Best waterskiing equipment according to redditors

The ones on Amazon look like they are hundreds of dollars: Floating Water Mat for Lake or Salt Water, 18' x 6' Giant Pad, Choose Color, Large Boat Side Foam Raft for Adults and Kids. (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078NZJ9ZT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_L3yLBb4HFTS1C

That's an AquaSkipper. You can buy one here. I'd assume you are requesting someone make it invisible, but just thought I'd chime in with what its called.

Floating Water Mat for Lake or Salt Water, 18' x 6' Giant Pad, Choose Color, Large Boat Side Foam Raft for Adults and Kids. (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078NZJ9ZT/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_lBDLBb6E7841S

Learn

1. The drills the coaches like to do before you get in the boat. This means asking them directly what the drills are, what their purpose is, what you should be focusing on when you do them, etc. Talk to the experienced coxswains about how to call them. Bring a notebook and write it all down because you. will. not. remember it if you don't and then you'll have wasted everyone's time.
   
2. The names of the people in your boat and what seat they're in. This might change day to day but it's your responsibility to know who is where before you get on the water. Calling people by their seat number kinda gives off the impression that you don't really care enough to learn their names or who's in what seat.
   
3. How to keep your personal relationships with the rowers off the water and outside of practice. (Elaborated a bit on here.) On the water and at practice you're not their friend or enemy, you're their coxswain. That means that you need to learn how to treat everyone equally regardless of your relationship with them (positive or negative).
   
   Bring
   
   
4. A positive, "let's get shit done" attitude every day, even on the days when you feel like shit.
   
5. A recorder every single day you're on the water. Listening to yourself and getting feedback from others is how you improve.
   
6. One more layer (for top and bottom) than you think you'll need and a waterproof jacket and pair of pants to put over everything. You're stationary for pretty much the entire duration of practice which means you're going to get colder faster than everyone else. You can always take layers off if you get too hot but you can't put on what you don't have. The waterproof stuff is great even when it's not raining because inevitably there will be some splashing, waves if it's windy, etc. In May when it's warmer it's not such a big deal but you don't want to be sitting in the coxswain's seat, not moving, with wet clothes on.
   
   Carry (in a small backpack like this or a waterproof bag like this)
   
   
7. A notebook (and writing implement of your choice) every single day. Before you go out, write down the lineup and get the workout (or at the very least, the warmup) from the coach. Ask questions and take notes on anything you don't know/understand once they give it to you. After practice is over, write a quick summary on how it went, what you did, what did you specifically work on (calls, steering, etc.), etc. When you get home, go through it again and fill in any details that you didn't write down before. Refer back to this frequently so you can see the trends with your boat(s), keep track of any technique issues that individual rowers have problems with (and how/what to say to fix them), etc.
   
8. A 7/16 wrench because you never know when a nut and/or bolt will need to be tightened.
   
9. Spare band-aids, alcohol swabs, Neosporin, and athletic tape because when rowers get a blister they rival toddlers in their ability to whine incessantly so having stuff on hand to take care of them will just make your life easier.
   
10. Bonus If you cox women, always have a few spare rubber bands on hand so you don't have to listen to anyone complain about how their hair is in their face while they're rowing.

If your dom permits it... this will save you some pain

My go-tos are actually a pair of Swix cross country ski gloves. They’re fairly warm, but have a thinner palm/bottom for gripping ski poles. They actually even have a gel insert in the lpalm just like bike gloves. They work damn well.


This is as close as I could find with a quick search on Amazon
Swix - Banner Glove - Men's https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759TWR8F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xgbZBbY3FJBRF

This is called a binding, and this is the toe piece; Sometimes they are sold as toe and heel. They're sold in Connelly and HO setups (though the HOs are harder to find ime)

Here's an example kit. https://www.overtons.com/connelly-combo-complete-adjustable-slide-binding-313908.html

It wouldn't be fitting for this ski, but you could upgrade to much more comfortable, hardcore binding; here's the cheapest on amazon https://smile.amazon.com/CWB-Connelly-Adjustable-Bindings-Waterski/dp/B016K8PG8Q

I picked up a Slingshot Terrain and Rad bindings last year, Amazon has the 2016 model for $240. You might be able to find deals on the 2017 as well.

