Baller ESPNSkier Posted September 21, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 21, 2016 Went out late yesterday in the dreaded NW wind and the course had whitecaps. We decided that it could help our skiing to run some rough water passes and work on form. Two sets later I was not so sure that this was a good decision. I ended up reverting to all my old bad habits (riding the tail, hunched over, hips back, etc.) trying to survive the passes and popped the handle a couple of times to avoid a bad OTF. Missed -22 off for the first time in more than a month and generally just got frustrated. Woke up this morning and felt like I was hit by a truck. Shook it off and tried another run today with much calmer conditions now that the wind had shifted to the NE. Much to my horror, the old bad habits that I worked to shed all summer were back and my form was horrible. Finally ran one ugly -28 off pass on my 4th attempt. I think I need to take a few days off and get my mind and body back on track but I'm worried that I have taken a real step backwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Texas6 Posted September 21, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 21, 2016 I don't think skiing in wind is a terrible idea, we do it a lot. But there is a limit to what I'll ski in before it gets frustrating. That limit is about 15mph. Now having said that, we once had Regina, Nate, and Parish here for an Eagle function and they competed head to head for fun. I shit you not there was a 20+mph head to tail and whitecaps, and I watched Reg and Parish both run 39. Regina ended up winning that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Orlando76 Posted September 21, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 21, 2016 I had a medium head/tail on Saturday. Felt like my hips were way back and I couldn't get my ski in front of me. I was running my normal passes but not well and felt really frustrated. Gave up after 2 sets of 4. Went out Sunday and skied my PB's 6 of 8 passes. The grass was greener on my side this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller wtrskior Posted September 21, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 21, 2016 Skiing in varying wind can definitely help. You have to stronger and quieter. White caps are a negative, can be pretty dangerous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller bassfooter Posted September 21, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 21, 2016 We've had an abnormally windy summer at our site. While frustrating, it's been great for my form and confidence. @wtrskior said it best: you have to be stronger and quieter. But I draw the line if it's too crazy, out of fear of injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Drago Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 Always ski in wind. If it's whitecaps for a week solid, drop the speed 4 mph and work on body position and cut the line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BrennanKMN Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I had to deal with this yesterday. I dropped my speed down and stayed at a longer line that I can run easily. Struggled to ski and gave up after 4 passes for fear of injury. Had it been a little better I would have stuck it out I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ESPNSkier Posted September 22, 2016 Author Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 Couldn't agree more @Mark_Matis and I have the utmost respect for the tournament skiers and especially the pros when I see some of the videos and images of tournaments with rough conditions. However, I'm a 60 year old novice/recreational course skier and I don't think skiing in white caps was a good idea for me personally as it seems to have set me back a ways. I've been skiing in wind and chop all summer and it really makes me appreciate those calm days. Still don't like a tail wind but I love a bit of head wind and am getting better at dealing with tails. White caps, however are not my bag! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller A_B Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I skied in a tournament back in the early 1980's that was off and on white capping. I snuck up into 3rd place ahead of a lot of guys who were way better than me, because we skied on our river course in just about any conditions. So it can help, but I was a 20-something year old back then, and no way would I do that stuff now... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Monkstr6100 Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I don't "mind" skiing in some wind because wind water is constant. You always have the same chop. And its good to learn to ski with that wind pushing you one way (tail wind) and then adding super brakes the other way down the lake (head wind). I am a open/public water skier. So what is the worst is the random set of rollers, weather they are from a rich kids wake boat, or just a jet ski. When you are focused on your skiing and last min stuff the tip of the ski into/under a roller, and then its game over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ToddL Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 Buy a trick ski for days like that. Learn to run the slalom course on it. You can ride it in a tournament and end up being one of few skiers who run a pass in crazy tough conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Deanoski Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I ski wind amd rough conditions alot. Especially this summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chris55 Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I ski 97% on open water and we ski with wind, waves anything throwing at us we just go and ski. The only thing we really don't like is rollers from other boats bcause it can be dangerous. OTF hurts bad. What we do is we work most on our position on the ski. The better the stance and the easiest to handle rough water. I know I have to fight my instinct who is teling me to do the opposite of a good position which is bracing, hips back and pulling with my arms......wrong !!! I have to stand up, hips forward and handle close to my hips and ski on edge without chasing buoy or score. And when I have a good feeling on these conditions I am mentally stronger and I ski much better when it is calm or when I go on a private lake......this is desert for me with cream on the top...!!!!!! And you should see my smile on my face the whole time I ski .... I must be close to you @ESPNSkier I started slaloming 3 years ago and I am 60old Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller h2onhk Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I have an older KD7000 slalom from the early 90's that is heavier and seems to handle rough water/chop better than my newer D3 if my form goes to crap (riding the back foot)....but if i focus on good form the D3 still turns better in the chop than the 7000 ever did in the smooth. Just have to know your limits. Rogue boat rollers worry me more than 10mph wind chop. @skibrain is that a hobie 18? you the jib man running trapeze for counter balance? really cool photo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashman Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 as long as skiing in the wind is more fun than not skiing then I'll ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ESPNSkier Posted September 22, 2016 Author Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 Thanks for all the great feedback! I'll also keep skiing in the wind and light-to-moderate chop but no more whitecaps for me. I only ski on public water and agree that the worst conditions are the boat rollers (broke an ankle on a random roller out by 2 ball years ago). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ScottScott Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I took an OTF, face first wipeout on boat rollers not too long ago. No long term damage, but no fun....I hate OTF. HA!!! Yeah, the whitecaps are a little much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 You learn things skiing in the wind, you do yourself no favors skiing when the water gets rough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 I would say skiing with wind is okay within reason. If the conditions are really bad you can hurt yourself or start to ski protectively which could hurt your technique. I am fortunate in that we can generally get good conditions here on public water so if I go out one day and it is really bad I take a pass and come back another day. Most tournaments I ski in even if it is windy the surface of the water isn't to the point that I have felt it was dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Orlando76 Posted September 22, 2016 Baller Share Posted September 22, 2016 Well put @LeonL. Kinda the conclusion I've come up with this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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