Tahoe Quarterly

Waterskiing in Rubicon Bay

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Athlete: Todd Kelly
Spot: Rubicon Bay

Hands down, my favorite spot to ski is Rubicon Bay on the West Shore. It is always protected from the wind, and there are long stretches of water that are close to the shore where the smooth, glassy water is hiding. The simple beauty of the shallow, sandy bottom and then the intense drop-offs make for an interesting color change. Whenever I am teaching in Rubicon Bay, I always pay close attention to the students' eyes as they go from 12 feet of water to 200 feet of water. It is the famous deer in the headlights look for sure.

Another great spot in Rubicon is an area I call "cocoon" after the movie from the eighties. Just like when the eggs are in the pool, there are boulders the same size and shape in the middle of the bay. You can't help but look down when you are skiing over them.

Stats: Though Truckee resident Todd Kelly has competed against such professionals as Andy Maple and Mike Kjellander, he says a waterskiing highlight was getting his daughter Kate out on skis a month before her second birthday. He is the owner of West Shore Water Sports and Tahoe Water Adventures.

Originally published in TQ Best of Tahoe 2008