‘Skating’ and
‘Surfing’ on Lake Allatoona By Shari Rathman
Ty
Towriss has won 18 Regional Emmys while working for Fox and Turner
television as a producer. He now has his own business, NLX Broadcast
Design. Towriss also spends weekends doing high definition
productions of wake skaters using numerous cameras and boats. He
says of these wake skaters, “They are really talented ... local
talent.” He’s helping the wake skaters grow awareness for that sport
along with wake surfing. He and Steve Carr, owner of Props N’ Hops,
are there to “support the sport” as they both say.
These wake skaters are Ryan
Dahlem and Brandt Asay, originally from California, but now both
reside in Canton. Michael Pope is from Acworth. Phillip Kennedy is
also from Canton and has a sponsor, Anenberg, a clothing line out of
CA.
Wake “skating” is like skate
boarding except on water. The feet are not attached to the board.
So there are no boots to anchor the wake skater and the rope is 65
feet long. They stand on the board with modified shoes and sometimes
modified boards. The “skaters” say that there are more maneuvers and
flip tricks that can be done without boots.
These wake skaters can also do
wake surfing. Wake surfing involves a 10-foot rope that pulls the
wake surfer out of the water while the boat passengers all lean to
one side to get the wake started and then the wake surfer releases
the rope and rides the wave right behind the boat. In fact, the
board usually touches the boat so the wake surfer can walk the
board, step onto the boat, and then return to the wakeboard. Wake
surfing is only possible with an inboard boat.
However, to do wake skating or
wakeboarding, one does not even need a boat or a jet ski. There is a
motorized winch that is also available. It is like a motorized
fishing pole with 800 feet of ski rope that pulls the wake skater
around. It can be used in ponds or spillways or other areas where
boats can’t go. These wake skaters are working on providing a low
cost winch. They are currently working on getting a patent. “Winch
Works is a company still in the works” said Asay.
Although
wake skating is already a professional sport, Towriss and Carr are
helping people become more knowledgeable about the sport. Carr is
hoping to have a Wake Jam on Allatoona this summer near Props N’
Hops, a bar & grill located at Victoria Harbour Marina. Props N’
Hops often shows a professional production done by Towriss that
highlights, in a musical montage, the talent of these wake skaters
in action. Autographed pictures can be seen on the walls as well.
And sometimes the wake skaters can be found there after spending
time out on the lake. Props N’ Hops is located at 1001 Victoria
Landing Drive, Woodstock. Phone: 678-919-7802.
Ty
Towriss has won 18 Regional Emmys while working for Fox and Turner
television as a producer. He now has his own business, NLX Broadcast
Design. Towriss also spends weekends doing high definition
productions of wake skaters using numerous cameras and boats. He
says of these wake skaters, “They are really talented ... local
talent.” He’s helping the wake skaters grow awareness for that sport
along with wake surfing. He and Steve Carr, owner of Props N’ Hops,
are there to “support the sport” as they both say.
Although
wake skating is already a professional sport, Towriss and Carr are
helping people become more knowledgeable about the sport. Carr is
hoping to have a Wake Jam on Allatoona this summer near Props N’
Hops, a bar & grill located at Victoria Harbour Marina. Props N’
Hops often shows a professional production done by Towriss that
highlights, in a musical montage, the talent of these wake skaters
in action. Autographed pictures can be seen on the walls as well.
And sometimes the wake skaters can be found there after spending
time out on the lake. Props N’ Hops is located at 1001 Victoria
Landing Drive, Woodstock. Phone: 678-919-7802.
