Date: 10/1/00
Reviewed by: David Williams

No matter how much you enjoy strapping on your wakeboard and hitting the water, there will always be times when you're ready, willing and able, but the conditions are just not cooperating. This may be due to rough water, broken equipment or maybe you just need a break from your normal wakeboarding routine. It's times like these that some of the water sport alternatives to wakeboarding come into the picture. We recently had the opportunity to test a couple of these alternate outlets: The Sky Ski hydrofoil and the Straightline Hot Seat.

Sky Ski hydrofoil - If you've spent any amount of time on the water, you've most likely seen one of these and pointed it out to your buddies. The Sky Ski looks like a short fat water ski with a seat (with seat belt) mounted on top of it. Protruding from the bottom of this ski-like structure is a menacing looking aluminum hydrofoil about three feet long. It is this hydrofoil, which runs beneath the water's surface, that supports the Sky Ski and allows the rider to effortlessly move through the water without being affected by the rough water on the surface. If you haven't given this contraption a try, it should definitely be on your list.

Although the Sky Ski has a rather intimidating build, with it's polished hydrofoil, padded seat, seat belt and foot straps, once you get it on the water it provides a thrilling experience with many advantages not found in other boat towed sports.

The most obvious advantage is the low speed at which you can get started. Riders can be pulled up at speeds as low as 12 miles per hour. Obviously, this reduces the fear factor for some and injuries for those without fear. I was amazed to find myself floating several feet above the water's surface at such a slow speed. It made it much easier to learn the various nuances associated with mastering this unique toy. I also found that it enabled me to hold on and pull through when I did make a mistake. This saved a lot of time and gas while I was learning.

The Sky Ski definitely takes some time to get used to, but I was able to get a grasp of what it takes to stay on top of the water and turn the Sky Ski from side to side within about 15 minutes. The floating sensation it provides gives you an experience like nothing you'd ever expect. The hydrofoil moves through the water with nearly zero turbulence and very little sound.

The toughest trick to learn is how to get air. After first realizing that everything I did had to be done with micro-movements or I would pay a high price, I figured out that moving up and down was a matter of raising and lowering the handle. Raising the handle slightly would cause enough of a shift in my body weight to translate into lift by the time it got to the hydrofoil. The opposite action occurred when I lowered the handle. Therefore, to get the Sky Ski to pop out of the water, I would raise my hands until I felt it leave the water. Although I pulled off a couple, I'm still working on mastering the landings.

The one thing I didn't like about the Sky Ski was its cumbersome build. It was a very difficult item to have on the boat because of its large size and sharp hydrofoil. The accessories available to compensate for these shortcomings, such as a rack to mount the Sky Ski on a wakeboard tower or a cover for the hydrofoil, are a must for your enjoyment and safety.

Also a little bit daunting is the price tag on one of these units. The base model goes for $999 and the higher end version, which includes a shock under the seat for those riders getting serious air, goes for $1599. If you thought your wakeboarding setup was expensive, the Sky Ski is liable to give you some real sticker shock.

An alternative to footing the above numbers, is to rent a Sky Ski. You'll find they can be had for reasonable rates from dealers like Adn2000.com in Northern California. Adn2000 generously provided us with our taste of this relatively new sport and can get you set up with either a rental or purchase of a Sky Ski. Check them out at http://www.adn2000.com.

Sky Skiing is like skydiving or scuba diving, you've got to try it at least once. I'm betting that most will be hooked after just one run. The Sky Ski is a ton a fun and a great break from wakeboarding or a sanctuary during rough water conditions. If you can afford one, it's a must to complete your quiver of water toys.

Straightline Hot Seat - If you've been involved in water sports for any amount of time, I don't need to tell you why you should have a good old-fashioned Hot Seat on board the boat at all times. I keep mine deflated and tucked neatly under one of my seats because I never know when an emergency may require its use. Tubes are a terrific way to bleed off some stress when the water gets blown out or to give you the opportunity to punish your buddy who was fool enough to allow you to drag him around the lake on a buoyant, bouncing donut.

The tube we "tested" was the Straighline Hot Seat. I really liked this tube because it was so big. I'm 6'4" and there's nothing worse than having a tube that does not allow you to get all your "stuff" up off the surface of the water. Dragging your legs is part of the deal when you're tubing, but I think that for most people, that's all they want dragging.

The Straightline Hot Seat also has four huge handles to help you cling to your ride and resist the g-forces generated by your boat driver's unusual combination of path and speed. Everyone in our crew prides themselves on being able to both dish out and take the punishment associated with tubing. That's why we all appreciate the sturdy construction that has kept the Staightline Hot Seat in one piece this entire summer.

There isn't a whole lot you can say about tubes. You just want one that will fit your body and put up with a lot of hard time on the water. The Straighline Hot Seat does both and it gets two thumbs up from the WakeWorld staff. Of course, you'll want to remember not to show those two thumbs up while your driver has already got you locked in a four G whip with a double up-sized wave right in your path.

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