Infinite Limits

Analogy of Lightness

          Water skiing is a sport where an individual (or more than one individual) is pulled behind a motor boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water wearing one or more skis. The surface area of the skis keeps the person skimming on the surface of the water allowing the skier to stand upright while holding the tow rope. Water skiing usually begins with a deep water start where the skier crouches down in the water with knees bent, arms straight, while leaning back with the ski tips pointing up. The ski rope should be between the skis or if using one ski, on either side of the ski. When the skier is ready, the driver gives the boat the required amount of force to pull the skier out of the water. The key to getting up is patiently staying in the crouched position, letting the boat create enough force against the ski to pull you out of the water. Common mistakes are trying to stand up too early and breaking the chair, straight backed, bent knees position.

      Waterskiing is a process that exemplifies the action of lightness described by Calvino since it also uses weight and lightness to perform. In fact, lightness is what makes water skiing possible. In order to water ski one must be aware that lightness of their body in water allows them to pop out of the water while being pulled by the motor boat. In addition, allowing the boat to do all the work is what enables one to water ski by making their body weightless while being pulled out of the water by the power of the boat. Calvino discusses that lightness tries to give language the weight, density, and concreteness of things, bodies, and sensations which relates to the idea of water skiing.