Relearning to Waterski

One of my favorite things about being in Florida over the holidays is spending time with the family, especially when we take a boat out for a spin.  They are my number one fans and my biggest supporters and last Monday was no exception when I got to cross another thing off my 101 in 1001 list, #14, Relearn how to water ski.  

Growing up I used to waterski at sleep away camp and a few times each summer up on the Lake in New Hampshire.  However, around the age of 15 I decided that my swimming “career” was too important to me to get hurt on a bad fall and decided to stick to tubing.  Fast forward 11 years – 8 swimming and 3 riddled with knee surgeries – I was finally ready to try again. 

We took the boat out of the Naples Marina and headed into the Gulf of Mexico but the combination of the 15 knot wind and two foot chop (waves) made skiing on the ocean impossible. Instead we headed to lunch on Marco Island and then into back channels in the Isle of Capri where the water was calm and it was much more likely I would be able to get up on the skis. 

Armed with my one piece and a very intense life jacket I skied twice, the first time for a few minutes before wiping out when the boat needed to turn as I am no where near proficient in jumping the wake, and the second time until my arms got tired and I needed to stop. I have no idea how my brother is able to look photogenic while water skiing because I surely do not, I was concentrating on not falling, but I promise, I was having a great time! 

Then it was Kevin’s turn. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my little brother a great deal but it annoys me to no end how good he is at all sports.  He had not been waterskiing for over a year but got up on his first try, zipping in and out of the wake like a pro.  Ugh. At least it was fun to photograph. 

Once we were done with skiing we drove around a bit more and as I mentioned on Instagram a few days later, no great boat day is complete without a dolphin sighting!

Have you ever been waterskiing?