time on my hands to think 38

[6balls]

With recent well known ankle injury taking me out for a bit, the "too wide too soon" thread, and some advice to my bro from a guy who runs almost all of his tourney 38's...I've had some time to think. I stuffed my swollen/purple ankle/foot into a binding the other day (ouch) and ran some easy 28's...more thinking. I could run short in terms of control but can't yet afford a fall or even a ski stall getting me jarred a bit forward on the ankle...so staying at 28 for now.

I agree with the thoughts expressed in "too wide too soon". I tend to overturn, overpull, and be very early at most lines but at 38 it's harmful...I understand this and appreciate that thread.

The advice from stud 38 skier was when one comes around the ball at 38, keep shoulders up and don't let upper body get so close to the water when pocketing the rope and accepting the tension.

I worked this concept at 28 and it feels fantastic. Ski runs with better speed maintenance out of the ball. Less load and less need to accelerate.

Now, trying to mentally apply this to the "too wide too soon" thread at 38 off with handle control outbound, later line, swing ski out/in around ball and gone. I would like to practice what it takes for frequent successful 38's at all lines rather than being too wide too soon and loving it/getting away with it at all lines up til 38.

Here's the question to you successful 38 ballers; should I/we be running less angle at 28, 32, 35 with a little later line than we are accustomed to in order to better simulate the sight lines/timing of the 38 pass? Otherwise I find myself hunting for that early line I'm used to at most passes at 38, but it doesn't work so well there.

Basically I want to practice 38 technique at lines other than 38 rather than adjusting technique for the 38 pass after the 35 and get the habitual feeling that the later line is o.k. I know too many "over skiers" that are wide, early and money in the bank at 35 in tourneys time after time, but never run their 38 in a tourney...I don't want to be that guy forever after reaching that point this year.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[gregy]

I was watching youtube videos of Nate at 32 off. I was really surprised at how narrow his gate start was even at 35 off.

[Razorskier1]

You already know what I am working on. Wide at the gate, light on the line, stay away from the one ball (handle control). Doing it at all line lengths, and getting results.

[Roger]

@gregy - I spoke with Nate about his width for the gates. His response was "I need to be as high on the boat in my glide as I want to be at the 1 ball, otherwise I'll have to pull past the wake to get the needed width and that will kill my pass due to excess speed."

 

I know at 39 and shorter, he is way up on the boat; have to watch his longer passes for that next time he comes down here to practice.

[Razorskier1]

Pendulum theory, I'm a believer.

[gjohnson]

@Razorskier1 - you need to remember that when you go to ski watch.

[hogexpress]

The video of Jeff Rodgers, linked on the home page a few days ago, gives a great example of what it means to be too early. He makes reference to it in the commentary. As the rope gets shorter the less time you have to 'hang' out beside the boat waiting on the ball.

 

For me, learning 38 has been more about getting off my pull than the pull itself. I've been surprised at how little it takes to get out to the buoy line. Excess speed into the ball kills my turn and then my pull into the next ball. I either try to kill the speed in the turn (which results in overturning the ski) or ski long down course (which sets me up late into the next ball).

 

38 has been a lesson in energy management. If i can get the angle w/o the excess speed thru the gates, then i've got a good shot at running the pass. I think this is what I see/hear Nate Smith doing.

 

 

 

 

 

[gregy]

I heard Jeff Rodger"s comment, early going downwind at 39.

 

I remember years ago some really top coaches telling me to get wider for my gates even at 15 and 22. I never was able to get anywhere at 38. I always had problems at one ball. Now that I look back at it I was over skiing all my passes from the start - coming into one ball way fast and out of control.

[Razorskier1]

Greg -- thanks for the reminder. If I can keep practicing the way I am now I will get there. Come out and ski with me sometime!