Abstract: Apparatus for exerting a towing force on an aquatic recreational towing device in the initial stages of towing the device while a rider thereon positions himself for purposes of riding on and maneuvering the device as it is drawn over a water surface at high speed by a towing boat. The tow rope running between the towing boat and the towed device is coupled directly to the device in a manner which readily permits the rider to decouple the towing force from its direct application to the towing device and to interpose the rider between the tow rope and the towed device as an intermediary for transmitting towing forces from the tow boat to the towed device.