Photo by KaLisa Veer
Wakeboarding & Waterskiing are extreme adventure sports which the participant ride a board or ski (one or two skis) holding a rope and being pulled through the water by a motorboat or cable ski installation. Water ski has many kinds of activity like slaloming, jumping, barefoot skiing, trick skiing, speed skiing, show skiing,… but wakeboarding or kneeboarding usually use for tricks, they do the jumping and tricks on the waves that generated in the back of a motorboat.
Although most of the waterskiers or wakeboarders do the sport for recreation but there are a lot of competitions in different categories around the world.
Waterskiing and wakeboarding in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Canada have various kinds of choices because of the Pacific Ocean and lakes across the state.
Most famous companies to manufacture waterski and wakeboard gears are: Airhead, Barefoot International, Byerly, Connelly, Full Throttle, HO, Hydroslide, Hyperlite, Liquid Force, Masterline, O’Brien, Phase 5, Radar, Ronix, Sea Gliders, SeaSpecs, Sky Ski,…
Photo by Ian Wagg
Safety Tips:
- Check your gear before getting in the water
- Carry a signal device like a whistle
- Know the hand-signal communications like speed up, speed down, stop, turn, hazards,…
- Do not ski impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Do not ski after meals
- Do not go skiing when you are tired or not feeling well
- Warm up before getting in the water
- Do not go on water during storms and high winds
- Be cautious about the sun and skin burning
- Drink water regularly, dehydration can be very dangerous
- Know about the Rip currents and how to get out. Don’t try to swim against it
- ski on the water and conditions that suit your ability
- always keep the standard space between you and docks, shore, rocks, other boats,…
- Always keep an eye on the skiers
- Always use ropes with the same length if skiing with a partner
- Let go of the tow rope after a falling
- Do not ski on the water less than 2m (6.5 ft) deep
- Do not go waterskiing at night, dawn or dusk to avoid shark attack
- Do not wear shiny things and get out of water ASAP if bleeding to avoid shark attack
- Do not go skiing around bait fishes to avoid shark attack (diving seabirds in the area are a sign of bait fishes in the water)
- Never waterski or wakeboard in restricted areas
- If you get in any trouble, don’t panic, be calm and think of how to get out
- Always wear a wetsuit, sunglass, life jacket (PFD) and watercraft helmet
- Check the weather and current condition before getting in the water
- Do not climb into a boat from the water unless the boat is fully stopped
- Always be aware of other surfers
- Never go alone and tell somebody where you are headed before you go
- Never ski close to the rocks and swimming area
Photo by Luke Bender
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