Motorized Retractable Line for a Water Sports Facility

Abstract

Described are systems, devices and methods for providing a motorized retractable line or ski rope for a facility in which to practice water sports such as wakeboarding, wake surfing, wake skating, waterskiing, kneeboarding and the like. A motorized retractable line may operate by manual control or preferably by automation. Operation is in response to one or more detectable events or one or more controls. When a water sport participant loses contact with a handle of the ski rope, the motorized retractable line extends by unwinding from a winch or by another mechanism. The motorized retractable line is carried in the flow of water until it reaches a designated length or a maximal length (e.g., to a downstream side of the water sports facility), or until a participant re-connects with the handle of the ski rope. A participant may re-engage in a water sport from any position in the water sports facility after losing contact with the ski rope. A participant is returned to a designated participation area. A participant may re-engage more quickly in a water sport in a water sports facility after losing contact with the ski rope than previously possible. A participant may be able to engage in an increased number of runs or water sport sessions within a block of time or rental session.

1 . A water sports facility comprising:
 an open channel comprising an open channel length, a open channel width, an upstream side, and a downstream side, wherein the open channel is configured to allow water to flow along the open channel length from the upstream side toward the downstream side;   one or more effluents capable of ejecting water into the upstream side of the open channel;   one or more water influents that provide water to the one or more effluents; and   a retractable ski rope capable of reaching the downstream side of the open channel.   
     
     
         2 . The water sports facility of  claim 1  wherein the water sports facility further comprises a mounted ski rope fixture. 
     
     
         3 . The water sports facility of  claim 2  wherein the mounted ski rope fixture is extendable. 
     
     
         4 . The water sports facility of  claim 1 , wherein the water sports facility further comprises a motorized winch for retracting the retractable ski rope. 
     
     
         5 . The water sports facility of  claim 4 , wherein the retractable ski rope comprises a winch control for controlling, directly or indirectly, operation of the motorized winch. 
     
     
         6 . The water sports facility of  claim 5 , wherein the winch control is accessible by a participant, and wherein the winch control retracts the retractable ski rope to a designated participation area and to no other area when engaged. 
     
     
         7 . The water sports facility of  claim 4 , wherein the motorized winch operates at a sufficient speed to allow a participant to plane on water in the open channel. 
     
     
         8 . The water sports facility of  claim 1 , wherein the water sports facility further comprises a vertical riser, wherein the vertical riser is configured to raise and lower a point of origin of the retractable ski rope above a plane of the open channel. 
     
     
         9 . The water sports facility of  claim 8  wherein the vertical riser is configured to programmatically maintain the retractable ski rope at a desired angle relative to a plane of the open channel throughout a plurality of locations in the open channel. 
     
     
         10 . A method for providing a retractable ski rope to a water sport environment, the method comprising:
 flowing water into the water sport environment at a rate measured in volume per time;   providing a retractable ski rope at a first position within the water sport environment;   detecting an indication of a condition in the water sport environment;   extending the retractable ski rope to a second position within the water sport environment; and   retracting the retractable ski rope to the first position within the water sport environment.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein retracting the retractable ski rope to the first position further comprises:
 maintaining the retractable ski rope at a desired angle relative to a plane in the water sport environment as the retractable ski rope is retracted.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a speed of the retracting the retractable ski rope is controlled programmatically once retraction of the retractable ski rope begins. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the detecting an indication of a condition in the water sport environment further comprises:
 detecting a disengagement of a participant from a handle of the retractable ski rope.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 performing a change in operation of the water sport environment after detecting the indication of a condition in the water sport environment and while extending the retractable ski rope to the second position within the water sport environment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the performing a change in operation of the water sport environment comprises:
 ejecting water against a circulation of water in the water sport environment upon receiving an indication of non-participation by a water sport participant.   
     
     
         16 . A method for providing a retractable ski rope to a water sport participant in a water sports facility, the method comprising:
 ejecting water from a plurality of effluents at an upstream side of an open channel in the water sports facility for use by the water sport participant;   providing the retractable ski rope to the water sport participant; and   extending the retractable ski rope upon detection of a condition in the water sports facility.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 ceasing the extending the retractable ski rope upon detection of a contact with the ski rope by the water sport participant.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a control to initiate retraction of the retractable ski rope to the water sport participant.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 retracting the retractable ski rope beginning a fixed time after the water sport participant regains contact with the retractable ski rope.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 automatically controlling at a relatively constant value a participant-selected angle of the retractable ski rope irrespective of an amount of extending the retractable ski rope, wherein the participant-selected angle of the retractable ski rope is measured relative to a plane defined by water in the open channel.