What is the shortest line length you have pulled a skier into at 34 mph or 36 mph?

[skibug]

There may be a lot of drivers out there that are capable; but, have just not had the chance to pull anyone deep short line 38, 39, 41; because there just aren't that many skiers that get into those lengths.

[ForrestGump]

2@41 off 34mph and 1 1/2 @ 41 off at 36mph in a tournament. 4@41 off at 36mph in practice.

[tsixam]

6.0@41 and 4@41 in competition.

[popof]

I unfortunately don't do a lot of driving as I ski in a club which has its own drivers / coaches... Hopefully I'll someday have my own boat and lake and course and friends who ski into 41off so I can come back and answer this poll differently ;)

[MISkier]

1 at 39 off (34 mph). I've only pulled that a couple of times. Most of the time, the max is 38 off and the score is usually 4 buoys there. All driving is practice.

[ral]

4@39 (36 MPH). 38 and beyond are a totally different game in the driving seat. As @OB mentioned in another thread about mirror size, you DO NOT LOOK AT THE MIRROR at these lenghts...

[ral]

@tsixam, what happened in the 43 attempt????

[tsixam]

@ral He decided that he was done, no more juice left for a serious attempt.

Tsixam

By the way it was at 34. If it had been in a competition he would have given it a try.

 

[Skoot1123]

A ski buddy at our lake can get into 38. He usually will make ~2.5 - 4 buoys. As @ral said - NEVER LOOK IN THE MIRROR! Fun to drive for someone of that caliber skiing.

[skibug]

I would be interested in hearing who looks in the mirror at any line length? I never "look" in the mirror intentionally. I do catch a blip of the skier/mirror in my peripherial vision; but, my eyes are never anywhere but down course. At the 38, 39, 41 the "blip" I speak of is very important as I expect to "feel" the skier and to see that "blip" at a certain point relative to hook up and course postition. This "feel" and "blip" are direct inputs to what I am doing as a driver; but, never do my eyes come off the course.

[tsixam]

I checked back, only 2/41 in competition.

Tsixam

[9400]

I look in the mirror EVERY pass....right after the exit gate. Through the course, no radio, no yapping in my ear, just feel the wheel, stay a nanosecond ahead of the skier.

[Kelvin]

4/39 @ 34 is my tournament best for @Mr. Jones - I don't get many opportunities to reach that line length in practice, but I seek out the chances when they present themselves. Most practice is 28 to 35 off.

[Wish]

It was another thread on driving shortline that opened my eyes to just how hard it is to drive shortline. After that thread, I noticed how much of a synchronized dance it is between skier and driver. That is a great thread by the way. Worth bumping to be with this thread or putting up the link. I learned a great deal from it as I ski far more then drive.

[Marco]

Had the pleasure of pulling a pro skier to 2 @ 41 (36 mph) to set our lake practice record. I have to say that it was not the driver, it was most definately the skier.

 

[9400]

If I had my choice, I'd much rather ski into 43 than drive into 43

[markchilcutt]

1 or 2 at -41 @34 Jeff Milford in practice.

[Wish]

The short-line driving thread I was referring to. Leaned a great deal from it. Worth a read or reread.

 

http://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/6397/boat-driving-skier-speed/p1

[Jody_Seal]

Pulled CP through 41 numerous times in both practice and tournament. Also Andy through 41 at 34 mph. Nate 5 @ 41 for national record a couple years ago.

 

In reality these guy's that can run 41 have less impact on the boat then say a 38/39 off men 3 or 4. I pulled CP and Dr. Morgan over the weekend, Dr. Morgan needs far more steering influence then that of CP yet CP very commonly runs a full pass more then Dr. Morgan. as a skier Getting the cross course work done behind the boat and not off the ball will help a driver keep the boat where it needs to be. load hard off the ball and even the best drivers have difficulty recovering and making the boat stay in the middle or in layman's get's the driver out of step in the dance!

