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Waterski Lessons in Edmonton, Alberta

The water doesn't care
if you've never skied.

Neither do we. 3,000 people have stood where you're standing right now — wondering if they could do this. They could. So can you.

Book Your First Set (780) 616-1206

$75–$95 per set · All equipment included · 4.8★ · 3,000+ first-timers trained

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$57–$95
Per 15-Minute Set

Volume discounts to $57/set. No hidden fees. No membership required.

Everything
Included

Skis, life jacket, wetsuit, gloves, coached driver. Just bring a towel.

15 Minutes
That's One Set

Most first-timers book 3 sets. You'll know by then.

Let's be honest

What's really stopping you?

Everyone who's never waterskied has a version of these thoughts. They're normal. They're also wrong.

"My first waterski experience was at age 15 and I got up on my first try. I was instantly hooked — it gave me a feeling of accomplishment."

— Ken Nelson, who built this lake because of that feeling
"I'll embarrass myself."
Tap to find out
You're on a private lake. Not a public beach. The only people watching are your coach (who's seen 3,000 beginners) and maybe a couple of ducks. Everyone falls. The five-year-olds fall. The former Olympians fell when they started. Falling in warm water with a life jacket on is the least dramatic thing that will happen to you this week.
"I'm not fit enough."
Tap to find out
You don't waterski with your muscles. You waterski with your balance. The boat does the work — you just stand there and let it pull you. We've taught five-year-olds, seventy-five-year-olds, people who haven't exercised in a decade, and people who told us they "have no coordination." The bar is lower than you think. If you can stand on solid ground, you can stand on water.
"Good skiers will be watching me fail."
Tap to find out
We schedule beginners separately. Your session is your session. There won't be a competitive skier doing backflips in the next lane while you're trying to stand up. And here's a secret: every good skier at this park started exactly where you are. They love watching beginners. It reminds them of the best day they ever had on the water.
"It's going to hurt when I fall."
Tap to find out
At beginner speed (15-20 km/h), falling off a waterski feels like... stepping off a slow-moving sidewalk into a warm pool. You're wearing a life jacket. The water is freshwater — no salt sting. You bob back up in two seconds. The most common post-fall reaction we see is laughing. The second most common is "can I go again?"
"The water's probably freezing."
Tap to find out
It's Alberta, so fair concern. Our season runs mid-May to mid-September. By June, the lake is 18-22°C. By July and August, it's 22-25°C — bathtub territory. We have wetsuits for early and late season. And once you're skiing, you're on top of the water, not in it. You barely get wet unless you fall — and by then, you won't care.
"I don't want to waste the money."
Tap to find out
A single set is 15 minutes and starts at $75. That's less than a decent dinner out. And even if you spend the entire 15 minutes falling and getting back up — which you won't — you'll still have had a private boat, a certified coach, and a beautiful lake to yourself for a quarter hour. Nobody has ever told us it was a waste. Not once in 40 years.
"I don't know anyone who does this."
Tap to find out
You don't need to. This isn't a club sport where you need a friend to introduce you. You book a set, you show up, and your coach takes care of everything. If you want company, bring someone — but most first-timers come alone or as a family. By the end of the day, you'll know the coach, the dock, and the feeling of standing on water. That's enough.
"My body in a swimsuit. In front of strangers."
Tap to find out
You're wearing a life jacket over everything. It's the great equalizer — everyone looks the same in a PFD. Wear whatever you're comfortable in: board shorts, a rash guard, a full wetsuit. Nobody cares. The coach is looking at your ski position, not your body. And the lake is private — there's no beach full of people watching.

Still nervous? Good — that means you're human. Book anyway. We've taught 3,000 people who felt exactly like you.

Book Your First Set (780) 616-1206

"I was terrified in the parking lot. By minute five my daughter was skiing and laughing. We've been back every Saturday since."

— First-time family visit

"I'm 52, hadn't exercised in years, and thought this was for athletic people. The coach had me up in three minutes. Best money I've spent all summer."

— Adult beginner
When You Arrive

This Is What You'll See.

Tap any pin to learn more about the facility.

The Shalom Park dock and tournament center looking down the 2,100-foot lake toward the river valley
The Dock

This is where your session starts. Your coach meets you here, fits your gear, and walks you through everything before you get on the water. The 2,100-foot competition lake stretches out in front of you — 20 minutes from Edmonton International.

Your day

Minute by minute.
No surprises.

