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WATERSKI MagazineWIRED
In the March issue of WaterSki magazine, some pros tackle
a cable park for the first time in their lives: Chris Parrish and
Drew Ross. We also check out the scene at Orlando Watersports
Complex and Texas Ski Ranch.
Here, we expand a little and show you some great photos from
(clap, clap, clap, clap) “deep in the heart of
Texas.”
According to Rene Hofmann, manager of
Orlando Watersports Complex, cable parks have been popular in
Europe for years. The advent of wakeboarding, though, has pushed
the popularity of cable parks “across the pond” to the
States. Being a lifelong international competitor and traveler, he
should know.
There are approximately four
full-fledged cable parks in the United States: one in North
Carolina, a couple in Florida, and a brand-new regional park in
Texas. Of course, there is some debate as to whether Florida has
two or three cable parks. Orlando’s Wet ‘N Wild Water
Park, located on International Drive—a stone’s throw
from Universal Studios—is situated on a sizeable lake
equipped with a cable-type attraction that allows guests to ski or
board around a lake. However, the main attractions at Wet ‘N
Wild aren’t strung along that cable; rather, their guests
come for the wedgy-inducing plunges down waterslides and tubular
water tunnels. The cable is simply a nice addition.
In contrast, the other four cable parks
have cable riding as their marquee attraction. And in case
you’re unfamiliar with the term CABLE PARK, here’s a
quick explanation: Cable parks are skiing and wakeboarding
complexes built around lakes (usually man-made). A steel cable is
strung around the lake by heavy-duty rigging. Skiers or boarders
use a rope that is attached to a CARRIER. The carrier is pulled
along the looping overhead cable system, thus towing the skier or
boarder in the water. Guests are towed at a constant speed without
a wake or boat. Of course, if requested, boats can be rented.
Texas Ski Ranch
Texas Ski Ranch is the cable gem of the
West—there’s nothing else like it west of the
Mississippi. They feature skiing and wakeboarding around the cable,
an expansive pro shop and snack center, and a large skate park. The
place is overrun with kids—but that’s how owners
Christine and Paul Bialick like it.
From the brochures: The cableway tows waterskiers and
wakeboarders over circulating cable suspended above the water with
five towers. Currently, there are only five cable waterski systems
in the United States. The starting dock and operating stand lie on
the outside of the ski/wakeboard course. The skiers start from a
ramp which slopes down to the water level. It is NOT necessary to
stop the cableway to attach additional skiers onto the circulating
cable. The operator can regulate the speed of the cableway from 14
mph to 25 mph. Up to six people can ski or wakeboard at the same
time. The cableway is perfect for beginners, as well as the more
experienced athlete with TSR’s challenging kickers and
sliders. Try this exciting new concept in watersports at the only
extreme sports complex in Texas.
Camps: TSR offers multiple sport camps. Standard ski and
wakeboard camps, co-ed, are geared toward all ages and all levels.
Whether you are a young beginner or an advanced wakeboarder you
will learn a variety of new things. The different aspects of
teaching include: wakeboarding, slalom skiing, barefooting, swivel
skiing, hydrofoiling, kneeboarding, jumping, trick skiing, and wake
skating. They use only professional skiers and wakeboarders to
coach their camps. Many of the coaches perform at SeaWorld when not
coaching at TSR.
The wakeboard training camp specializes
in wakeboard and wakeskate instruction. To do this, they go for the
biggest wake possible—which is the opposite of what skiers
want, thus the separation.
The following account from TSR says it all: By Thursday
afternoon, as the riders curcle the cable lake, hitting the kicker
and sailing through the air like pros, one clean landing after
another, it’s hard to believe that four days ago, some of
these kids could barely get off the dock. Camp TSR. Cable day. The
music is blaring from the snack shack, and riders are lined up on
the starting dock, comparing stories, most of them true, of the
killer tricks they’ve landed this week. Local kids have saved
their space for the day on the beach, skaters are rolling back and
forth along the sidewalk fro mthe snack shack to the skate park,
tourists are staked out on the porch with their mouths hanging open
in disbelief. The smell of sunscreen mixes with the bar-b-que grill
cooling down from lunch. Are we in south Texas or southern
California? If it weren’t for the beat-up straw cowboy hats
on a couple of the coaches, you’d never know.