It's a great board, tons of fun for flat water, I was a little concerned that it didn't have fins until I actually rode it. The main issue I've found with bindings is how easy they are to get on and lace up and how well they stay tight, my old pair had two sets of cinches on each boot which were sort of a pain and they would constantly get loose whole I rode. The Rads are way more secure with the single cinch laces and the big velcro strap they're also super comfy which for me is the most important thing.

you need one of these harnesses https://www.amazon.com/AIRHEAD-Tow-Harness-12-ft/dp/B000ZYCLHG/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1R1UDZ6SL8C7O&dchild=1&keywords=outboard+tube+rope&qid=1569522246&sprefix=outboard+tube%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-7

The Aquaskipper.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000TFAGGE

With an outboard, you will want something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Airhead-AHTH-3-Kwik-Tek-Tow-Harness/dp/B000FECD2Y/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1GPBQPUJWIJQZ&dchild=1&keywords=outboard+tow+harness&qid=1569522283&s=gateway&sprefix=outboard+tow%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-6 this clips to the two u brackets on the stern, and then the ski handle rope attaches to it by pushing the look through the center hole, and hooking to the ears

Here

This is what I have

Some friends of mine recently chipped in on one of these for boulders over shallow water and have been having a killer time with it - they call it dock bouldering! I'm assuming that's why you're thinking of bringing your pad?

I have a similar issue but with an out board. Got this recently to see how it helps get the tow line up of the water.

SPORTSSTUFF Towable Booster Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q98TNY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vKNhDbN91AN24

Haven't had a chance to try it yet but I'm optimistic.

What do you think of a spectra "low stretch" like this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Obrien-4-Section-Spectra-Wakeboard-60-Feet/dp/B0048JJGS6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344631501&sr=8-3&keywords=o%27brien+wakeboard+rope

I have some Amazon coupons so that seems like a really good price with the handle.

And our ski rope is getting old, so might as well get a wakeboard one if it's not going to cost a lot.

High quality, entry-level, 1-person Towable for $70 with free shipping on Prime. http://www.amazon.com/WOW-Sports-11-1130-Wow-Towable/dp/B0066NU2OO/ I attend all the trade shows and am able to compare all the brands. These are, without question, the highest quality stuff out there. In fact, I think I'm going to order one right now.

We used to have this tube (probably 15 years ago now). It was a big funnel shaped tube where the smaller end would face the boat and you could climb inside or stand up on the back. There were handles inside. If you got caught in the wake while the boat was circling it would spin the tube around like some crazy death machine. A short Google search I couldn't find anything. But it was an awesome tube.

Edit: something like this http://www.amazon.com/SPORTSSTUFF-53-1818-Tumbling-Action-Towable/dp/B0046E3PM6

I have a waterproof pouch that I wear under my shorts that I keep money and passports in. I leave the phone in the room safe the entire trip. Unplug and relax.


http://www.amazon.com/DP-65-Yellow-Blue-Waterproof-Belt/dp/B000BJ41BE?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Here. From what I understand they are not as good as a actual trampoline but, come on, its still pretty cool.

What's the style called that has little various-colored felt(?) dots over the fabric?

Ex. (view in high resolution to see them) https://www.amazon.com/Penfield-Highgate-Glove/dp/B0778PBJQ5

I saw them on a brown blazer this guy had on (Got from burlington coat factory) and it looked great!

Are kite tubes still a thing? We had a the first generation of them and seemed to beat ourselves up pretty well.

Don't get the Molecule, it is a pretty boring towable. I typically stick to the flat tubes like this.

You might want to get a towing harness that spreads the weight from towing a large tube to the two rear attachments on the stern. I looked at a nice boat last year, which had the mount for the waterskiing rope pulled loose from tubing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Kwik-Airhead-Heavy-Duty-Harness/dp/B000FE9C2I/ref=asc_df_B000FE9C2I/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292998677279&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8513859477489278629&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000945&hvtargid=pla-441869340903&psc=1

I got these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T75K6S2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

No other binding I have has a separate footbed. If you look in the picture of the binding you can actually see that the footbed isn't attached to where the binding attaches to the board. When I took the board off in the water, the footbed fell out w/o me knowing ..