'Rail Jam' gives wakeboarders high ride

Harbor Fest sends extreme sport fans off mini-ski ramp

MOUNT PLEASANT — Australian Scott Mackey had hit his mark, and it was a good thing. After twisting and turning skyward on his wakeboard, he landed in a pool measuring a mere 50 feet long by 25 feet wide.

Ashley Garner
The Post and Courier

Clayton Underwood, being pulled at 18 mph, flies over the wave pool at Patriots Point during Harbor Fest's "Rail Jam" on Friday.

"Obviously, there's an element of danger to it. They're getting bigger and scarier and crazier each year," he said.

"Rail Jam," the extreme sport entry in Harbor Fest, features the aerobatics of Mackey and Clay Underwood of Indianapolis. Rather than skiing behind a boat, they are pulled at 18 mph by a cable reeled in by an eight-horsepower engine that launches them off a "kicker" that looks like a mini-ski ramp.

"It's definitely got the 'wow!' factor," Mackey said. Not to mention the "ow!" factor. "I've had a bunch of concussions," he said. And knee surgery. But that hasn't slowed him down on the latest coast-to-coast tour. He and Underwood performed three shows Friday at Patriots Point. "We get a little bit bigger as the day goes on," he said.

The 23-year-old Melbourne native began skiing when he could walk. He took up wakeboarding at age 15, and has stuck with it because of the endless challenges. "There's no limit. It doesn't matter how good you get. There's no end to it. There's different stuff to do and different varieties to try," he said. The duo performs today at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

On Friday at Patriots Point, helicopterrides were available for $20. Or you could sign up for a padded bout of jousting after enjoying some seafood and beer. With a fat wallet, you could cash in on the Harbor Fest sale price of a gleaming luxury power boat — $64,406 — a savings of $8,935. All of those options will be available today.

Today, on the Charleston side of the harbor, there's an array of activities, including family boatbuilding, a pirate walk, a treasure quest, tall ships and a cannon firing demonstration, to name a few.

Harbor Fest 2008

If you're boating: Boats won't be able to travel Horse Reach or Hog Island Reach on the Cooper River today and Sunday in the late morning or early afternoon, when an air show takes place for Charleston Harbor Fest.

The Coast Guard is creating a safety zone directly underneath the aerial performance. Waters in those reaches, roughly from the Ravenel Bridge to the tip of Shutes Folly, will be closed to unauthorized traffic.

Recreational boaters will be allowed to anchor at the foot of Drum Island and at the left of Shutes Folly.

The zone will be closed from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-2:45 p.m. on both days. Traffic needing permission to pass through the safety zone can contact the representative for the captain of the port on VHF-FM channel 16 or via phone at 724-7616.

The Coast Guard will be making broadcasts to provide current information at the start and finish of the performances.

Today's events

Downtown

9 a.m.: Family boat building begins. Charleston Maritime Center.

9 a.m.: Pirate walk begins from Ansonborough Field through Market Street to Powder Magazine Building, Cumberland and Church streets.

9:30-10 a.m.: Pirates overtake the Redcoats and free pirates from the Powder Magazine Building.

10 a.m.: Anita Singleton-Prather as Aunt Pearlie-Sue. Education Village, Liberty Square.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Harbor Fest Treasure Quest. Liberty Square.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: The tall ships are open. Free to access docks, but a wristband is required to board. Charleston Maritime Center docks.

11 a.m.: Reading by children's author Merrie Southgate. Education Village, Liberty Square.

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Live music. Ansonborough Field.

Noon: Cannon firing demo. Pirate Camp, Ansonborough Field.

Noon: North Charleston Dance and Drum Company Djole accompanied by international performing artist from Ghana, "Powerful." Education Village, Liberty Square.

1 p.m.: Sea Shanties with Ray Haggerty. Education Village, Liberty Square.

2 p.m.: Cannon firing demo. Pirate Camp, Ansonborough Field.

2 p.m.: Queen Quet, chieftess of the Gullah-Geechee nation. Education Village, Liberty Square.

2-5 p.m.: Live music. Ansonborough Field.

3 p.m.: Pirate costume contest/parade. Meet at Maritime Center, parade to Pirate Camp.

3 p.m.: Animal antics by the S.C. Aquarium. Education Village, Liberty Square.

3:45 p.m.: Anita Singleton-Prather as Aunt Pearlie-Sue. Education Village, Liberty Square.

4 p.m.: Cannon firing demo. Pirate Camp, Ansonborough Field.

6-8 p.m.: Wooden Boat Awards ceremony. Charleston Maritime Center.

Mount Pleasant

(NOTE: All events at Patriots Point.)

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Live music.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Helicopter harbor tours available. $20 per person.

10:15 a.m.: Kayak rolling demo.

10:30 a.m.: Kayak tryout for kids.

11:15 a.m.-noon: Aerobatic flight demo.

Noon: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

1 p.m.: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

2-2:45 p.m.: Aerobatic flight demo.

3 p.m.: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

4 p.m.: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

SUNDAY

Downtown

10 a.m.: Queen Quet, chieftess of the Gullah-Geechee nation. Education Village, Liberty Square.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: The tall ships are open. Free to access docks, but a wristband is required to board Charleston Maritime Center docks. (NOTE: The Corwith Cramer will be closed today.)

11 a.m.: Spirit Knot Tiers ropemaking demo. Education Village, Liberty Square.

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Live music. Ansonborough Field.

Noon: North Charleston Dance and Drum Company Djole accompanied by international performing artist from Ghana, "Powerful." Education Village, Liberty Square.

Noon: Cannon firing demo. Pirate Camp, Ansonborough Field.

1 p.m.: Pirate costume contest/ parade. Meet at Maritime Center, parade to Pirate Camp.

1 p.m.: Sea Shanties with Ray Haggerty. Education Village, Liberty Square.

2 p.m.: Cannon firing demo. Pirate Camp, Ansonborough Field.

2 p.m.: Queen Quet, chieftess of the Gullah-Geechee nation. Education Village, Liberty Square.

2-5 p.m.: Live music. Ansonborough Field.

2:30 p.m.: Family boat building parade/launch. Charleston Maritime Center Basin.

3 p.m.: Animal antics by the S.C. Aquarium. Education Village, Liberty Square.

3 p.m.: Cannon firing demo. Pirate Camp, Ansonborough Field.

3:45 p.m.: Anita Singleton-Prather as Aunt Pearlie-Sue. Education Village, Liberty Square.

Mount Pleasant

(NOTE: All events at Patriots Point.)

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Live music.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Helicopter harbor tours available. $20 per person.

10:30 a.m.: Kayak tryout for kids.

11:15 a.m.-noon: Aerobatic flight demo.

Noon: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

1 p.m.: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

1:30 p.m.: Kayak gear demo.

2-2:45 p.m.: Aerobatic flight demo.

3 p.m.: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

4 p.m.: "Rail Jam" extreme wakeboarding demo.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at pfindlay@postandcourier.com or 937-5711.