The present invention relates to an improvement in water-skis, specifically to monoskis, that is water-skis on which a person can stand with both feet.

On a monoski, as compared to a pair of skis, it is difficult to maintain balance when being pulled from a floating, starting position, in which the skier and ski are partially submerged, to the skiing position, in which the ski rides on the water surface. This is because of the positioning of the feet on the ski. By requiring the feet to be located one behind the other, the skier cannot attain a balanced stance, in which the feet can be spread apart, in the manner possible when using two skis. When using two skis it is far easier for a skier to get up from the water to the skiing position as compared to when using a monoski since the skier can spread his/her feet to achieve a good balance. Moreover, when using two skis the tow line which pulls the skier can in the starting position be placed between che skis thus further assisting the skier in attaining a balanced position during the initial period when being pulled from the starting position to the skiing position.

Figure 1 shows in perspective view the arrangement of the front part of a conventional monoski 51 and tow line 52 in the partially submerged starting position. When using a conventional monoski 51, the tow line 52 has to be placed on one side of the front part of the ski 51 which extends above the waterline when in the starting position, and this makes it more difficult to maintain balance since the pulling force F ₁ on the ski 51 acts in a different direction

to that of the pulling force F ₂ from the tow line 52. When the skier is pulled from the starting position, zhe pulling force F ₂ from the tow line 52 tends to pull the hands and upper body of the skier in one direction, i.e. to one side, whilst the ski 51 is pushed by the skier's feet in an opposed direction. This causes considerable problems for beginners and intermediate skiers, and can even give difficulty to proficient skiers. The difficulties in assuming the skiing position on a monoski are well known and consequently there is a general belief that skiing on a monoski is actually more difficult than it really is.

Developments in wacer-skis have usually related to the shape, the floating characteristics or the carving (i.e. cornering) ability of the skis. Indeed, modern water-skis are available in many varied shapes and sizes, and are offered with numerous lower surface designs for providing different floating characteristics. Modern water-skis are not primarily designed for the purpose of enabling or assisting beginners or intermediate skiers to gee from the starting position to the skiing position.

The besz and often the only way tc practice monoskiing is to assume the starting position with two skis. Then, after reaching the skiing position the skier discards one ski and puts his/her free foot in a second shoe, usually a rear shoe, provided on the other ski. Nevertheless, even using this technique unskilled skiers regularly fall and have to repeat the procedure. This requires the dropped ski to be found and brought back to the skier, during which time the skier will have to wait several minutes in often cold water which rapidly becomes a tiring exercise. Moreover, there is a chance of losing the dropped ski completely.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a

monoski which allows a skier to maintain balance more readily whilst being pulled from a partially submerged starting position to the skiing position, and thereby makes it easier and safer for a skier to get from the partially submerged starting position to the skiing position.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a monoski having an open-ended longitudinal slot through the thickness of the ski which extends rearwardly along the ski from the toe. In use, the tow line in the starting position is located in the slot, thereby restricting the movement of the ski from side to side and making it easier for a skier to maintain balance whilst being pulled from a partially submerged starting position to the skiing position because the pulling force exerted by the tow line can be substantially aligned with the pulling force on the monoski. The present invention also provides such a monoski in combination with a tow line.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described h ^' ereinbelow by way of example -only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the front part of a conventional monoski and tow line, and the pulling forces associated therewith in the partially submerged starting position;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a monoski and tow line in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, shown in the partially submerged starting position;

Figures 3 (a) to 3 (e) show enlarged sectional views of several alternative slot designs for use in the ski of Figure 2 ;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the front part of a conventional monoski and tow line, and the pulling forces

associated therewith in the partially submerged starting position;

Figures 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate perspective views of the front part of a ski and tow line in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in the partially submerged starting position;

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view along line I-I in Figure 5 (a) , with one fixing member withdrawn;

Figure 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of the front part of the ski of Figures 5 (a) and 5 (b) ;

Figures 8 (a) to 8 (d) show the interrelationship of the ski and tow line of Figures 5(a) and 5(b) during the transition from the partially submerged starting position to the skiing position;

Figures 9(a) to 9(d) illustrate in enlarged cross- section the operation of the catch member on the tow line and the fixing members on the ski of Figures 5 (a) and 5 (b) during the transition from the partially submerged starting position to the skiing position;

Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of the front part of the monoski and tow line of Figures 5 to 9, and the pulling forces associated therewith in the partially submerged starting position;

Figure 11 illustrates a plan view of a monoski and a tow line in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 12 illustrates a tow line having an adjustable catch member mounted thereto; and

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a twin-line tow line having a bracket member fastened therebetween which is utilisable with the skis in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a monoski 1 and tow line 2 in

accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 2, the ski 1 and tow line 2 are shown in the starting position, in which position the ski 1 is partially submerged. The ski 1 has in its front part la an open-ended slot 5 through the thickness of the ski 1. The slot 5 extends rearwardly along a central longitudinal line from the frontmost part of the ski 1, namely the toe 6, towards a central part lb of the ski 1. The central part lb of the ski 1 is provided on its upper surface with conventional front and rear shoes 3,4 in which the feet of a skier are located in use. The slot 5 is of narrow section and in plan section may be of elongated "U" or "V" shape. In cross-section the longitudinal walls 5a, 5b of the slot 5 may extend perpendicular to the surface of the ski l (see Figure 3(a)), or may be formed so as to have a greater width at one of the lower surface (see Figures 3 (b) and 3(c)) or upper surface (see Figures 3(d) and 3(e)) of the ski 1. Figures 3(b) and 3(c) illustrate slots having flat, inclined longitudinal walls 5a, 5b and Figures 3(d) and 3 (e) illustrate slots having rounded, convex longitudinal walls 5a, 5b. The slot 5 is typically approximately 40 to 50cm long. The slot 5 may be formed during the production of the ski 1, for example during injection moulding, or may be cut into a finished ski, for example by sawing, laser cutting, routing or water cutting. The slot 5 may also be provided with sealing means for preventing, in use, water from passing through the slot 5. In use, in the starting position, the ski 1 extends substantially vertically, with the toe 6 of the ski 1 extending about 20 to 40cm above the waterline. In this position the tow line 2 extends through the slot 5. When the tow line 2 is taut, drifting of the ski 1 from side to side is restricted, thereby effectively fixing the position

of the skier and ski 1 in relation to the tow line 2. In this embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 3, the pulling force ?_, on the ski 1 and the pulling force F ₂ from the tow line 2 are parallel. This arrangement effectively maintains the skier, ski 1 and tow line 2 in a imaginary plane, and thus enables the skier more readily to maintain balance and the same course as the ski 1 whilst being initially pulled during the first critical period from the starting position to the skiing position. The slot 5 is of sufficient width to allow free movement of the tow line 2 therein and release therefrom.

Where a ski 1 in accordance with the present invention is used, the tow line 2 is preferably provided below the handle 10 with a stop member 9, whose dimension is greater than the width of the slot 5, so as to prevent the handle 10 and associated line from being drawn into and caught in the slot 5 which could result in injury to the skier, e.g. a twisted ankle or other injuries to the feet. The stop member 9 is preferably spheroidal and can be formed by the injection moulding of plastics or otherwise from a rubber- type material. The stop member 9 may be fixed permanently to the tow line 2 in one position, or may be adjustably attached to the tow line 2 such that it can be moved along the tow line 2 and fixed thereto at any desired position along its length. Typically, if the skier loses grip on the handle 10, the tow line 2 will pass through the slot 5 until the stop member 9 reaches the upper surface of the ski 1. At that time, the stop member 9 will then ride over the surface of the ski 1 towards the toe 6 as the tow line 2 is drawn further, until the tow line 2 eventually passes from the slot 5. The force with which the stop member 9 hits the front part of the ski 1, will not result in backlash from the tail 7 as when the tow line 2 is located

in the slot 5 the tail 7 is submerged and thereby its motion is resisted by the body of water.

Figures 5 (a) and 5 (b) illustrate the front part of a ski 1 and tow line 2 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the ski 1 is of similar construction to that of the first described embodiment, however, the slot 5 is additionally provided with a pair of fixing members 12. The fixing members 12 are fixed to the upper surface of the ski 1 on opposed sides of the slot 5 and are adapted to receive and hold a catch member 13 provided on the tow line 2 during the initial critical period when the skier is being pulled from the partially submerged starting position to the skiing position. Figures 5(a) and 5(b) respectively illustrate arrangements where the fixing members 12 are located in relatively forward and rearward positions along the length of the slot 5.

