Wakeskis?

[joshgubler]

Anybody tried wakeskis? They're basically short fat waterskis (40" x 9" each). The binding looks like it wouldn't be too difficult to get into, even while flying the kite. They're flat bottomed and have four fins on each ski.

[Tyrone Rabinowitz]

In the early years of kiting skis were used to a limited extent. There are a few pics of the old rigid kites, a modified windsurf boom and of course 2 lines using water skis.
I'm sure some ppl out there have experimented with skis since.
The ergonomics of a board provides better transfer of power to the water. However, like snowkiting with skis you have 2x as much edge. Snow has less drag than water so transferring power is easier and the ergonomics is less important. Thats why using skis on the snow is relatively common and not on the water. Plus using water skis looks kinda goofy.

Give it a try and let us know your thoughts.

[apwa06]

i just watched life etc and they showed a clip of them doing it. It looked like it was tottally possible. I think a little more engineering could possibly make it an actual sport.

[Billy B.]

Josh, one of the local riders, Stokes rides wake skiis out at Rush all the time. He throughs down all the same tricks he does on his board. He has mentioned the skiis are hard on his knees.

[LukaB]

Reflex used to have theri skiis - Twinskates

http://www.reflexworld.com/2006/TWINSKATES/product.htm

On this link you have a clip on wake lift and usage with kite



I would REEEAAALLLYYY like to try this.

[joshgubler]

Thanks for the input, guys. I ride skis on the snow and want to make the move to water too. But I don't really want to start over skills-wise by switching to a board. Hopefully I can get a good winter season in and try these come spring/summer. They ought to make the transition a little easier for me.

[hein]

Built these last fall and some skier friends had fun on them this summer.

[LukaB]

Any more photos or video? Looks great!


L

[hein]

They have flip tips with a micro-step release and
a subtle single to double concave bottom shape.
(hard to see because of the resin swirl bottom)
Hein Thin Fins at both ends.



Might be fun to change a few things and make another
set. The design is available for license and available
as fully defined 3D CAD data for cores and tooling.

-Hein

[Dave_5280]

One advantage of a kiteboard or snowboard is the stance allows you to face and fly the kite rather than twisting the upper body when kiting with skis.

I've been kiting on snow with skis and a board on the water. This winter I'm going to try using a snowboard on the snow to get the added benefit of cross training for the water.