Bill would ease rule for competition water skiers

Two North Idaho legislators say there’s nothing wrong with the state law that requires water ski boats to have an observer aboard in addition to the driver - except when the ski boat is in a legal, regulation slalom course.    So Reps. George Eskridge, R-Dover, and Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, have introduced legislation - with the backing of the Idaho Sheriff’s Association - to lift that requirement on those competition courses, and replace it there with a requirement for a rear-view mirror. Seventeen states have such laws. Anderson, who used to do competition water skiing - including jumping - when he was younger, said, “When you’re in competition, you’re trying to generate the smallest wake possible.” The problem with carrying an observer: The extra body adds weight, which increases the boat’s wake.

The observer, who raises a flag to warn other boaters when a skier is down in the water, is a must for recreational water skiing, both lawmakers said.; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com.