System and device for improving the performance of a water skier in a slalom course

• US 20050191916A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Bozicevic
• Original Assignee: Mark Bozicevic
• Inventors: Bozicevic, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 441/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/187 for water-skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 3/00 Equipment or accessories for racing or riding sports training equipment for animals A01K15/02

Abstract

A method, a system and a device used within such enhances the repeatability and overall performance of a person skiing through a water ski slalom course. The device is a series of markers positioned on the side of a ski boat which markings can be readily viewed by a skier being towed by the boat at a distance of up to about 100 feet. The method comprises having the skier noting the boat markings which the ski rope crosses as the skier begins a turn into the slalom course. Once a run of desired performance is obtained the skier can repeat that performance more readily by always beginning the initial turn into the slalom course based on the ski rope crossing the same marking on the boat.

Claims

1. A method of water skiing, comprising the steps of:

(a) skiing toward a beginning of a slalom course in a normal manner holding a handle attached to a ski rope which is attached to a boat;

(b) noting the position of the ski rope relative to at least one marking on the boat;

(c) beginning an initial turn toward entrance gates of the slalom course at the noted position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) repeating the steps (a)-(c) wherein the initial turn toward the gates is begun at some noted position of the ski rope relative to a marking on the boat.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one marking on the side of the boat is one of a plurality of markings on the side of the boat which markings are placed on the boat for purposes of allowing the skier to note the position of the rope in order to turn towards the entrance gates.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the marking are substantially vertical stripes on the side of the boat.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of markings have a color which contrasts with the side of the boat and each marking is discernable at a distance of about 75 feet or more by a person with normal vision.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the marking are substantially vertical stripes on the side of the boat.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the markings are letters.

8. A system of water skiing, comprising:

a boat;

a ski pylon attached to the boat;

a first plurality of markings on a first side of the boat positioned in an aft direction on the boat relative to the ski pylon.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a second plurality of markings on a second side of the boat positioned in an aft direction on the boat relative to the ski pylon.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the markings are stripes having a color which contrasts with background color on a side of the boat.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first plurality of markings is comprised of a plurality if letters which begin at a point approximately 1 foot to 6 feet behind a position on the side of the boat directly opposite the ski pylon.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the markings begin at a point in a range of from about 2 feet to 4 feet behind a point directly opposite the pylon.

13. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first plurality of markings are letters which spell out smartstart.

14. A device for improving the repeatability of a water skier'"'"'s performance, comprising:

a waterproof sheet of material having thereon a plurality of regularly spaced markings which marking can be seen at a distance of about 75 feet or more by a person with normal vision;

a waterproof adhesive backing on the sheet of material which allows the material to be adhered to a boat side.

15. The device of claim 14, having a material length of from about two feet to about six feet.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein six or more marking are present on the material.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the markings are positioned at intervals of about every six inches.

18. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device has a length in a range in a range of about 1 foot to about 5 feet.

19. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device has a length in a range of about 2 feet to about 4 feet and a width in a range of about 4 inches to about 1.5 feet.

20. A boat having adhered to its side a device as claimed in claim 14.