How has your season started? Is the weather an issue?

[ForrestGump]

I've actually skied more. But with less cohesiveness between sets. We'll have bad weather for a week, then good weather for 3 or 4 days. So we're packing a bunch of sets into 3 or 4 days and then not getting to ski for a week or so. I'd much rather get 1 set a day, 5 out of 7 days then get 5 to 6 sets in 3 days.

[PatM]

Free skied once. Course not in due to weather (and time with work). Hopefully by next week. Jonesin'

 

[PatM]

@Horton is your answer ever different?

[Horton]

Last two years I started early but that is not really normal

[Than_Bogan]

But barely. Almost the same as typical.

[Wish]

Wind. And lots of it.

[swardco]

Nearly 4 feet of snow in Boulder during the month of April! Should get to almost 70 this weekend.

[Than_Bogan]

At this very moment is the best weather we've seen in Mass in many months. Hopefully spring has sprung.

[Texas6]

Same boat as @Shane....Skiing a bit more than normal this time of year, with longer breaks in between sets due to cold snaps and ridiculous wind.

[MISkier]

Last time I skied was January 28 and I had to go to Florida to do it. Planning to ski this Sunday. Many new things to try: Zero Off Revision R, a new-to-me Goode 9500, new fin settings (back to stock), new binding placement (back to stock), coaching tips from @AB last September. I've even changed my gloves. The only thing that is the same is my boat, handle and drysuit. Should be interesting.

[Marco]

Its been really cold and snowy here in western Co, but that is not the only reason we haven't skied yet. The irrigation Co Op that feeds our lake was 2 weeks late turning on the water, partly due to the drought, and partly due to some system malfunctions, so our water level is still too low. Bottom line is we wont be skiing until early May. Usually we start the last weekend in April.

 

Its been painful looking at my brand new M6 just leaning up against the wall...

[klindy]

It was 36 degrees in DFW this morning. Of course that doesn't matter since I was boarding a plane anyway......

[The_MS]

I still have not skied. It looks like I will get wet on Friday.

[klindy]

I havent skied either. However it'll be two weeks more for me. Headed to the southern hemisphere on a safari looking for @MAD11 (not really looking for him, but possible we'll be in the same vicinity).

[A_B]

Needed a "I haven't skied yet due to the ___ weather!

[Horton]

@ab

I was sore Monday from too many 35s Sunday. Almost time to start chipping away at 38. You should go ahead and start skiing.

 

:-)

[gsm_peter]

Same as ob.

Today most ice seems to be gone.

Waiting for water to reach 42.

Boat might go in early May.

Skied last time early October.

[crashman]

The weather has been the main issue, though when I tried to ski the other night the main gate into the club was locked- it seems we may be under an owners lockout so it's back to open water while we negotiate.

[6balls]

Um...the lake is still frozen. Last year we had ice out March 19...this year will be into May for sure. Sucks.

[thager]

@6balls I will be skiing Friday! Ha!

[rodltg2]

We didn't have a spring here in N. California. Went from winter to Summer. If it wasn't for some high windy days , all of March and April would have been great.

[rayn]

Actually started earlier than normal in spite of the crap new england weather.

[Ed_Obermeier]

Weather is definitely an issue and no, we haven't started here yet. Usual crap supposed-to-be-spring here in the Great Plains. Seems we never get started until mid-May anymore, used to start early April. If it's warm enough the wind is howling. Hasn't been warm enough more than a day here and there. Supposed to be 70's and 80's next week, if the wind isn't too bad may bring the boat home next weekend.

[6balls]

@thager first pass on the yellow? Just razzin' ya, have fun.

[thager]

@6balls Think I might start orange @32 this year. Come on down sometime when the winds are out of the north. I'll pick you up in Waseca or Mankato.

[Horton]

Wow. I know we have had a mild spring but I did not know it sucked that bad across the country

[h2oski]

What AB said.

[ski4xtc]

We have skied half as many sets this year compared to last year. Water was 54 degrees tonight which is cold for us this time of year. Last year at this same time our water was in the mid 60's. The water and air was warmer when we put the course in six weeks ago. Hopefully the worst is over.

[skiep]

Been sking since Jan 12th water @80 deg. now. North Florida 5 miles from Georgia line

[jackski]

I think there should be a "has you season started" box

[Chef23]

I am with @jackski. I really need an I haven't started my season yet option.

