Best Ski/Wakebaord School

[Vern Swieringa]

I am looking at taking a vacation this summer at a ski/wakeboard school with my family. I'm a novice slalom skier and my 17 year old son is beginner wakeboarder and my 18 year old daughter is still trying to get up and my wife is chief spotter. What school has the nicest fascilities for famlies, with good instruction? :confused:

[Professor]

There are really some great schools and sites. I think calling some of them would assist in finding just the right location for your needs.

http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/schools/Menu.htm

Also, if you want to have other entainment activites along with skiing check out orlando and

http://www.orlandowatersports.com/rates.php

Good luck and hope the vacation goes great!

[pdoppenheim]

My daughter attended a 3 day clinic put on by two of April Cobble's instructors. She went from 0/0 to running the course clean (with gates) at 15' off @ 26 mph. Not bad for 3 days work, though she could free ski before (but never ran the course). The instructors were excellent. They were patient and incredibly knowledgable. More importantly, they knew how to explain and transfer the knowledge so that my 13 year old could understand it. If they represent the standard of April's school, it's the only place I'd go.

I don't know about the facilities because it was out on off site. I do know that North Carolina is a beautiful state with a lot of gracious people in it. The facilities should be good there.

Keep in mind that the import should be placed on the quality of instruction. I promise that a high bouy count will make up for only having 30 channels on the cable.

For the ultimate in facilities I'd recommend Sammy Duval's school at Orlando Disneyworld. Of course it's $125.00 per hour which may make you want to think about how much stick time you'll want. But there's a lot of fun stuff to do and good places to eat.

I've seen videos of Gordon Rathbun's places in Acapulco and Arizona. They both look great. You can find info on the web under Ski Paradise. But I'm not sure that would come under the heading of a family vacation.

I'm sitting here in Michigan with only two more months to go....

Whoa. I just saw you're in Michigan too. Do you know about the MWSA and its Junior Development Program? That is the best deal for your kids to trick, jump or slalom. No wakeboard but tricking is pretty close. You can PM me if you want details or go to mwsa.org

[tex]

People in our club swear by Bennett's for slalom and jump. I don't know about wakeboard.

[G-man]

Bennett Ski School in Louisania has a great reputation in this area. I would send one of my children there.

[BriEOD]

McCormick's in Tampa is really good.

www.skimccormick.com

[Vern Swieringa]

Thanks for the replies. I'll do a little more websurfing. I was hoping to find a nice place with a cottage for the family and extra stuff for my wife to do, as she's not into water sports. And wakeboard is a must for my son. Last year was the first year we had a boat and his first year on the water. He learned to get up pretty quickly, but I think he'll have even more fun once he learns a few simple manuvers and tricks. I could use a few pointers myself on slalom, never ran a course :o

[bkblaida]

2 years ago my then 14 year old daughter and I attended Coble Ski School in Lillington, NC. We went to the school with limited skills; I was a 46 year old recreational skier never having gone through a slalom course and my daughter was still trying to get up on 1 ski. We owned and skied behind a 18 ft I/O. We signed up for the "camp" which you arrive Sunday PM and depart Thurs afternoon. The facility offered Dorm style or seperate rooms (ours had 2 bunk beds a couch, TV and bath). Meals were simple but satisfying. Facilities are not the Marriot but more MN, WI, MI lake cabin style. You ski 3 sets per person per day which leaves you exausted. The school has 10 private lakes so water is always perfect. Instruction was exceptional. All instructors gave you dedicated time during your set and you were never rushed. They covered everything from equipment and set-up through tips on driving. You get to ski with some of the best skiers around yet never felt inferior. April Coble Eller & Chris Eller are two of the nicest most genuine people I have ever met and they coached each person at least 1 set per day. So, how did we do?? I was completing 6 balls on the beginning slalom course and 4 balls on the full course by Thurs. My daughter was up on 1 ski after the first set and making 3 balls on the beginners course by day 3. We both learned how to wakeboard and I learned how to barefoot. We exceeded our expectations and learned the facts about skiing vs the lake "lore" we went there with. There were three other families in camp when we were there and we made friends we still e-mail today. We became so hooked on skiing we recently bought a prostar 205. Cobles coaches world class skiers as well as beginners and one of the few schools to coach all events. For a family trip, Cobles will be tough to beat. I suggest you get some ski time in before you go or you are one hurting unit by day 3. Also the earlier or later in the season you go, the school is less crowded. My daughter and I went over spring break. I am a Coble fan and will be back. Check them out at www.cobleskischool.com. Feel free to PM me if you want. Good Luck.

[LloydP]

My son went to Coble's two years ago, and it is not far from where we live. The Coble's are really nice down to earth people. It is definitely a family run program. I've never heard anything bad about it.

Lloyd

[east tx skier]

What kind of boats are they using?

[G-man]

Cobles and Bennetts use MC's

[bkblaida]

Cobles runs MasterCraft boats. In the height of the busy season I believe they are running 8 different boats from the 197 through the Xstar. They also have a well equipped store where they sell at cost all needed equipment from wet suits to skiis (must be a Coble Ski School attendee to use).