Water skiing on Kayuta Lake

FINALLY.  A chance to go water skiing on Kayuta Lake.

For two weeks in the summer, the Camp Mohawk Valley Waterski School comes to Kayuta Lake. Run by the Serth family, the school is a "summer camp where kids can come and have a fun filled week of learning how to waterski".  The students are then invited to participate in the Camp Mohawk Valley Exhibition Squad Water Ski Show featuring the X-Squad which is held on the last weekend of the ski school.

After getting the nerve to ask Joe Serth for a ski lesson, I came to the dock ready for my adventure. Joe advised me of the danger of the sport and asked only one question.  "Do you downhill ski?" I do. But that did not make it any easier.

First attempt to get up using the boom, a pole attached to the center of the boat which extends out over its side, was a total failure.

With Joe behind me, holding me up most of the time,  I was able to stand up on the skis on our next run.  For over 3 minutes, we were actually water skiing.  Until he let go.  He must have gotten tired. LOL.

Joe helped me up again the next time.  And when he let go, I finally made it on my own. What an exhilarating, scary 20 seconds.  Felt really proud of myself.








After another session with Joe the following week, I felt like there is yet hope that I will be able to
learn how to waterski.  Thanks, Joe.

July 4th Fireworks on Kayuta Lake

We've watched the fireworks in Boonville at least 3 times since we have had our camp on the lake.  This year, we had planned to go to Old Forge to see if it was any different, maybe bigger than the one here.   After watching some early fireworks on the lake on Saturday, July 2, we decided to stay put.  Why travel and brave the crowds when we can watch comfortably from our deck?  With more fireworks the next 2 nights, we had no regrets.

Below are just some of them fired from the islands on the 3rd.

 

Just boating on Kayuta Lake

It's been more than 2 months since we opened our camp on the lake.  Of the many activities we have done in the past, it seems like canoeing and kayaking are the only things we've done recently.  But then, that's what the lake is for anyway.  Our friends enjoy it, we really love it.  Even friends who've never tried it before have even come to enjoy it.

Kayak Exercises

Kayaking is one of our favorite activities on the lake. It is so relaxing just to paddle about, as we leave all our worries behind and just enjoy the calmness around us. It has additional health benefits as well. The repetitive motions of moving the paddles can help increase muscle tone. It is said that moving a kayak at 5mph uses about 400 calories per hour, and can be part of a weight loss regimen. We have yet to achieve that speed but maybe the calories we burn can offset the beer that inevitable follows this exercise.

Kayaking can easily tire the uninitiated. When paddling, one can expect to do about 500 strokes per mile, with each stroke incorporating every upper body muscle and some lower muscles as well. Not just the shoulders but also the core, hips and thigh muscles are involved. The repetitive motion for the shoulders and core is countered by a stable lower body. Maintaining flexibility is therefore essential to a successful and injury-free kayaking. Click here for some flexibility exercises.


To build muscle strength for kayaking, several exercise regimens are available on-line. The following videos which accompanied an article on Sea Kayaker Magazine demonstrates some simple exercises one can do before and after kayaking.

Ski Show at Kayuta Lake

This year's ski show held on Aug. 15 was really blessed with beautiful weather. The Central Mohawk Valley X-Squad Water Ski Club put on on an entertaining show, complete with a pirate ship.

Island Fun at Kayuta Lake

July 26 wasn't exactly the greatest day to spend on the island. The forecast for Aug. 9 wasn't so hot either. So, the Island Fun Day sponsored by the Kayuta Lake Association was held today. After 4 beautiful days of sunshine, it would have been too much to expect the rains to hold off another day. After all, this is Kayuta Lake.


We found some work to do around the camp and were unable to get in on the fun. From a distance, we could see how well attended the event was. Listening to the music, calls for dancing and games, everybody seemed to be having a great time.


Maybe next time, we can join them.

July 4th at Kayuta Lake

Well, it wasn't exactly the biggest fireworks display around, but it beats the hustle and bustle at other bigger events.







We had our first guests at the camp this weekend. After the mandatory visit to Pixley Falls, it was just lake, lake, lake...

Boating on Kayuta Lake

Kayuta Lake is perfect for non-motorized boating. Being somewhat narrow, one is never too far away from the shore. Just in case. And yet, it's long enough (about 4 miles with 13.1 miles of shoreline) to pique the interest of any serious paddler.



Canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats, and an occasional sailboat normally grace the waters of Kayuta. Paddling on the open waters can sometimes be challenging but at the same time somewhat exciting as you ride the wakes of the motorboats, jetskis and party barges.



And they all love to congregate on the 2 islands in the middle of the north end of the lake.



The bays provide some refuge to enjoy the water lilies and watch the turtle(s) routinely sunbathing on some fallen tree.

The Kayuta Lake Dam

One of my favorite spots on Kayuta is by the dam.


The Kayuta Lake Dam was built along the Black River creating our beautiful lake. Completed in 1894, it is a masonry, stone and gravity dam 26 feet in height and 240 feet long. It was used as a hydroelectric generating facility by Algonquin Power from January 1988. Although the agreement was for 40 years, it has recently stopped its operations in the last year or so. Why it should do so when everyone else is looking for alternative energy sources, I can't fathom.



Right now, it's a great place to hang out, to savor the view, listen to the cascading waters and just enjoy the peace and quiet. One can also go fishing or take a canoe down river to Forestport. If you do, watch out for the bald eagle that has been spotted there before.

Skiing on Kayuta

I love skiing. Snow-skiing, that is. Water-skiing is a different ballgame. I tried water-skiing once. I was able to get up from the water and stay on the skis for what was probably a whole 5 seconds before landing on my face and swallowing gallons of sea-water. The thought of reliving that experience, with lake water, prevents me from trying the sport again.

I do love to watch the water-skiers on the lake, though. And look forward to the yearly show.

These pictures were taken during the 2006 ski show. Thank you Stan.