When I was much younger, a decent part
of every summer was spent camping on either lake mead, or lake
flaming gorge. It was almost a yearly tradition that we would spend
at least a week on the lake, often times joined by steve and wendy
and their daughters shawnee and courtney. These were always great
times. These were the days I learned the importance of things like
balance, endurance, recovery, and moose juice! The early mornings
were filled with skiing, knee boarding, and wake boarding, since
thats when the water has the best glass. Once the water started to
get too choppy to ski, or once everyone was too tired it was usually
time for the morning bath, when we were all forced to jump into the
usually freezing cold lake with a bottle of shampoo to help cleanse
us from the previous days activites. After this morning swim,
sometimes there was riding around the lake looking for more good
water to ski, other times there was fishing, for the most part lots
of relaxing took place till around noon, when it was time for another
swim call. This usually involved diving off the bow, or when we were
anchored close enough, a swim to the cliff like rocks on the waters
edge for some cliff diving. After lunch, if we were close enough to
shore, we would spend a lot of time catching crawdads, and exploring
the shore line. In the late afternoon there was usually more skiing
to be had, and then we would either return to our campsite on the
beach (if we had one) or we would anchor the boats in a small cove
and tie them together using an innertube as a ferry between them.
The summer of 96 was an interesting
time. On this particular trip we were at lake mead. The thing that
made this trip different from all the previous ones, was that some
friends and I had managed to blow ourselves up the previous fall and
as a result I could not be in direct sunlight. Everywhere I went I
was covered with sunscreen so thick that I looked the guy in the
movie powder. I also wore a hat at all times, even while swimming.
For those of you familiar with watersports in which you are towed
behind a boat, you are aware that stopping is rarely a gracefull
thing, and most times involes a violent collision of your body and
the not so soft water, usually resulting in the body bending and
smashing in ways you never would have thought imaginable. This makes
for cicumstances that are perfect for the loosing of hats, glasses
and anytihng else not strapped or bolted to the body. Since I
couldnt take the risk of loosing the hat and being directly exposed
to the sun, if I was going to ski that summer I would have to find a
solution. After some deep thought by all those in attendance, the
solution came in the form of a blue beani. It was decided to cut
holes for the mouth and eyes and then a could just wear it like and
ski mask. Even after a great crash, this would still keep my head
protected from the sun. after a few cuts and a little stitching, my
new face mask was ready. At this time in my life, I was attempting
to learn the art of slolom skiing. After many failed previous
attempts at getting up, it was suggested I try a contraption known as
the “easy up”. This ingenious device is a tow rope with a small
bouy near the handle end. The rope splits into 2 at the bouy and
then come back together forming a small triangle for you to slide the
ski into. This is suppose to keep the ski in place while you are
getting up, and then once you start to plane the bouy slides off the
ski and you are free and clear. At least that is what is suppose to
happen. So im out there in the water, got my blue beani mask on, and
ski in the easy up. I yell for them to hit it, and hold on as the
boat lurches forward. As the boat starts to pull me up and out of
the water, I lose my balance, fall, and let go of the rope. Normally
what would happen at this point is that I would come splashing to the
surface after a few seconds gulping in air. Instead, when I let go
of the rope, the easy up got caught on the ski boot and continued to
drag me behind the boat. I tried desperately to free myself from the
rope, but couldnt. Due to the impact of my fall, I was pretty much
out of air immediately. In my attempt to get more air I ended up
taking several large gulps of water instead which did not help my
situation as I continued to be dragged deeper and deeper in the
water. Then all of a sudden I was free! I made my way to the
surface as fast as I could, and as soon as my head came out of the
water I took a deep breathe, only to be rewared with another
mouthfull of water and darkness. I was confused as I floated there
choking, till I realised that during my ordeal, the face mask had
twisted on my head and the eyes and mouth were no longer lined up
properly. In essence, I was temporarily waterboarding myself. As
soon as I realized what was happening I ripped off the mask. About
this time the boat had circled back around to pick me up and find out
what had happened. As they were pulling me into the boat I eplained
my near drowning. After we pulled in the ski, we noticed the end of
the rope that is supposed to be tied to the boat was frayed, and had
been cut. I had been dragged under the water so deep, that the rope
hit the prop on the boat, getting cut in half which is what freed me
and allowed me to find my way back to the surface. Of course I have
never used an “easy up” since.
