the not so easy up

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.