Ski Trip - 9/19/09

We hit the lake about 9am this morning. We were the only skiers we saw the whole morning although there were once again plenty of fishermen everywhere. We started off by the dam but the wind was just a bit too much from the Northwest to really ski very well. I started off on slalom and wearing my shorty wetsuit. I forgot how much the wetsuit drags when pulling out - made it much more tiring.

We left the dam area and went towards the cove by Speegleville Park. There was just enough shelter to keep the wind away although there were at least 4 fishing boats in view at all times. Jenny skied on slalom and did very well through her 3 passes. She is really getting comfortable with cutting and her turns, too bad the season is almost over. I went out again on slalom and this time without the wetsuit since it was getting warmer out. Skied much better and was really getting some good cuts, leans and turns. Made 2 passes before wearing out.

Jenny then skied on two for 2 passes. She went thru all the "tricks" she knows and you could tell she was having lots of fun. I then went out on backwards slalom. Got up on first pull and went outside the wakes and was working on my balance when Jenny had to turn the boat around. During the turn I lost balance and went ove the wake. I over-corrected and fell backwards (towards the boat). The ski came at me and I forgot to guard my face with my hand. The ski was upside down and wound up hitting me hard in the collarbone area, right between the two shoulder pads of my life jacket. The skeg hit me in the chin and created a fairly deep gash about half an inch long (see the picture). It was definitely painful. Jenny pulled the boat around and jumped in to help me when she saw the blood, since I was in pain and all I was trying to do was keep my head out of the water.

After finally getting into the boat, Jenny pulled out the first aid kit and bandaged me up pretty good. My doctor's office is one exit down from the park where we launch our boat and he was open until noon today, so we made a quick stop off to see if he could see me. They were booked up with flu patients so it would have been an hour wait or more. But since Jenny works at the same clinic and they knew her, the nurse came out to see how bad it was. She said to just clean it out and put a butterfly bandage on it - no need for stitches. She saw the bruise on my chest and didn't think it was anything to worry about but if it doesn't feel better by Monday I will be going in for an X-ray.

All in all, it was a good day of skiing it just ended too soon. Not the first time though that we've ended a ski trip on an injury and I'm sure it won't be the last time either. No skiing next weekend because of family commitments so it might be October before we get another trip in. Unless we can make time during the week and I get doctor's clearance to ski.

2.25 hours skiing, 2 skiers, 5 skies used, 3 ropes used

Jerry