 

If you drive at this level or have aspirations or innate ability to be a good shortline driver please remember that these guy's will get out of step now and then and hit you when and where you least expect it. Dont freak out! feel where you are and do your best to get back in step with out hurting the skier and continue the duet! It happens to everyone that drives shortline from time to time!

 

[h2oski]

1@41 34mph in practice. I'm fortunate to have several skiers in our club that get into or thru 39.

[RichardDoane]

we had a clinic with @Mapple back in 2010, I drove for his set at the end of the day, he ran a -39 @ 55k like it was nothing, very cool feeling to pull a skier of that caliber

[Chad_Scott]

Pulled Cp through 41 several times and Nate Smith. Pulled Mapple through 41@34 mph. I agree with Jody, the skiers like CP are relatively easy to pull because he and Nate are pretty symetrical skiers and don't really load the boat up out of the buoy. However the key to pulling these guys is to stay a little ahead of them in the course and don't get to chasing the skier through the course.

[Cypresskier]

Pulled Chad Scott through 41 in practice. Having Chad as my ski partner for years really increased my driving skills as well as my skiing scores. Now having Mike Munn for one of my ski partners keeps my skills sharp as Munn is one to "get out of step" every now and then and hit the boat really hard. Having Shane Hill as another ski partner now I keep a close eye on the mirror as you never know when he will have a spectacular YouTube moment that you wouldn't want to miss!

[markn]

2@41 in an R tournament @ 34 mph. 2 @ 41 36 mph practice.

[6balls]

It's been a few years now, but pulled @razorskier1 through back to back 38's followed by a beautiful 39. I put "into 41" above even though he tossed the rope in joy and both of us were so excited that he didn't attempt 41. After it wore off and we were idling to the launch I was like "dude, I can't believe we didn't go for 41!...and he was like "yeah, what were we thinking?"

Caught in the moment, I guess. Was a magic day...we both skied like rock stars but he got the best score and a practice PB.

[GaryWilkinson]

Pulled Pierre Arsenault to 5@-38 in a tournament a long time ago @36 mph on a hand-pass! Waaay before pp or zo. Also Suzi Graham to -38 off, (she scolded me for a crooked entry, this in the days before pre-gates) never had an angled entry since!

[Jody_Seal]

Most of us that drove by hand are all now starting to get up their in age. Funny thing though most of the drivers that are frequently used in the more elite level tournaments are the same drivers that drove by hand back in the not so distant past. This is a bit of a concern as their are not a whole lot of younger drivers coming up to drive these elite skiers. Chad, Eller and now hopefully Scot Ellis are a few of the under 40 ish drivers that are driving well and are heading for driver greatness. Down side is that they are so few and the rest of us are 55 years old Plus! The sport needs to be more active and quit putting up barriers for the younger aspiring drivers. Their are a number of individuals in the sport that drive a lot of elite skiers and are very good at it yet because of how our system works that individual can be a heart surgeon in less time then it takes to be a senior driver.

 

Driver rant!!

[MattP]

I guess I should work on my driver waiting now so I can be a Sr. By the time I'm 40...

[Phil2360]

Wo!

Forgot the early '80's when I was an Ex-teenager.

 

Used to drive a ski partner up to 35' off.

That was back in the days of Foot throttles & Big Speedo's, like about 10" round.

 

 

[gregy]

I had a ski partner that could get into 38 off back in the late 80s. he could really pull the boat down, really hard to get good times with those boats.

 

Since I've started back skiing has been mostly 15, 22 some 28off. I'd definitely would not feel comfortable pulling someone at 38 or shorter.

[Roger]

My best pulls to date:

34 - MM, Harold Hintringer 3 @ 41

34 - OW, Karina Nowlan 1 @ 41

36 - OM, Chris Parish 3.5 @ 41

 

[kstateskier]

I've pulled two skiers into 39 - don't think I've ever had a guy behind me run it though. Several 38s over the years.

[Razorskier1]

I've pulled several skiers through -38 and into -39. Have yet to pull someone through -39. All at 34mph.

[The_MS]

@Razor Hows the knee?