There is nothing like the exhilaration of staying on your feet as the combined forces of water, wind and gravity work against you, all while being towed by a boat.
It’s why so many people enjoy wakeboarding, wakesurfing and waterskiing on the lakes in Muskoka. But to maximize your fun, it’s essential for all involved to learn the proper way to do it.
Proper instruction from experts will take your boarding, surfing, and skiing to the next level, say the team at Bush’s Watersports Park. Ryan Bush and Steve Milgram co-own the business, which has been family owned and operated for 43 years.
They’re making learning more relaxing for their students by bringing the instruction right to your home or cottage.
Learning the nuances of tow sports in a comfortable and familiar setting enhances the experience and helps newbies retain and apply the lessons.
“Learning in a familiar location can take away a lot of stress,” explains Ryan. “It gives many of our clients the security they need to fully embrace what we’re teaching them.”
The Bush’s Watersports Park instructors will take the helm of your boat (you’re required to have one) and teach safe driving techniques as well as boarding, surfing, and skiing. While you need to provide the boat, they’ll bring all the other necessary equipment – ropes, boards and more.
Their team has trained all levels of watersports enthusiasts, from beginners to national champions.
Of course, the Bush’s Watersports Park teams follow safety protocols both on and off the water, which helps cottagers feel comfortable while learning new sports – or upgrading existing skills.
Home or cottage lessons can be customized for one-on-one instruction, or to do it as a group or a family. With Ryan and Steve’s team bringing the equipment, it allows their clients to try out new gear before committing to a purchase. It also helps with sizing the boards or skis.
“You want to make sure you have the right fit,” says Steve. “You may prefer wakeboarding to wakesurfing, or skiing to boarding. Giving it a test run before investing in one sport or the other is the smart approach.”
For those who don’t have a waterfront but still want to learn, or want a different challenge, Bush’s Watersports Park is located on their own small lake in Bala.
There they have an internationally certified slalom course and two Sesitec 2.0 cable parks – an advanced and a beginner course – where a zip line cable system tows the skier or boarder through a series of jumps and tricks.
“It’s a great place to test your skills or get a good start,” says Ryan. “Our park has been a big hit for over 40 years, and it gets better year after year.”
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI | PHOTOS SCOTT TURNBULL
