Water Skiing at Smith Mountain Lake

Have you ever woken up early in the morning, looked out your window and the lake looks like glass? That’s the time to wake up the boat driver in the house, a spotter, your skis and jump in the lake! There is a group called the Smith Mountain Lake Water Ski Club that started in 1989. It is an organized group of water skiers interested in promoting the sport of water skiing at the lake. They accomplish that by sponsoring ski clinics, local competitive tournaments, ski exhibitions along with recreational and social activities.

The goal of this group is to:

1. Encourage safe boating and skiing by teaching individuals how to be responsible safe skiers and boat drivers.
2. Stimulate interest in water skiing among new skiers in the community and to encourage and promote competitive interest among veteran skiers.
3. Act as a group of knowledgeable individuals to protect the rights of water skiers from unreasonable legislative action.

There is actually a public slalom course that’s available to all skiers and encourage donations if you’re not a member. The course is set up in a cove formed by Bull Run Creek. From the Roanoke River channel or Dam, go northwest (up) the Blackwater River channel past markers B2, B4, B6 and B8. From the upper end of the Blackwater River channel, go southeast (down) the Blackwater River channel past marker 89.
At this point, from either direction, you will be at the mouth of the Bull Run cove. There will be a large island with many pine trees on it know as Christmas Tree Island. Go southwest into Bull Run cove past markers BU1, BU3, BR1 and Bu5. Continue past marker BU5 for about ¾ mile and the cove will make a sharp turn to the right. The cove continues for about ¼ mile and make a sharp turn to the left. Follow to almost the end of the cove and you will see the slalom course on the left. There is no land access to the Bull Run Ski Site.

If you are interested in joining or finding out more information, you can visit www.Smlwaterski.org or contact Todd Rowland at 540.427.0025.