We are beyond excited to announce the arrival of our brand new 2023 Malibu Wakesetter 21 LX waterski boat! This beauty was made possible thanks to incredibly generous participants in the 2022: CNIB Lake Joe Dock-to-Dock: Taste of Muskoka Event. Thank you!
“We needed a new boat specifically designed for water skiing and wakeboarding because the boat we used to have was simply not powerful enough to pull up a person on skis,” explains Eugene Chong, General Manager. “This new boat is much more powerful and will provide so many new, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for our guests.”
The new Wakesetter can seat 3-4 guests at a time with a swim platform deck off the back of the boat so people can easily access the water and learn how ski or surf right from the back of the boat. It has tanks that are filled with water to create a large wake behind the boat for wake surfing and it also boasts an impressive speaker system. We’re excited to see what the waterskiing playlist for 2023 will be!
But first things first. How exactly does blind waterskiing work?
“CNIB Lake Joe staff are trained and certified in coaching and boat driving for water skiing and wake boarding through Waterski and Wakeboard Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada", explains Maya Burgess, Area Head, Waterfront. “Waterfront coaches are also finetuning their verbal descriptive skills and will modify each experience on the lake to meet the guests’ individual needs.”
Before our campers hop on the boat, everyone is fitted for a life jacket, and gets to see/feel the skis, rope and handle. Staff also take a moment to review some rules to keep everyone safe.
There are two distinct positions to learn as new waterskiier: “in water” and “on water”! Here are some simple steps to help you make a splash:
1. “In water” is your starting position as you wait for the boat to move. Sit on the dock with knees bent into the chest and arms straight out in front (no bent elbows). Your chin and head should be up looking ahead at the boat.
This is where your get a feel for the pull. Hold the handle of the rope. The coach will also hold the rope and count down from three, pulling you up into the “on water” position. Again, make sure your arms stay straight. Let the coach do all the work to pull you up.
Once you feel comfortable with this and can be pulled up without bending your arms, you can try it for real in the water! Once you get up, you stay in the “on water” position as long as you can.
2. The “On water” position is the position you will freeze in once the boat pulls you up. Stand on flat sturdy feet with your knees bent and your arms straight out in front at shoulder height (no bend in the elbows). Again, your chin and head should be up looking ahead at the boat.
Why does blind waterskiing matter? “Waterskiing is such an exhilarating recreational water sport that is very challenging for anybody,” explains Derek Thompson, CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board member and alumni with sight loss who was an avid waterskiier. “To be able to learn to waterski and wakeboard absolutely builds your confidence and that translates to other areas in your life. It’s one of those things that people hear in disbelief when they know you’re living with sight loss – what, YOU can waterski? - It literally shifts people’s understanding of what people with sight loss are capable of.”
Are you planning to waterski at camp this season? If so, please send us your stories and photos: sherri.helsdingen@cnib.ca