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WATERSKI MagazineYou only need to remember one fact about Tellico Lake. Forget about the sign for Bimbo's Fireworks – where you “get more bang for your buck” – on your approach to the lake from I-75, half an hour south of Knoxville. Don't let your mind revert back to the farmers crawling under stalled tractors in their Wranglers. Or the fly fishermen flipping lines into Tellico in their droopy Wranglers. As a skier, just hang onto this note: No other lake in the world has soaked more MasterCraft, Malibu, Moomba and Supra hulls than Tellico.
That isn't to say the lake is jammed. It is, however, home to MasterCraft, Moomba and Supra headquarters and Malibu's East Coast plant. Every boat that leaves these companies' nests is taught to fly right here. “It's a perfect spot for us because there aren't a lot of houses, and there isn't much boat traffic,” says Rick Tinker, general manager for United Marine, the parent company of Moomba and Supra.
Even common folk with common boats can access Tellico from at least a dozen boat launches. There are also a few variables that make this an appropriate spot for personal ski boat testing. First, there are slalom-ready creeks that were formed when the Little Tennessee River was dammed in 1980. You'll also find little islands throughout the lake. Once hills for grazing, they now make nice wind breaks for skiing. (These are not to be confused with the brick cylinders that stick out of the water – half-drowned grain silos – as reminders of years past.) Another feature in the asset column is the limestone walls that frame a big chunk of the lake. Not only is there smooth water to be found, but it's warm enough through October to ski without a wetsuit.
The drive to Tellico at dawn is classic. Up a steep pine-covered hill, down into a foggy dip, and repeat. Off to the side of the road you'll catch glimpses of the lake. The alternative is to skip the drive and wake up breathing the lake fog. Tellico Village is a lakeside community where lots sell for up to $300,000. “Can you blame anyone for wanting to move here?” asks homeowner Dora Walker. Try it for a day and you'll understand that the question is rhetorical. – Robert Stephens
