Baller Ed_Johnson Posted October 27, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 27, 2009 Last week we had Ed Roberts certify our course here in Orlando. When putting in all new buoys I decided to take TW's research on waterfilled buoys and replaced all turn buoys with 20cm, half waterfilled buoys. This Sunday I nailed one ball after the apex inbound at 38 and kept right on skiing. THANKS TW, it worked just as you stated and I did not rebound off the buoy. I highly recommend everyone to accomplish this as an important safety aspect. I am confident Dave will design a new, safer buoy, and wish him a speedy recovery. GOODE LUCK, ED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted October 28, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted October 28, 2009 Ed - what method did you use for injecting the water ? We're working on the course this weekend, so I think we'll do the 1/2 filled turn bouy thing, so I'm looking for pointers / learning from others' mistakes..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ed_Johnson Posted October 28, 2009 Author Baller Share Posted October 28, 2009  I used a Flow Master Garden Pump Sprayer, unscrewed the nozzle, attached a double male threaded adapter, and attached an Air Nozzle Quick disconnect. Then attached an air nozzle with a needle valve that I plug into my air compressor to fill the buoys with air. Use the same nozzle for both air and water. I also took a piece of 3/4 inch plywood to make a template with a handle to size the buoys at 20 cm or 8 inches. I filled he buoys half full and adjusted the air, in or out, to meet the 20 cm. Really pretty easy.......ED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted November 5, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted November 5, 2009 Does the rulebook say anything about what's in the bouy, or is it just specific to size ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HO 410 Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/divisions/3event/2009AWSARuleBook.pdfPage 27 Rule 8.09 © Apparently not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Wayne Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bulldog Posted November 5, 2009 Baller Share Posted November 5, 2009 Hi TW, I had asked the question in the Dave Goode ankle thread and no one seemed to answer. I will ask you again if you know... Why are the bouys the size they are? Would a smaller one work and be less likely to cause injury? It is just a thought and a question as no one I have talked to about this seems to know....... Thanks Mike Loeffler "Do Better..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Deke Posted November 5, 2009 Baller Share Posted November 5, 2009 Bulldog check out the picture in this link. Slalom buoy is in lower right corner circa 1956. Looks like a beach ball!http://www.tournamentwaterski.com/covers-detail.asp?id=433 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Wayne Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted November 5, 2009 Baller Share Posted November 5, 2009 If the buoys got any smaller, I would have a heck of a time seeing them in lower light situations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bulldog Posted November 5, 2009 Baller Share Posted November 5, 2009 Thanks - That picture rocks!!!! If we could only get some technology that would work it seems like a sensor in the ball and another in the ski could tell us when we have rounded, if it works for race cars going 150mph plus it would work for us (if it was water proof). This issue reminds me of snow ski gates from long ago (pre break away gates)...... the right idea would and could work.. Mike aka Bulldog "Do Better..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris carter Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 TW, when you half fill a bouy with water, I assume it floats much deeper than half mast. Sounds good to me, but does this need a rule change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Wayne Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted November 13, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted November 13, 2009 We were skiing today, and I watched a skier hit the 4 ball (it was 1/2 full of water), knocking the ski up and out of the water, luckily a non-injury crash. So even if the bouys are weighted down with ballast water, the ski can still gets displaced and you can still get hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Wayne Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Deke Posted November 13, 2009 Baller Share Posted November 13, 2009 That reminds me of the lily pads at the old Acapulco site that would float toward the pull out sometimes. It's hard to stay focused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 We have problems with frigerators, branches, beer bottles, old tires still on the rims, dead bodies (just kidding about the bodies, they usually get them out right away) after the rain storm. It's truly a slice of paradise! (as long as it doesn't rain) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marco Posted November 14, 2009 Baller Share Posted November 14, 2009 Having suffered a buoy impact injury in September (resulting in surgery to repair a ruptured achilles), I have a vested interest in buoy safety. A few thoughts: Just because you haven't experienced a buoy injury, don't be complacent. I have hit uncountable buoys over the years, mostly ankle or calf impacts, with thigh impacts at longer lengths, but all of no consequence. In September, I hit one just "right" (center punch), that made life not so much fun. Just because it hasn't happened to you yet, don't think it can't happen. In the 2 months since my injury, I have heard of 4 other more recent buoy impact injuries resulting in surgery. One is a friend I met and skied with this summer (Mens 6 into 38), and the others are all tournament skiers, including Dave Goode. How many other injuries are there that I don't know about? I have traded emails with Dave Goode regarding ideas for safer buoys. He said he will NEVER ski around an air filled buoy again. I don't know Dave personally, but have faith in his ability to design innovative products. Most buoy impact injuries I know about occur at shorter line line lengths. Buoy technology is as important as binding technology, but unfortunately there is no $$ in buoy R&D. Buoy impact injuries are not necessarily influenced by binding design. (Of the recent injuries I know about, 1 was on double rubbers, mine was on a reflex, and Daves was obviouslly on Powershells). Buoy impact injuries trandscends binding technology. I think a safer buoy might have 2 components: a lower hemisphere that provides flotation and tension to keep the course aligned, and the upper, above water line hemisphere, which is made out of a thin , light weight, durable, pliable material that does not rely on air pressure to maintain its shape (if it even exists??), which displaces easily when struck, so it does not easily displace a ski. If anyone has the engineering background and the mean to design and market a safer buoy, count me in on buying a new set every year! Sorry for rambling. Its been a long 2 months... Marco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Wayne Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marco Posted November 15, 2009 Baller Share Posted November 15, 2009 TW- How long do you anticipate it will be until your prototype(s) will be made avaiable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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