The boat sat low in the water, quiet, rocking back and forth as the tiny waves lapped at it's side. Suddenly it lurched as a body went over the back into the water. There was an intake of breath as her head popped back up and her body took in the cold of the lake. In the PNW, the water doesn't quiet warm up and the day isn't baking hot to offset the cold, but they ski and board anyway. The rope was coiled and then tossed her direction as the boat slowly floated away from her. She used her arms to propel herself to the end of the rope. The flagger raised the flag letting other boaters in the area there was a person in the water. The driver turned around and after confirmation of a cleared prop, started the engine of the boat. It chugged, coughing and turned over. A sigh of relief went through the crew. There had been too many times of calling to other boaters for a tow and so each time we all held our breath until the engine would come to life. We turned back to her waiting for her signal. "Hit it" came from the water and the driver pushed the gas level down send the boat forward. We watched as she popped up out of the water effortlessly. She started weaving back and forth, getting her balance for the speed and the waves. The signals of slower and faster were given until she was satisfied and then started moving the board across the wake in and out. The warm air quickly dried her off as set herself up for the jumps. Each time, she closed her mouth and concentrated as her board sailed over the wake gaining height and distance, not easy when there isn't a tower to help, but still doable. We cheered and encouraged and laughed. Then a rest and the next person took to the water. He hadn't boarded before but was athletic. She coached and explained how to pop out of the water. He tried, came close and tried again and then it clicked, like when riding a bike. He was out of the water and balanced, working on the same technique as her. We cheered. Then the next contested went into the water but of course boarding was not on his mind, he wanted to slolemn ski. He tried with one, over and over again, but this was his first time in the water for the year. We floated him the other ski and he rose out of the water and immediately dropped the ski. We wove our wave back and forth across Agate bay as he leaned to one side and the other trying to make a big spray. As the sun started to make it's way to the western part of the ski and the shadows lengthened, we needed to make our way to the dock. the driver wanted time in the water and to see if he had still had the technique. The boat rocked as he slipped in and the intake of breath was loud. He slipped on the ski, grabbed the rope and yelled, "Hit it."  The boat surged forward slowly, because it's old and it doesn't have much power.
The water pushed against his head sending a spray skyward. He held his breath until there was enough power to pull him out of the water. Once skimming above the surface he cut hard as he showed off to the teens in the boat, showing them what summers on a lake taught him.