LITTLE ROCK — Scott Greenwood has taught three people to water ski.

The first two are his daughter, 14-year-old Brittany Greenwood, and son, 13-year-old Sam Greenwood.

Brittany Greenwood is one of the top junior water skiers in the country, finishing fourth in the International Girls division in the jump at the 17th Junior Masters held in Georgia in May with a 130-foot jump, and regularly winning her age group in slalom, jump and trick events. She also set the nation record last summer for her age division with a jump of 120 feet and won the last two national jump titles in her age division.

Brittany Greenwood gracefully glides across the uneven surface of the Greenwood's 12-acre Bullneck Lake in Scott, and it's like observing a ballerina or figure skater gliding across a lake of broken glass.

Sam Greenwood won the under-13 Pan American trick title last summer water skiing for the under-13 U.S. team in Medillin, Colombia. He finished second in the jump, third in the slalom and third overall at the same event, and he has several trick and overall regional titles along with two second place finishes in tricks and overall at national events.

Sam Greenwood is just as graceful as his older sister with a look of focused determination, as he slides from side to side behind the boat, jumping the wake, waiting until the right moment to perform a seemingly effortless flip.

come by it honestly

Brittany and Sam Greenwood have the pedigree of water skiers. Scott Greenwood was a water skier at the University of Louisiana-Monroe (known at the time as Northeast Louisiana University), and has several national and international medals in the slalom and trick categories. Their mother, Jane Greenwood, was also a water skier at ULM and set jump records while earning medals and championships in the slalom, trick and jump categories.

"First, I just loved it," said Scott Greenwood about introduction to water skiing. "It was just fun. I excelled at it more than I did in other sports. Everyone's got a little different idea of what turns them on. It's different than the other sports. And it's fun to practice."

Brittany and Sam grew up water skiing, with Sam being 1 year old the first time he wore skis. (Scott and Jane Greenwood's youngest son, Matthew, is barely walking but just about ready for his first water ski lesson.)

There's nothing graceful about the third person Scott Greenwood has taught to water ski. He's a little more lead-footed and definitely intended for more brute-force activities instead of gliding across water. The third person would be me. And although my last water skiing lesson came about 15 years ago (and ended with me being dragged behind the boat swallowing lake water), it's Scott Greenwood's responsibility to teach me.

"Balance is one of the biggest keys," he said. "People think you have to be really strong to ski. But it's about balance, agility and timing."

The Greenwoods designed and built Bullneck Lake along with Kevin and Jenny Withrow in 2000 with an idea of creating a private lake where members could practice the three main water-skiing events: slalom, jump and trick. World champion skiers such as Jamie Beauchesne have skimmed across Bullneck's waters, and now I'm about to dirty it up.

Lessons learned

The first lesson of water skiing begins on the dock. Brittany Greenwood had already demonstrated to cousin and novice water skier Rebecca Moix the proper technique for rising from the water on skis. The start position is a squat position in the water, skis peeking out of the water, and allowing the boat to perform the heavy lifting.

"Stand up real slow," said Scott Greenwood before I was in the water. "You're going to let the boat pull you up."

Although Moix had some pre-ski reservations ("I'm probably going to bust my face," she said.), she is up and water skiing on her first attempt.

And so my lesson begins. The first half dozen attempts were a broken record: I'd allow the boat to pull me up, but lean back too far, not keep my arms straight, fail in getting my knees over my feet, and go back into the water minus the rope and with a mouthful of water. I was water skiing for about a second or two.

But Scott Greenwood was perhaps the most patient man on earth for the 45 minutes or so I was on the water; gently detailing what I did wrong after each failed attempt and encouraging me along the way.

Finally it clicked. I allowed the boat to pull me out of the water. I rose slowly on the skis. I kept my arms straight. I positioned my knees over my feet. And - for a few glorious seconds (30 seconds? 45 seconds?) I skimmed across the water of Bullneck Lake. It wasn't graceful - more like a rock tumbling down a mountain side - but it was a blast. During one successful water skiing attempt I forgot about trying to remain upright and simply enjoyed the moment. I smiled. I even called out to the boat pulling me.

As far as tricks, jumps and flips? I'll leave that to the Greenwoods and more accomplished skiers of the world, but Scott Greenwood was definitely happy to introduce a newbie to the joys of water skiing.

"I love water skiing," he said. "I love helping people out. It's my passion.

"If someone's looking to water ski they can call one of the local clubs."

Sidebar:

Where to ski in central Arkansas

The central Arkansas area is home to several water skiing locations, both public and private. Here are a list of private clubs (although they do not offer lessons):

Bullneck Lake

DeGray Ski Club

Russellville Ski Club

Arkansas Water Ski Club (Burns Park)

USA Water Ski has a complete list of clubs in Arkansas, including contact information. Go to www.usawaterski.org for more information about contacting a local club.

One option for individuals interested in learning how to water ski is to enroll at a school, such as Bennett's Water Ski and Wakeboard School in Zachary, La.

"If a parent has a child out there wanting to learn how to ski, send them to a school," Scott Greenwood said. "That way they can go to the school and see how much they like it without investing too much money."