[A_B]

You know it sucks when there was just enough sunshine to get the grass to grow and now we are mowing grass, but the boat is still in storage.....

[Than_Bogan]

At the risk of thoroughly jinxing myself: Despite the slightly-worse-than-usual weather here, I actually feel really good about where I am for very-early-season no-course-yet. The Nano One feels like an advantage even on open water. Last night I actually did something I'm not sure I've ever done before: open water @ -35. I was amazed that I felt "ready" to try that, and was even more amazed when (after one quick whipeout) I actually established a pretty decent rhythm. Here's hoping my mental calibration of how wide I should be is about right!!

 

Hopefully the course goes in May 4 or 5.

 

Hope everyone's weather gets better and stays that way!

[LZywicki1]

Normally we start the beginning of March. Lake was about 1/3 open Easter. 3 days later the lake opens and my neighbor puts in and takes a quick run. He was so jealous that I was skiing down in warm Texas, (thanks again @Moskier3ev), that he just had to and it was brutal. Weather still hasn't been good, but we've been out 5 times in the past weeks. Water isn't getting warmer with all the rain, but where higher then normal for time of the year

[Waternut]

I find it really funny that everyone in south, including myself, is complaining about how cold it is and that we haven't really skied much this year. Then people up north are complaining about how their lakes are still solid instead of liquid. My opinion on that is......better you than me! haha

 

It does seem that no matter where you are in the country, the season starts about the same time of year. It's just whether you jump in the water a little chilly with trunks on or a little chilly with a drysuit.

[MISkier]

@Waternut, the cold has been only part of the delay. We have had a ton of heavy rain and wind as well. Conditions probably affect me more than most. I have to drive 100 miles one way to ski, when others just walk out their back door or drive 10-15 minutes. They can squeeze in a quick set, whereas my time on the water has to be planned around a larger window of cooperative weather - which we have not had. Many weeknights are out until the sun sets late and work commitments allow.

 

But, when all is said and done, I am starting slightly later than normal. I guess some of us are comparing it to last year when we started in mid-March. In most other years, I would have already completed the soreness and conditioning part. If all goes well, I will start that 2-week endeavor this Sunday.

[The_MS]

Got out last night for first set of the year with 49f air and 49f water. It will be much warmer water today with the south winds and warm air mixing up the lake.

[Deanoski]

skied more than normal the NW has been warm and dry! got 10 sets in so far 3 weeks ahead of last year. the new strada feels good!!

 

Deano

 

[Horton]

I guess this means something

http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/second-coldest-start-to-spring-in-us-history/

 

[tsixam]

Its not only US..we usually start 3 - 4 weeks earlier than we did this spring. Still cold 10/10 C. Im going to Italy next week to waterski hopefully it will be a lot warmer.

Tsixam

[Chef23]

First two rides at home this weekend. @rayn put his boat in so we were good to go. Hopefully I'll get my boat in next weekend.

[MISkier]

Finally back on the water today. I like the new Zero Off Revision R. Seemed to smooth out one ball.

[jackski]

OK all things aside, It's been blowing near a hurricane for 6 days with water temp around 5C and outside around 9C. Hard to even get the docks in not to mention the courses.

[DanE]

Got my first sets today in Atlanta, water is still solid where I live.

[RazorRoss3]

I got my first sets down in Florida over spring break which was around March 17th and the next set I got was April 27 due to the weather staying to cold to de-winterize the boat. Usually I've been using the home site for 2 or 3 weeks by this time. It's been a much colder winter than last year.

[A_B]

With any luck, buoys will be floating tomorrow night, and I will sipping some Kilo Kai in preparation of major soreness.

[The_MS]

Our water in SE Minn is almost 60. The strong south winds and warm temps have really warmed up the water fast. We will see the air temps back in the 40s with snow the next few days, yuk.

[Horton]

@MS have I told you that I have already run 38 this year? It was like 90 here yesterday. Generally I use Jedi mind tricks to make you fall early but I will also take the extra skiing as advantage.

[The_MS]

@Horton I took my 3rd set of the year yesterday and put it at -32 for the first time. Cottonwood is 4 weeks away and it may be my first stabs at 38 for the year.

[Skoot1123]

Now the wind is picking up around here. Finally get some warm days, but gusts up to 25 will negate any course skiing at our place. Someday.....