Cable Park question

I live in California (Modesto area) and I was wondering if someone could explain to me exactly how a cable park such as OWC technically works. I want to know how the cable comes full circle and how you get the handle when it is your turn. If you fall, I assume you get out of the way, take your board off and swim to the side. If this is not true please correct me. I'm basically interested because it may be possible to have a cable park in California's central valley if everything could be worked out properly. I know you would all like this to come true. Also, it would be great to hear from anyone who feels that this would be a good idea. The more positive response, the more interested an investor would be.... thanks in advance

(Message edited by norcalbrdrydr on October 10, 2005)

Alex - you should take a little field trip to OWC. All life's questions will then be answered. I will answer the Q about building a cable park on the left coast with a resounding HELL YEAH!!!!

haha... yea I assume that I'll need to go there, possibly before my cruise Christmas time, but I have the strongest desire to know now so I can get the ball rolling and figure out if it is even possible... a limited number of people believe me that "if you build it they will come" ha ha thanks for the hell yea lol

Hi Alex,

check www.cablewakeboard.com or www.rixen-seilbahnen.com or www.sesitec.de or www.swisatec.co.za

I think u will get all the info u r looking for.

Alex, the cable has from 6 to 8 carriers that are capable of grabbing a steel ball on the end of the rope. The rider is on the dock and gets a smooth launch because the rope is pulling at an angle to the cable (about 60-80 degrees when it tightens). The cable will give like a spring. Once the rope is attached you can go around the lake (full circle) continuously until you fall or the operator "forks" the rope.

To unhook a rope a big metal thing that looks like a "Y" grabs (forks) the ball and pulls it off the cable. Then puts the ball into another carrier that brings the rope handle back to the operator, and then brings the ball (the end of the rope) back to the tower for the next rider. This carrier is called an elevator.

As you said when you fall you just swim to the side and walk back to the starting dock.

www.orlandowatersports.com look under wallpaper downloads... there is a good picture of the park where you can see how it works.

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dang... I still don't know how to put a picture in!

John, thanks a lot for that info. That basically answered all my questions. Now, all I have to do is figure out who makes the whole cable system. I guess if I look hard enough I can find it, or if I emailed OWC, but I haven't had the time.
Paul, thank you also. I dont know how to link images from other sites either... ha ha

http://www.rixen-cableski.de/

that's who makes them. good luck. cable systems are cheap. it's the land, lake construction, and insurance that's gonna kill you. especially in california. there's been a lot of people who looked into california and cables and all decided it wasn't worth it. good luck.

they usedto have that one in cali way before i was born. in the 60's out in riverside somewhere. i guess it sucked though cuz the ropes would pop off easy

Hey check out www.cablewakeboard.com


Danny T.
WWW.OKCBOARDSHOP.COM

i heard you can buy complete cable systems for like 250,000??