bass tournaments, etc. We have 2 courses with one in well protected cove where the NE Slalom Championship was staged for 10 years. The lake actually has 3 separated and connected lakes with designated separate uses, so it works out well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Waternut Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 I know we've only had roughly 130 votes at this point but I'm really surprised by how many people are primarily skiing courses on public lakes. I figured it'd be about 70/30 in the opposite direction. I'm feeling very thankful to have options to ski both on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Broussard Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 @Waternut "This poll is more for the skiers that do not live on or primarily ski on man made ski sites. Poll more for the boat life skier." . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller behindpropellers Posted November 8, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 8, 2015 One of my sore spots with USAws. They hardly support courses/clubs on public water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Waternut Posted November 9, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 9, 2015 @Broussard Good call. I read it initially but had forgotten as time went on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Skoot1123 Posted November 9, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 9, 2015 So - for those who are on public waters and want to ski a private site - and want to make the trek - give me a shout and we'll try and make something work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RAWSki Posted November 9, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 9, 2015 Keep in mind. "Public water" in the midwest(.. smaller lakes with considerate neighbors) can be much different than water in the southeast or the west IMO. One way to grow our sport would be to get more courses on public water along with education and encouragement while floating around the buoys. I love to ski private ski sites but public lakes are the where most skiers get started. The seems comparable to those golfers that play at a private club in under 3 hrs vs. those of us that 'hack around' at a county park track lasting 5+ hrs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller behindpropellers Posted November 9, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 9, 2015 @RAWSki- Too bad USAws does not share that feeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted November 9, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted November 9, 2015 In the comments section of the USAWS survey I just completed, I suggested that some effort be put toward establishing and maintaining private, USAWS-owned sites across the country that can be used by USAWS members for a fee (or include a daily USAWS membership in the fee). This addresses the issue of no access to club sites and also avoids the larger fight of getting equal rights on public water for slalom and jump courses. I doubt anything will happen regarding my suggestion, but it's 100% certain that nothing will happen if it is never suggested. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtrskr Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 I had to answer no to the "frequently" part because I don't get access to slalom courses frequently. When I do, it is on a public lake and with a portable course. I take a vacation on a lake in a rural area every year and we "illegally" leave the course in the whole week (doesn't bother anyone). Other than that, we put the portable course on a public lake maybe a couple times a year. I have kids so a trip to the lake at this stage of my life is a family affair. I free ski when we go out because my little guys don't have the patience or the manpower to help daddy put in and take out a course. I have probably 15 public lakes I could launch my boat at within 45 minutes of my house and, as far as I know, none of them have a permanent course. I'm of the if-they-build-it they-will-come mentality as it relates to slalom courses. If the majority of those lakes had courses, I'd bet this area would have a whole bunch of high-level skiers. There are some now, but probably more that are involved with show skiing. I attribute that in part to being able to practice many of the show skiing skills on public lakes and because show skiing is entertainment focused, and thus gets community support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller brody Posted November 10, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 10, 2015 I ski on am aller public lake and I can leave my course in all summer. This is at our family cottage. Where we r there is a ton of public lakes within 1-2hr drive from the city. All you need is a permit from natural resources for the course. We have a couple of private courses in the city that for the most part anyone can access for pay as you go fees. The membership is very cheap compared to what most people elsewhere have to pay. I prefer to ski at our public lake over the private courses. There is usually no issue with others wrecking your water but it does happen. Others visiting are able to use our course for free Skiing on the public lake allows us to train without having to give up the benefits of a family cottage. You would think that all this freedom we have would be a great benefit to the ski community but it isn't and our competitive scene is tiny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Web Posted November 10, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 10, 2015 Vote is yes, frequently ski slalom courses on public waters. Network of friends and ski buddies use public water. One permanent course (yes we have the permits to do that) and a couple other portable courses. The permanent course is a 35 minute drive, and the portables are much closer but 20 minutes set up. In all cases, the same ingredients lead to success... you have to be up and on the water before first light, have the first skier in the water when the second hand strokes legal day-break, and then ski like hell before the fisherman and rec boaters show up. Also helps to burrow into your local fishing club websites to learn the tournament schedules. Oh... and then there is the wind. Ski locale greatly depends on that. So all that said........ wow is it nice when we can ski on the couple private ponds in the area!!!! Way, way, way better for sure. Its so nice skiing any time of the day and concentrating on skiing well, rather than waking at stupid:30 and eating rollers all morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Web Posted November 11, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 11, 2015 We do have a lot of fun on the public waters even so...... no question there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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