The fixing members 12 are attached to the ski 1 by respective threaded stud parts 12a as shown in Figure 6. The stud parts 12a are received in threaded openings 14 provided in the ski 1. Figure 6 illustrates the manner in which the fixing members 12 are attached to the ski 1. In Figure 6 the stud part 12a of the right fixing member 12 is shown in a position withdrawn from the opening 14. In use, the stud part 12a is screwed into the opening 14, and located on the ski 1 in the manner of the left fixing member 12. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, a plurality of spaced pairs of threaded openings 14a-14e are provided along the length of the slot 5 so as to allow the fixing members 12 to be selectively positioned along the length of the slot 5. In this way, use of the ski 1 by many skiers of different size is possible by re-positioning the fixing members 12.

In use, in the starting position as shown in Figures 8(a) and 9(a), the catch member 13 is engaged behind the fixing members 12. Thus, when a pulling force is applied to the tow line 2, the pulling force is resisted by the fixing members 12, thereby drawing the ski 1 without applying any load to the skier. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the pulling force F _x on the ski ₁ is parallel to the pulling force F ₂ from the tow line 2. As a pulling force is applied the ski 1 levels off, i.e. the toe 6 of the ski moves nearer the surface of the water, in the manner shown in Figures 8 (b) , 9 (b) and 8(c), 9(c) . This continues until the angle between the ski 1 and the tow line 2 reaches a critical angle, at which time the catch member 13 is automatically released from the fixing members 12 as shown in Figures 8(d) and 9(d) and the skier assumes the skiing position.

Figure 11 illustrates a ski 1 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the ski 1 is of similar construction to that of the first described embodiment, however, the slot 5 is additionally provided with a fixing means 21 which is adapted to receive and hold the tow line 2 during the initial critical period when the skier is being pulled from the partially submerged starting position to the skiing position. In this embodiment the fixing means 21 comprises a body having a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of projections 22, each pair of projections 22 being adapted to receive a catch member 13 fixed to the tow line 2. The catch member 13 is attached to the tow line 2 at a fixed distance from the handle 10, and is located at a selected one of said pairs of projections 22 according to the height of the skier so as to achieve the correct posture in the starting position. The catch member 13 is preferably

adjacent the slot 5 and is preferably formed by injection moulding. The fixing means 21 can be formed as an integral part of the ski 1 or can be a separately formed component which is subsequently fitted to the ski 1.

In use, when the catch member 13 is engaged with a respective pair of projections 22 and a pulling force is applied to the tow line 2, the pulling force is resisted by the fixing means 21, thereby drawing the ski 1 forwards. The fixing means 21 is adapted to release automatically the catch member 13 when the angle between the ski 1 and the tow line 2 reaches a critical angle, typically that angle achieved when the ski 1 rides on the surface of the water, in essentially the manner of the second embodiment of the present invention as described in relation to Figures 8 (a- d) and 9 (a-d) .

It will be understood that the fixing means 21 may be of any configuration which receives and holds the member 13 attached to the tow line 2 until a critical angle is reached. In this embodiment the fixing means 21 comprises a plurality of projections 22 which provide for the attachment of the tow line 2 at various positions along the length of the slot 5, thereby allowing the use of the same ski 1 by skiers of different size without modification. However, the fixing means 21 alternatively may comprise a single attachment part, for example one pair of projections 22, which is fixedly mounted to the ski 1, and the catch member 13 may be adjustably attached to the tow line 2 such that it can be moved along the tow line 2 and fixed thereto at any position along its length. Figure 12 illustrates a tow line 2 having such a catch member 13.

Figure 13 illustrates a modified tow line 2 which can be used in conjunction with any of the above-described embodiments of the present invention. The tow line 2

comprises first and second lines 2a,2b having a bracket member 25 fastened therebetween in that position where the tow line 2 is located in the slot 5 in the starting position. The bracket member 25 provides increased stabilization and support. The bracket member 25 may be made from flexible or rigid plastic sheet, or a rubber- based material. The bracket member 25 may also be provided with a catch member 13 as illustrated in Figure 14.