Arrival
You drive down a gravel road and see a lake you didn't know existed.
Shalom Park is 20 minutes from Edmonton International Airport, tucked into the North Saskatchewan River valley. You'll park by the clubhouse. Take a breath. The lake is bigger than you expected.
First 10 minutes
Your coach meets you and fits your gear.
Life jacket (fitted, not the floppy kind). Skis chosen for your size. Wetsuit if it's early or late season. Gloves for grip. Your coach explains exactly what's going to happen on the water — how to hold the handle, when to lean back, when to stand. No jargon. No assumptions. Ask everything.
Minutes 10-15
You get on the boom.
The boom is a rigid arm extending from the boat. It's the safest way to learn. You're close to the coach, the speed is low, and the hardest part of waterskiing — the deep-water start — is eliminated completely. You just hold on and stand up. The boat does the work.
Young child learning to waterski on the boom at Shalom Park — proof that anyone can do this
If he can do it, so can you.
Minutes 15-17
You're standing on the water.
Most people are up within two minutes. Some take five. It doesn't matter — the moment you feel the glide, the moment the spray starts and the trees start moving past you, every fear you had in the parking lot is gone. This is the moment. This is why 3,000 people came before you.
Minutes 17-25
You ski. You fall. You get back up.
Your coach adjusts. You try crossing the wake. You lean a little more. Maybe you fall — and you discover it doesn't hurt. The life jacket bobs you back up, the boat circles around, and you go again. Each run is a little better. Each run is a little braver.
After your set
You sit on the dock and grin at the lake.
Fifteen minutes is enough to know. Either you're hooked or you're satisfied. Most people are hooked. Most people book their next set before they've dried off. The muscles you didn't know you had will let you know they exist tomorrow. That's normal. That's good.
Drive home
You tell someone about it.
Everyone does. The lake, the feeling, the moment you stood up. You'll describe it to someone — a spouse, a friend, a coworker — and they'll say "I've always wanted to try that." And you'll say "you should." And then there'll be two of you.

Now you know exactly what happens. The only question left is when.

Book Your First Set →
The stuff you're too polite to ask

Honest answers only.

Will I face-plant?
Probably at least once. But at beginner speed, a face-plant is more like a gentle belly flop. The life jacket keeps you floating, the water is warm, and your coach will be right there. The five-year-olds face-plant. They think it's hilarious. You will too.
How sore will I be tomorrow?
Your forearms will feel it. Maybe your shoulders. It's the same soreness you'd get from a good gym session — nothing debilitating. By day two, you're fine. If you book multiple sets in one visit, you'll notice the fatigue by set three. That's your body saying "this was awesome and also please stop."
Do I need to be able to swim?
You need to be comfortable in water. You don't need to be a strong swimmer — the life jacket does the floating for you. But if the idea of being in a lake causes genuine anxiety, this might not be the right activity for you, and that's completely okay.
What if my kids want to try?
Bring them. We've been teaching kids since 1985. The New Kids on the Water program is designed for children as young as five. They start on the boom at very low speed with a coach who has seen thousands of first-timers. Kids are often better at this than adults — they don't overthink it.
Can I bring my own beer?
Not on the water. Waterskiing requires focus and coordination — alcohol and tow ropes don't mix. But after your set? The clubhouse deck, a cold drink, and a view of the lake is about as good as a summer afternoon gets in Alberta.
Am I too old for this?
Our oldest first-timer was in their seventies. The boom eliminates the physical strain of the deep-water start. The speed is adjustable. The coach meets you exactly where you are. Age is a number. The lake doesn't check ID.
Where exactly is this place?
20750 57th Ave SW, Edmonton, AB T6Y 0J4. About 20 minutes southwest of Edmonton International Airport. It's in the North Saskatchewan River valley — 42 acres of private property with a 2,100-foot competition lake. You'll wonder how you never knew it was there. Learn about the lake and the family who built it →
No surprises

Here's what it costs.

No hidden fees. No membership required. You pay per set.

15 min
One set
15 minutes of on-water time with a coached driver
$57–$95
Per set
Price depends on package size. Larger packages = lower per-set cost
$0
Equipment
Skis, life jacket, wetsuit, gloves — all included
3,000+
First-timers taught
Since 1985. Five-year-olds to seventy-five-year-olds.

Most first-timers book 3 sets for $237–$285. That's an hour on the water, with coaching, on a private lake. The difference between set one and set three is usually dramatic. See all programs and packages →

Competitive slalom skiing at Shalom Park — what progression looks like after a few seasons

This is where it goes.

Everyone starts on the boom. Some end up here.

One set.
That's all.

Fifteen minutes. One boat. One coach. One lake that's been here since 1985. If you hate it, you lost an hour of your Saturday. If you love it — and you probably will — your whole summer just changed.

Book Your First Set (780) 616-1206

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What to wear. What to bring. What it actually feels like. A short PDF so you know exactly what to expect. Or read the complete first-timer guide online.

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