A fin for a slalom water ski includes a planar body with a convex leading edge and a slot proximate such leading edge. The slot has an arcuate front or leading edge and a wavy rear edge defined by alternating crests and troughs or projections which allow the fin to be smaller without compromising its ability to support ski acceleration. The smaller size allows the ski to be turned more easily. A line of small holes extending in a row proximate the leading edge of the fin body can achieve the same result.

A water riding apparatus is provided for moving along the surface of water in cross-country skier type fashion. The water riding apparatus includes a first pontoon having an elongate hull and a second pontoon having an elongate hull. The first and second elongate hulls are connected together for relative parallel longitudinal motion by a gliding mechanism affixed to inner sides of the first and second elongate hollow hulls. The first and second elongate hulls include foot well openings allowing the user to stand on the bottoms of the hulls at a location below the water line of the hulls. The water riding apparatus further includes a personal stabilizer system for supporting a user in a standing position. The first and second elongate hulls can be locked in a parallel, transversely aligned relationship to allow alternative use of the water riding apparatus in a sitting, kayak-type fashion.

A compact water ski having a top surface, a bottom surface and a rocker with an overall length of less than 36 inches and a means to secure a foot to the top surface. The ski can be with or without a fin. The bottom surface of the water ski can be decorated with strakes and/or channels to allow for greater maneuverability and stability.

A monitoring system for use in a recreational watercraft operable to improve driver awareness of a surface rider engaged in a surface water sport supported by the watercraft. The surface rider may be towed by the watercraft or riding a wake provided by the vehicle. Sensors monitor the conditions of the surface rider and a processor analyzes the sensor data to generate feedback indicating status conditions to the driver. Multimodal feedback may be achieved using a plurality of feedback indicators having different modes of operation.

The invention relates to water ski (1) having a buoyant ski body (2), to which, in addition to a binding (3), a propelling drive is assigned, which comprises a rotary drive unit with a rotary drive (4) and a screw drive which can be driven thereby, and having a control device (6) for presetting a drive power. In order to create advantageous drive conditions, it is proposed that the water skis (1) of a pair of water skis each comprise a rotary drive unit with at least one drive sensor (7) each, an associated energy storage device and a communication device, which adjusts the rotary drives (4) of both water skis (1) as a function of drive sensor data and preset data of the control device (6).

Provided are a sliding instrument having a low frictional resistance to the snow surface, the ice surface, or the water surface and having excellent sliding performance and a method for manufacturing the sliding instrument. A sliding instrument to slide on snow, ice, or water includes a sliding surface (1) to come into contact with the snow surface, the ice surface, or the water surface, and the sliding surface (1) has a surface roughness Ra of 1.0 m or less. A method for manufacturing the sliding instrument includes polishing a sliding surface (1) using a polishing composition slurry containing abrasives to make the sliding surface (1) have a surface roughness Ra of 1.0 m or less.

A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.

A water sport training device is disclosed comprising, in one embodiment, a raft having a distal nose portion and a proximal rear portion. The rear portion provides a pair of substantially spaced apart lateral pontoons and a first web spanning the space therebetween. A relatively rigid platform is positionable within the raft, substantially adjacent the first web. A buoyant seat portion is positioned substantially on a back half of the device between the pontoons and adjacent the platform. A tow rope attachment means is secured to the raft for selectively towing the device over a body of water. The device is configured such that a back half of the device has a center buoyancy sufficient for providing a stable surface to support the weight of a person while floating on water both at standstill and as being pulled through the water as by a boat.

A water ski system which includes two essentially identical assemblies each assembly including a buoyant ski having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front, and a back configured to float on water. Each buoyant ski includes a pivoting paddle located on the bottom surface of the buoyant ski configured to deploy in a backwards motion and retract in a forward motion against a force of water in a motion similar to cross-country skiing. The device propels a user across water when manipulated. Each buoyant ski has a foot mount and a toe of a boot pivotally affixed to the top surface of the buoyant ski.

A towable watercraft including a body member capable of accommodating a rider's torso such that the rider's legs extend beyond an aft portion of the body member is disclosed. A tail portion extending from the aft portion of the body member includes two foot-accommodating stirrups spaced apart from each other and spaced apart from the rearward portion of the body member. Under tow and in flight, the watercraft is controllable by configuration of the tail portion upon movement of the rider's legs when the riders' feet are disposed in the stirrups.