TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
HANGING ON BY A ROPE BY ANNI BISHOP PHOTOS BY CORBAN FRANKLIN
R alph Samuelson could never have imagined all the joy his invention of water skiing has given so many people all over the world. When he began experimenting with two boards and a clothesline for a towrope 100 years ago on July 2, 1922, a sport was born that has challenged, frustrated, and been enjoyed by millions, including many people in Texarkana. A century later, a hazy sun slowly rises over glistening turquoise dyed water in Zachary, Louisiana as wildlife chirp, whistle and sing a wakeup call to students attending Bennett’s Water Ski & Wakeboard School. The faint scent of eggs, bacon and pancakes wafts through the dorms. The start of a Mastercraft boat engine growls in the
Summer is here, and for a lot of us, lake days are what it is all about. Whether you are spending the weekend with family or with friends, summers at the lake make for some great memories, especially when you are speeding across the water being pulled behind a boat on a tube, a knee board, or skis. Tubing and knee boarding are both thrilling and can be physically demanding, but they require little skill. Skiing, however, requires balance and practice and can challenge your body with significant cardio and strength training. It is difficult, but for those who know what they are doing, skiing can provide a lifetime of summers full of excitement and fun.
distance as staff prepare water ski equipment for students. It’s already hot and muggy in this tucked away bedroom community of Baton Rouge, LA, but it doesn’t matter since most of the day will be spent on the water learning a much more advanced version of Samuelson’s invention. A voice over an intercom wakes the students, “Attention, breakfast will be served in 10 minutes in the dining hall, then stretches and warm up in the driveway.” It’s the voice of Anne Bennett, a championship water skier, now aged 65. She and hardworking husband Jay founded the school in 1980 and still run it today. Anne can still often be seen gliding down the lake in her off time.
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SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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