20" seems dangerous...  I would add to your question - what is minimum depth to be reasonably safe from hitting bottom?

Are you really serious? 20 inches? That's knee deep! A good friend managed to get back on her ski in water about that deep, it dug in, and she's now in a cast after having her achilles put back together. That said, the ski will ride higher in shallow water.

The size of the water column between the bottom of your ski and the bottom of the lake will change the way the ski works. I don't know the hydrodynamics, but when we dredged the lake to get the turn buoys in 6' of water instead of 4', it felt like the ski was carving the turn instead of skidding. I'd guess in shallower water, you will have the turbulence from the displaced water echo back before you have a chance to be somewhere else, making the ski ride higher in the water.

20" is pretty dang shallow. I know when droughts or floods make sites unusable, we end up extending guest memberships (or using ourselves) to other sites so that safe skiing can continue.

Our course fluctuates between 30" and 50" on one side, (the river rises and lowers depending on water needs), When it is low30"  I wipe out a lot more at the turns.  With the extra 10-20" of water it really make the ski feel like it is in the water.   I get nervous when it is at 30" (usually I'm not trying for a new PR that day)  You guys are studs.

Thanks for all the input. i feel like my ski will not carve and i have also noticed the ski doesnt want to finish the turn.
It is dangerous no question and it is not the place to try to set a new PB. I have decided this late in the season i will ski our other course that has a solid 5 to 6 ft of water and deal with  rollers if needed.

Thanks, MC

Yes, I have hit the bottom a couple of times the last few times I was out there at course 1.    It scared me once because my arm went down and my hand jammed on the bottom.  I figured that was a good way to injure my shoulder or break an arm.   And your guy's explanations would also explain why it seems like I keep sliding out by the buoy.

Garn

I skied at Pioneer lake in Plain City, Utah for 6 years and knew of no one being injured there due to the shallow water conditions - (sounds about like the scenario on Utah lake).  When I first started skiing at Pioneer, the shallow water concerned me, but after all those crashes, I sometimes stood up a little muddy, but that's about it .



In these fast, shallow water conditions i seemed to ski better when I focused on just going easy and slowing it all down.  And i did seem to blow out my tail in turns on occasion.

Scot,  I think you and Milford had memberships at Pioneer the 1st year I joined but I don't think I ever saw you guys there.  I'm the guy that bought your Bare lifejacket and, yes, I still use it!       

I now ski at Buchli lake.  I live about 15 miles away from Buchli and about 5 miles away from SanTan,  but I've not yet skied at SanTan.   I really only started skiing a month ago.  With the move down here and a nagging back injury I just couldn't start any earlier. 

I'm sorry I'll miss you on the 17-18th.  I'll just be coming home from Powell then.  I'll be at the Buchli tourney this weekend (not skiing) and I hear some of the Utah boys will be there!  I'm waiting till next year to ski some tourneys when my back is strong.


Aaron Mason

How do you post pictures on this forum? I took a picture of my brother standing next to the turn ball today and the water is up to his knees and he was up to his ankles in mud.

Last edited by WadeWilliams (Sun, Oct 4, 2009 1:31 AM)

I figured that was how you did it if it was all ready posted to the web in another location but how do I post a picture directly from my computer?

My brother did not have his ski on....

Thanks Wade

Ok, I skied out at course #1 (the one that is currently shallow that we are talking about) today on Utah Lake.  I realize my comments are going to be contrary to the majority of opinions on this topic.    However, in the spirit of sharing honest opinions, I must say I really don't feel any difference in how my ski responds in this shallow water.  Granted, I am just a "weekend warrior" and skied my first 32 off this year so I may not be able to sense things that more experienced skiers would.  But I skied 3 sets today and into mid to deep 32's on two of them.  I really don't feel any difference between our deeper course and the shallow one. 

The biggest deterrent in my mind is the safety factor. I did take one spill today where I buried my tip at 5 ball and went head over heals.  However, I did not hit the bottom of the lake (fortunately).  Curious to know how deep any body part can get during a crash at the speeds we ski at?  I was probably in about 3 feet of water where I crashed.