Arrived in Atlanta at 9:00pm on the 16th of May.
Took a corporate shuttle to Cumming, GA fifty minutes north of
the airport. Got to bed
around 11:30pm and was more than ready!
Woke up at 5:40am and drove an hour and a half West to Rome, GA.
For the first day Chris Wakefield, Al Posada, Betsy Colmant and
Mark Wells all participated in the clinic.
We had a beautiful morning with glass water and perfect
temperatures. We skied on a
private lake where the Southern Regionals will be taking place July 27th
and 28th. The
run was about twenty one hundred feet long, which is a little short for
a clinic but appropriate for a tournament.
You can’t beat a
private lake in the middle of nowhere until the wind picks up in the
wrong direction. Even then
we could manage with some shoe skiing on the new Footer Extremes that I
introduced to everyone. Everyone
wanted to buy them after skiing on them.
We were all still happy till after lunch.
Of course things had to get worse afterwards with some afternoon
showers. Didn’t even stop
the wind till everyone was finished foot’n.
So by this time I was up and O, yes the water had become smooth
as butter. I finally got a
quick set in after not being able to foot for a week!
Freezing my tail off in Chicago the week prior caused reason
being. Everyone learned
something to benefit there year so I was pleased and ready for some
chow.
The next day Chris
and Al wanted a full half-day all to themselves.
We skied on Lake Lanier, which has one of the most shorelines in
miles of any lake. There
are fingers everywhere and we had glass all morning.
They probably got the most out of Sat. because we could take our
time and I spent more time explaining detailed technique.
Mon. we went to a
private lake in Elijay where many slalom skiers, trickers and jumpers
ski. Chris is a member of
the lake and was looking to put a jump there.
So, myself, Al, Mark and “The Harley Man” Tom Gabey were all
guests. Tom is also the
Regional Director of the South as well.
Of course barefooters are never welcomed to a Slalom lake so
things got heated up quick. Al
and I got there a little late because we tried to use the Nor Star
system in his Tahoe. Basically,
we got lost. I saw some
major backcountry, which was beautiful, and even a bear sitting next to
me. Al got a little hot
because the Nor Star lady really got us lost.
All and all though it was an adventure and that’s what I look
for in my trips.
Everyone skied hard
and this site treated us extremely well.
This site sits right next to a little ridge, which blocks all the
wind on the East side. On
the opposite side a small hill sits a little ways back on the West side.
Nice set up!
Of course
barefooters are never welcomed at a slalom lake.
In the afternoon as Tom Gabey was taking his second to last pass
the club boat screamed down the lake toward us.
I met everyone the day before that lives on the lake and they
where extremely pleasant. This
one guy stops next to us and says, “Don’t you all know this is a
private ski lake?” Chris
introduces himself and says, “Yes, I’m a member and these are my
guest. Well, we were in
Chris’s Sanger so the guy comes back very rudely, “You can’t have
your personal boat on this water!”
Chris not being stupid had read the Bi Laws and replied, “The
Bi Laws does not state that we can’t use our own boat just that a club
boat is supplied.” This
guy was so stumped! He said
nothing for a full fifteen seconds and replied,
“Well, those Bi Laws are going to be changed?”
Anyway, just part of the adventure and another rude stick man.
We pulled the boat out and put it into the lake next to us and
skied happily the rest of the day.
Al and I had a
little overall event going for the past two days, which consisted of
horseshoes, ping-pong, and shoe skiing.
I only get ¼ points for the shoe off though.
We didn’t have a chance for a shoe off but Keith spanked Al and
he’s looking for revenge. Till
next time Al!! Thanks for
another great trip guys!
KSO
|
Atlanta,
Georgia Clinic 2003