1. In a towing means, particularly for towing skiers on water and on land, a plurality of support masts placed so that straight connection lines between them form a closed path generally corresponding to an intended towing path, sets of drive and deflector rollers supported by said masts, a traction means comprising at least two endless substantially parallel circulating ropes trained over different ones of said rollers, means for driving said traction means at a predetermined speed, a plurality of tow lines, means connecting said tow lines to said traction means, means fixedly securing said endless circulating ropes in fixed spaced relation at least at intervals, each said securing means comprising at least one transverse connection bar, rope clamping means secured to the ends of said connection bar and having portions projecting substantially perpendicularly to a plane through said circulating ropes, and deep circumferential grooves in said rollers for receiving said portions when the ropes pass over said rollers.

10. In towing means, particularly for towing skiers on water and on land, a plurality of support masts placed so that straight connection lines between them form a closed path generally corresponding to an intended towing path, drive and deflector rollers supported by said masts, a traction means comprising an endless circulating line trained over said rollers, means for driving said circulating line at a predetermined speed, a plurality of tow-lines, coacting coupling means on said circulating line and tow-lines for selectively attaching said tow-lines to said circulating line, and a launching pad for the skier disposed at a distance from one of said straight connection lines substantially equal to the length of a tow-line and extending toward said one straight connection line at such an angle and for such a distance that the launching path on said pad under the traction effect from said circulating line is substantially perpendicular to said one straight connection line, said circulating line comprising at least two ropes spaced from each other, means fixedly securing said ropes in fixed spaced relation at least at intervals, said means including at least one connection bar, rope clamping means secured to the ends of said connection bar and having portions projecting substantially perpendicularly to a plane through said ropes, deep circumferential grooves in said rollers to accommodate said portions when the ropes pass over said rollers, and said rope clamping means comprising a rope guide element, a pin projecting from said rope guide element, a sleeve into which said pin extends with said rope guide element outside of said sleeve, and thread means interconnecting said pin and sleeve to secure said rope, the rope guide element having a rope guide surface with a curvature whose center of curvature is on the side opposite to the pin, and said sleeve being provided with wing-like members having rope engaging surfaces.

12. In towing means, particularly for towing skiers on water and on land, a plurality of support masts placed so that straight connection lines between them form a closed path generally corresponding to an intended towing path, sets of drive and deflector rollers supported by said masts, a traction means comprising an endless circulating line trained over said rollers, means for driving said circulating line at a predetermined speed, a plurality of tow-lines, coacting connection means on said circulating line and tow-lines for selectively attaching said tow-lines to said circulating line, and a launching pad for the skier disposed at a distance from one of said straight connection lines substantially equal to the length of a tow-line and extending toward said one straight connection line at such an angle and for such a distance that the launching path on said pad under the traction effect from said circulating line is substantially perpendicular to said one straight connection line, said circulating line comprising at least two ropes spaced from each other, means fixedly securing said ropes in fixed spaced relation at least at intervals, said means including at least one connection bar, rope clamping means secured to the ends of said connection bar and having portions projecting substantially perpendicularly to a plane through said ropes, deep circumferential grooves in said rollers to accommodate said portions when the ropes pass over said rollers, and said connection means on the circulating line including cooperating fingers, and spring means biasing said fingers towards each other to retain the connection means on said tow-line therebetween and to release said lastmentioned connection means in the case of overload in the tow-line.

15. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said traction means including a pair of driving cables; a pair of spacer means each extending between said cables; cable clamping means on each end of said spacer means and secured to a corresponding one of said cables; a pair of crossed equalizing cables each having its ends connected respectively to a different one of said spacer means, said spacer means each including two pivotal interconnected sections, and said crossed cables extending between and being connected to a corresponding section of said spacer means.

19. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said traction means including a cable clamping structure with a clamping element; said clamping element having an elongated end with a grooved portion extending along its length, said grooved portion conforming generally with a cable to be clamped, said element end having a central depressed portion and two outer portions each with a compound curvature; a generally U-shaped clamping element partially embracing said central portion and having hooked portions at its ends; the first mentioned clamping element having a centrally apertured portion aligned generally with said central depressed portion into which the hooked ends of the second mentioned clamping element extend; a bolt passing through said apertured portion and having a head engaging said hooked portions, a shouldered washer element in said apertured portion through which said bolt passes with said shouldered washer element engaging said hooked ends of the second mentioned clamping element; a nut threaded on said bolt with said hooked ends of said second clamping element and said shouldered washer being sandwiched between said nut and said bolt head; a flange and shouldered washer element engaging said apertured portion of the first mentioned clamping element with said bolt extending therethrough, circular spring means on said bolt; washer means; and a second nut; said spring means and the last mentioned washer element being disposed between said second nut and said flanged and shouldered washer element.

20. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said moving traction means including a pair of cables; a pair of spacer means each extending between said cables; cable clamping means on each end of said spacer means and secured to a corresponding one of said cables; and at least one of said spacer means comprising two pivotal interconnected sections.

21. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said piCkup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said traction means including a pair of driving cables; a pair of spacer means each extending between said cables; cable clamping means on each end of said spacer means and secured to a corresponding one of said cables; and a pair of crossed equalizing cables each having its ends connected respectively to a different one of said spacer means.

22. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, a pair of cables; a pair of spacer means each extending vertically between said cables, one being a leading spacer means and the other being a trailing spacer means; cable clamping means on each end of said spacer means and secured to a corresponding one of said cables; and releasable clamping means carried on the lower end of the trailing spacer means.

23. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means; said traction means including a cable clamping structure with a clamping element; said clamping element having an elongated end with a grooved portion extending along its length, said grooved portion conforming generally with a cable to be clamped, said element end having a central depressed portion and two outer portions each with a compound curvature; a generally U-shaped clamping element partially embracing said central portion and having hooked portions at its ends; the first mentioned clamping element having a centrally apertured portion aligned generally with said central depressed portion into which the hooked ends of the second mentioned clamping element extend; a bolt passing through said apertured portion and having a head engaging said hooked portions, a shouldered washer element in said apertured portion through which said bolt passes with said shouldered washer element engaging said hooked ends of the second mentioned clamping element; a nut threaded on said bolt with said hooked ends of said second clamping element and said shouldered washer being sandwiched between said nut and said bolt head.

24. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of Said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said traction means including a cable clamping element having two extended end portions each with a groove therein conforming generally with a cable to be clamped thereon, said element having a centrally apertured portion with the grooved portion of each end portion extending into opposite side walls of the apertured portion; a wedge element having grooves on opposite side walls thereof conforming generally with the cable to be clamped, said wedge being adapted to be inserted into said apertured portion to thereby wedge different cable ends between said wedge and opposite side walls of said apertured portion.

25. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said traction means being in the form of a pair of cables interconnected at different points therealong by transversely extending spacer means with said cables having different directions of twist.

26. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said traction means being in the form of a pair of generally parallel extending cables with spacer means extending between the cables at different spaced points thereof along their lengths, and in which said cables extend over guide pulley pairs and drive pulley pairs, means driving said drive pulleys through a differential mechanism having a pair of output shafts each connected to a corresponding one of said pair of drive pulleys with the input shaft of said mechanism being connected to a prime mover.

27. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said tow element comprising a tow rope having an elongated end portion; a bulbous portion on said end portion, releasable clamping means mounted stationarily with respect to said pickup means and engaging said buLbous portion, a flanged portion on said end portion engaging said clamping means and preventing disengagement of said bulbous portion from said clamping means when said tow rope is pulled taut.

28. In a system of the character described, a moving traction means; pickup means on said traction means; an elongated tow element capable of withstanding tension forces but incapable of withstanding compression forces; means on one end of said element for connecting said element with said pickup means whereby said traction means may drag said one end of said element; means holding said connecting means in the path of movement of said pickup means whereby during movement of said traction means said pickup means engages said connecting means and drags said one end of said element such that said element may be held taut by a body to be towed preparatory to and during the initial connection of said pickup means with said connecting means, said tow element including an elongated tow rope end portion, clamping means mounted stationarily with respect to said pickup means and engageable with an intermediate portion of said tow rope end portion and incorporating means effective to release said intermediate portion by forces applied transversely to said end portion, said clamping means incorporating means preventing release of said intermediate portion by forces applied longitudinally to said end portion.