It's tricky, and you must keep your eyk
peeled for hidden rocks and whirlpools."
r- -;.
Contestants get their equipment ready.
"Skis" are made of aluminum, sailcloth,
or pontoons buoyed by inflated plastic
m
' 5J ,?-t.-...
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"Whoops-a-daisy!" He heads toward shore
after good dunking in the swift waters.
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Ski-Yaking on the Salza
Photos: Hilty from Monkmeyer
Ski-yakinc seems to be the sort of rugged com
petition in which the man who remains standing
becomes the winner. At least that's the way it
looks here at the annual championships near Werfen
on Austria's Salza River. Experts, too, are those who
know the whims the tricky cross currents, whirl
pools, and hidden rocks of the rapid mountain
stream. When the racers get going, they can speed up
to 17 V4 mph on their kayak-like pontoon skis.
A Ski-yaking racers often attain speeds up to I7lj mph
1 when they head down the stretch in swirling currents.
20
family Weekly, January U. list
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