I used to be a waterskier...

It was pretty fun.

Wanna hear why I’m not anymore?

Two years ago, my parents gave me their old boat that I had grown up with. It was a Ski Centurion Falcon. Inboard. Slalom Certified. Not the best condition, but it still threw an awesome slalom wake and I no longer got state-of-the-art boats from MasterCraft as I did when in college or when I lived and coached at world-renowned ski lakes.

But Ian and I were determined to get back into the sport after our move to Colorado had put us off the path.

Ian’s dad picked up the boat in Michigan from my parents, drove to Iowa where Ian and I met him with my XTerra, fresh tow hitch and all. We should have known the whole process was doomed when we got to Nebraska and were met with a hail storm and only one windshield wiper. But no, we pressed on. We spent more money than either of should have been allowed to spend procuring a mooring on the Boulder reservoir, registering the Falcon in Colorado, buying part after part to fix it up and getting Boulder Res passes so we could actually get in to use the boat after we paid to keep it at the Res. I took out at least one credit card, not sure about Ian, but pretty sure he did too.

Finally, FINALLY, we got it in the water. We spent a glorious day christening it on the 4th of July. I left the next day for a birthday trip to South Carolina to spend time with my friends Cari and Leeann. Three days into our trip, I get a phone call at 8:00 AM from the Boulder Reservoir lady — on my birthday, mind you — telling me my boat, my prized possession, the  boat I have loved since childhood… was getting bounced up on the rocks on the east side of the lake, wave after wave, and was slowly but surely sinking lower and lower in the water.

I immediately called my sister, Ian, and Matt Harvey repeatedly until one of them answered. The three of them then went to retrieve my boat and called to inform me there were numerous holes in the hull.

Stunned, shocked and more than a little saddened, I flew home to inspect the damage myself. I spent a solid couple hours lying in my boat for the last time. Coming to terms with the fact that I was no longer a boat owner, water skier or ever going to be part of the waterski/boating world again.

I made peace with it and have since moved on. But sometimes, I get a bit nostalgic and pine for the days of sun, water and waves.

Here are a few photos. I have more, but would have to scan them to get them on here. That’s how long ago all of this was…

xoxo