How fast did the blimp tow him?
We were towed anywhere from 18mph for me on a trick ski to about 40mph for the barefooter. My son was on jumpers between 25 and 30 mph while texting. He actually texted faster on the skis than on dry land - the text speed record was a standard measurement of texting speed that nerds work really hard at (
The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.). He was allowed 50% slower (or some multiplier) for the activity but even that was unrealistic for a normal person on dry land. On skis on a bumpy open lake behind a blimp, he was very close!
The record blimp towed length was 9km (it was a promotion for the Samsung 9) which Guinness did certify. She skied that on jumpers at around 30mph. Speeds were pretty variable. There was rope stretch from the light 300 foot rope, blimp inertia, variable wind speed and it was just hard to hold speed.
Our pilot was fantastic at managing all the variables. Except for me. My trick ski is short and I'm not small. Going right after the barefooter where there was not really enough power to make it work well, he saw my little ski, went high and dove down for the start to give me enough power to start. My trick ski generates huge amounts of lift and requires very little energy to get up. So off into the ski I rocketed! I just held on and let the blimp lower me slowly onto the water. Smoothest landing ever! Kind of like jumping off a cliff and having bottomless powder softly catch you. I want to go blimp skiing again!
Eric