Weekend Water Skier Podcast

This is the third in a series on Lake Powell, continuing from the 5 January 2013 episode Lake Powell Water Skiing Vacation Teaser, and the 19 January 2013 episode Lake Powell Vacation from a Marina. After teasing and sharing the budget vacation option, this episode covers the real, best, and most immersive way to water ski Lake Powell: houseboating. Waterski magazine called Lake Powell the Ultimate Houseboat Vacation in its August 2012 issue This is not a private lake, don't try to make it that. Bring all of the water toys for varied water conditions when you can't water ski. Why stay on a houseboat, not a hotel? Stay where you play - 5 minutes from wake up to first turns More coastline than the US Pacific Coat - so if you choose well you can get a place just as quiet or loud as you like it Store water toys on the houseboat, not your ski boat - the back deck can become a crowded place with skis, tubes, boards, and other toys Immersive lake experience, as close as you can get to a private house on a lake. Watch the sun rise and set over the lake Get in touch with the rhythm of nature Push and play as hard as you want, then relax until you're ready to do it again Preparing for your Lake Powell house boating week Packing for a week - everything from clothes to food and first aid supplies. This can take some space in a car. What is the refrigerator and freezer capacity on the houseboat? What coolers can you use to supplement if it is not enough? Getting a rental houseboat: Aramark or Antelope Point Expect to lose cell coverage as you drive away from the marina Trip planning secret: the first and last day will be dominated by travel to and from your campsite. Plan accordingly. Who should you bring with you? At least one other driver, even subsidized Good friends, families with kids of similar ages Discuss costs up front: rental, travel, food, fuel, park entry Minimum fuel use I've seen for a week is $1,000, but it can go up well past that if you're playing hard or exploring Menus and meals KISS - can you prep parts of meals in advance so it doesn't take away from your lake time? Grill whenever possible. The oven and stove top can really heat up the cabin. Divide meals between families or friends going with you Where to moor the houseboat and water ski? Get a map of the lake that shows interesting features as you plan Distance from civilization and other people? Travel time on the houseboat (track the time out from the marina so you can know when to head back) What is your gas supply for your ski boat and toys? Aramark's five biggest have a fuel pump so you don't have to bring your own cans. Ask if you're renting from Antelope Point Use your ski boat or PWC to scout places you want to consider What is the exposure to wind and waves? Anchor it well! Canyon walls are beautiful, but impossible to anchor to, and reflect waves back. You'll need at least a hundred feet of beach to moor and anchor. Add more space to moor your boat and PWCs My favorite spots to camp and water ski Warm Creek Bay (if it's a quiet week on the lake) Three arms of Padre Bay Rock Creek Bay Anyplace in the San Juan River Arm Ribbon or Little Cottonwood Canyon Halls Creek Bay (if it's a quiet week on the lake) Warm Springs Canyon Good Hope Bay Other activities Geocaching Slot canyons Hiking - Boater's Guide to Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge Additional Links and Sources http://www.riverlakes.com/powlmaps.htm   Feedback on Weekend Water Skier Podcast I hope you've enjoyed this episode. If you have, then tell your friends and leave me a comment at weekendwaterskier.com, or send feedback to feedback@weekendwaterskier.com. I also welcome your thoughts about a land-based vacation to Lake Powell, if you're for it, against it,

Welcome to the Weekend Water Skier Podcast. My name is Kevin and I am the host and producer of the Weekend Water Skier. I am kevintcom on most social networks. You can also find me in the Water Skiing group in Google+ This is the second in a series on Lake Powell, continuing from Episode 2: Lake Powell Water Skiing Vacation Teaser, released on 5 January 2013. Intro Story Trip to Page with Vanya in June 2007      Took family along, but not on the lake Why would you stay in town or at the resort?      Buy meals at restaurants      More off-boat activity      Could be cheaper than renting a houseboat, depending on group size      Trailer parking was an issue Staying there Launch Ramps Hite Halls Crossing Bullfrog San Juan primitive launch ramp Antelope Point Wahweap Hotels           Bullfrog - Defiance House Lodge,                          Family units                         Ticaboo Lodge near Bullfrog           Page - 22 hotels           Wahweap - Lake Powell Resort      Restaurants           Bullfrog - Anasazi Restaurant           Ticaboo - The Grill           Page - 29 restaurants           Wahweap - Rainbow Room           Antelope Point - Village at the Point, on-lake dining Shopping      Bullfrog - convenience store      Ticaboo - convenience store      Wahweap - tourist trap store      Page - Safeway and Walmart, plus convenience stores Water Skiing from the Marina Bullfrog - Head over to Halls Creek Bay, or find one of the smaller canyons uplake from Bullfrog Bay, like Cedar Canyon, Knowles Canyon, or Forgotten Canyon. Moki Canyon and Hansen Creek Canyon are usually busy with people looking for the closest camping to the marina. I'm told that Good Hope Bay also has some good water, although I've never made it there myself. Page - Some skiing in Wahweap Bay or Warm Creek Bay, but it's best to head up lake to Padre Bay or Last Chance Bay for smoother water. Much further become impractical for a day trip. Getting there      Going to the middle of nowhere, so there's not much on the way      From Salt Lake, Bullfrog 5 hr, 7 min; Page 6 hr 5 min      From Denver, Bullfrog 7 hr 25 min; Page 9 hr 59 min      From Las Vegas, Bullfrog 7 hr 43 min; Page 4 hr 27 min Conclusion: Would I recommend a Lake Powell trip that is based at a resort or town? Yes, for a small group or a short trip. Which marina gets my vote? Page side has better amenities and shopping so that you don't have to bring EVERYTHING with you If the travel time differences are a deal breaker, then just pack everything that you'll need and go to Bullfrog Signing Off I hope you've enjoyed this episode. If you have, then tell your friends and leave me a comment at weekendwaterskier.com I also welcome your thoughts about a land-based vacation to Lake Powell, if you're for it, against it, or just have additional input. Show notes for this episode, including links to many of the hotels and restaurants mentioned in this episode are at weekendwaterskier.com. Look for Episode 3.  

