tgi100

It's ALIVE! We now have a water-skiing chapter of the "Peninsula Ski Club of Virginia." I have been trying all summer to find a closed body of water to establish a course - no dice. Sooo, here is what I do have: - Open water skiing on the Upper Chickahominy River, during weekday evenings/mornings, not bad at all. The idea is we gather enthusiasts to help share experiences and improve our skiing. - In the process of getting Coast Guard and DGIF approval to install a slalom course on Chickahominy Lake (just up-river of Walker's Dam, in that cove on the south side). Process pending. - We have an unofficial approval from the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation folks to use Oak Grove lake for one-time events. Such as – grass roots tournament or ski clinic. - We have established relationships with the nearby VA Beach Adaptive Watersports club. - Due to the nature of club affiliation costs, I plan to affiliate the club in the spring with the American Water Ski Association rather than now. If you are interested, check out the PSC website https://www.peninsulaskiclub.com/. I have a blog that is still in the works but is coming soon! @lpskier @Dlongwfu @aerojust @Nautibynature @rodb

@Kelvin Thanks for your input. Regarding the kayaking and canoeing, the museum used to rent those out, but has since stopped since they didn't get enough interest and were losing money. They are now looking for ways to generate interest in the park and lake, and here is a big chance for us to get a really cool slalom spot and generate revenue for the museum. I am proposing to them the option of allowing upper-level members (like $500 year membership) to use the lake. There is minimal cost and risk to them if they simply allow it, but require lake users to have liability insurance and waivers in place etc... What I hope to provide in the very near future is a show of support from the community in the local area that would interested. If we have excitement and interest now, they are more willing to say yes.

@Nautibynature Thank you kindly for the advice and the offer to bring a course!! Perhaps I will punt on trying to get something setup on the Chick. We have been going every Tuesday evening and launch out of Colonial Harbor Marina. Come meet up with us if you like, I'd be thrilled to give you a pull. Regarding lakes, could you please take this survey of the Mariner's Museum park and indicate that you would like to see water skiing and/or a tournament there? I'm trying to show them the potential interest this could have for the park, and I think they are seriously considering it. Please spread this link along to anyone in the area that you know might be up for a course on Lake Maury. There is already a boat ramp on the lake, and years ago had our boat on it for a one-time members event about boats. The lake is deep, obstruction free~ish, has a 2000' straight away shielded from wind, and has glass water most of the time. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DEfgoIVK9inSuZnykaH6PjwGjlD84vxH16xSf4YOJKM/viewform?ts=5a737987&edit_requested=true

HHello all, I'm looking into starting a ski club in SE Virginia in the vicinity of Hampton Roads. There used to be the Colonial Waterski Club, and Gibbs Lake, and Warburton Pond, etc.; but all of these have gone away for various reasons as a club and/or ski spot. I've been skiing for a long time, but only recently got serious about skiing the course and would like to set one up in my area. I'm currently trying to get a permit for the upper Chickahominy River and/or the Lake Maury at the Mariner's Museum. I would prefer the fresh-water and ideal lake of the Museum, but still need to convince the Museum that this is a good idea for them :smiley: Either way, I would be happy to link up with other enthusiasts in the area and extend the invite to those who are curious but are not (yet) hardcore skiers or otherwise don't have access to the resources (boats) to do so. Questions for the community: 1.) Any interest in this area? 2.) Any advice about setting up a club? 3.) What about insurance or waterski association memberships etc.? 4.) Have you set one up as an LLC, or a 501c, or what?? 5.) I've heard rumors about aquatic clubs at nearby colleges, anyone have contacts? A little about me: I've water skied for years and belonged to a club in college that exposed me to awesome ski boats and people for near-free. This was my first introduction to a ski course at which I failed miserably and resigned to not being able to do it. Fast forward to years later, my wife recently bought me some ski instruction at Bumpass, VA that really unlocked my ability to ski. We now have a 2005 Nautique 216 that is an awesome family boat with a decent wake for my emerging ability (or lack thereof). I want to introduce this sport to more people in the area and establish a course somewhere for regular use. Please let me know if you have interest and/or advice. Tom