Cable skiing

[
Vienna] Cable skiing is a way to water ski (or wakeboard), where the skier's rope and handle are pulled by an electrically driven cable, where as traditionally a waterskier is being pulled by a motorboat. This cable is actually two cables running parallel to one another with carriers between them. The carriers are metal plates with hooks on them which allow the tow rope to be attached and detached easily without shutting the system down. The cable is generally suspended 15-20 feet (5-7m) off of the water. This makes for a different feel then when riding behind the boat, whether it is wakeboarding or water skiing. The higher angle of pull makes bigger air and sharper turns possible. Generally, on wakeboard only cables, there are ramps and sliders for the riders to use. Another way for wakeboarders to get air on the cable is to "load the line." Loading the line is putting tension on the rope and using the water as a spring to fling ones self into the air. Though it is possible to do this behind a boat, the higher angle of pull and the slight jerk on the corners allow good riders to get much higher.

Cable skiing has been extremely popular in Europe for some time now, and is slowly gaining momentum in the United States. In Germany alone there are over 50 active cables. In the U.S. there are less than 15. However, the world capital of wakeboarding is in Orlando, Florida where the world renowned cable park Orlando Watersports Complex is located.

External links

* [http://www.cablewakeboard.com/ Cable Wakeboard] en