Today's episode is about things that you really have to do at least once on a water skiing vacation to Lake Powell, and some of my memories and experiences from my water skiing get-aways at Lake Powell. The idea for this episode comes from Tom Churchwell through the Google+ Water Skiing community. Thanks, Tom! Show Notes My history with Lake Powell In 1879, my great-great-grandfather found the hole in the rock passage across the Colorado River, at a point that is just about mid-lake today. I attended a family reunion in Little Cottonwood Canyon to commemorate this event. The first time that I got up on skis was at Lake Powell at a church Youth Conference when I was 14 years old The first time that my wife got up on skis was at Lake Powell on a houseboat trip with friends when she was, well let's say, in her 30s. I've had the chance to explore major portions of the lake. One voyage of exploration we had a dead battery on the boat and had to cut it short by two days. Can't miss, unique features and experiences on and around Lake Powell Sand dune hill is a great place to spend some time on a hot afternoon. Rainbow Bridge is probably THE landmark attraction at Lake Powell. There are daily tours from Wahweap if you don't want to take your own boat, or you can drive yourself up to the dock and take the short hike up to the bridge. Remember to take your photos on the trail, not at the base of the bridge, as you will be too close to get it in your camera's frame. Slot canyons, mostly in the lower lake between Dangling Rope Marina and Wahweap, can be explored from the water with massive cliffs rising up on either side of the boat. Just be sure you can get back out. Lost Eden, at the base of Halls Creek Canyon, weaves through a maze of tight passages into a huge grotto at the end. San Juan arm of Lake Powell offers some incredible seclusion and calm water almost all day. The reason for this is that it is so far from any civilzation that most people won't travel there. Even if you can't get your houseboat there, take an afternoon to explore this part of Lake Powell. Hole in the Rock has great historical significance for the southeastern part of Utah. Try to scramble up the scree, then imagine coming down that passage with a horse-drawn wagon. Lake Powell Water skiing Links and Sources Information on Lake Powell and other lakes on the Colorado River Hole in the Rock  

The first episode of the Weekend Waterksier, a podcast about water skiing,  is now available. I'm still working on getting the publication smooth, but it is out there for the world to hear.  Click the play button below to listen to the podcast now. It's less than eight minutes, so don't worry about it taking all day. Show notes: 2.     Introduction a.     I am a weekend water skier b.     Live in Utah i.     Nick Parsons ii.     Chris Rossi c.     I have a day job, which I plan to keep 3.     My water skiing history a.     Not a pro, no aspirations i.     Different sport 1.     Drew Ross and Bob LaPoint b.     First got up at age 13 after many years of trying behind friends’ boats c.     First saw a private lake at 21 d.     First skied a course in my 30s e.     Spent most of my years free skiing on public lakes at i.     6 AM to get good water f.      Recently ski at Last Chance Lakes i.     Run 15 off at 30 MPH ii.     Get 4-5 buoys 4.     Why create a water skiing podcast a.     Follow in the footsteps of Marcus Brown i.     Followed professionals b.     Want to create a place for i.     Product Reviews and comparisons ii.     New products and ideas iii.     Fitness tips and other tips and ideas to improve your skiing iv.     Interviews with pros and industry experts v.     Interviews with other weekend water skiers c.     Thought someone may just be interested. 5.     What to expect a.     One topic per show b.     Hope for forthightly during the water skiing season c.     Probably less frequent in winter i.     Boat show ii.     Snow skiing that relates 6.     Conclusion a.     If you liked this show, tell your friends b.     If you haven’t liked it, tell me what I can improve. i.     Email feedback@weekendwaterskier.com c.     Show notes and other goodies at http://www.weekendwaterskier.com/