Top Mens skiers in the world - Shuffle the deck?

[Horton]

I was talking to some skiers this morning about Trick Mode. If we do get a new ZO map that has the attributes of Trick Mode it will benefit some skiers more than others. The current state is that Nate is clearly # 1. Freddie is # 2 and is chipping way at Nate. In a Trick Mode world I do not think # 1 & # 2 will change much but # 3 through # 10 could change a lot.

 

The question is .... for PURELY SENTIMENTAL reasons who is the one skier you want to see benefit the most?

[Horton]

My vote? I always have to cheer the veterans in the field. I always cheer for CP and Asher but the one most under rated skier in the last 10 years has to be Parsons. My vote goes to Parsons.

[Stevie Boy]

I am always behind Freddie, but I have seen CP in practice when injured and it was impressive, he turned 2 ball @43 off, if he can get back to full fitness and get the mental approach right, he could be there in the top five, and I am sure we will see him on the podium he has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

[6balls]

On any given day CP could get it done (like record scores). Likely at his age, however, his "totally on" days are not as frequent as they used to be. Hopefully the stars align and he can post a big one on a tourney day.

[Wish]

Jaymac. One to watch

[2tracmind]

Great question, I anticipate the top 10 on any given Sunday will be closer with more run offs between 2 or more skiers.

Sentimental pick - Will Asher, Patriotic pick - JMac O Canada !!

[Than_Bogan]

As a fan, rather than a prognosticator, I really wanna see Freddie and Cale have epic 2017s! I don't really see new ZO settings being a big cause of that, though.

[skier2788]

Can I name myself? Trent F. Tom Brantley Will Asher. Stephen Nevue.

[ozski]

From an injury perspective a software revision might be a good thing for the bigger guys so I'm hoping to see Austin Abel have a good run next summer.

[pumpinpete]

+1 @rico

[Wish]

Hmmmm ...Joel Howely.

[lpskier]

CP,in my view, is the best skier out there but always lived in Andy's shadow, so he's a sentimental favorite. Joel, well he's a Connelly guy, a rare breed like me. Then there's Corey. Great kid, incredible grandson, wicked skier and looks like my late son's twin brother. He's my guy.

[Chef23]

I would love to see Joel step up. I have skied with him multiple times at Coble's and he is a great coach and a better guy.

[The_MS]

They should all be calling ZO and the boat manufacturers daily to see how long it will take to produce a new product. Put the heat on so we see results.

[Jody_Seal]

You all need to realize that it is not up to ZO to make these changes. Even not up to AWSA, IWSF nor the king of the world. It is up to the boat company's to provide and have certified a speed control they feel fit's the needs and works best for their prospective product..

So the statement needs to read they should be calling the boat companies to see how long it will take to produce a new control option..

 

These skiers seem to get better and better every year. How long can Nate remain dominate is any one guess, I think Freddy is the in the cat bird seat to take over as the top slalom skier. Paris is in Sept we will have to wait to see who is the World Champion..

[Bill22]

This discussion is about guys moving up the list... but what happened to KC? He has been MIA for over a year.

 

@lpskier I would love to see a Mapple ski on the podium at some pro events! I think this is the year. It would be cool to see CP make a big comeback too.

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

I think Parsons and Corey are gonna be on a lot more podiums this year. @Bill22 KC works a full time job in Lakeland, he still skis everyday though. I think he's just trying to settle into work!

[chris55]

I would hope CP will be back strong and Corey can definitly bring a Mapple ski on top of the podium this year, plus Corey is a super nice guy...!!!!

[lpskier]

FYI, CP is on a Mapple.

[Wish]

@lpskier wait what??????

[Bill22]

^^ +1

[Andre]

+2...???

[chris55]

@lpskier CP is on a Mapple ski ? T3 or T2 ? That would be a BIG news....-:)

[MattP]

I think @rico has a great list. I would like to see Adam Sedlmajer @Sledgehammer, Brian @Detrick and Nick Adams @noodleba shake up the top 5 spots with some big scores and podium finishes.

[andjules]

For up-and-comers, either Neveu or Descuns are very capable of surprising us all.

[BG1]

Trick mode + T3? CP may bump that slalom WR up a quarter buoy or so.

[Horton]

@BG1 I have $1,000 and I'll give you a hundred to one odds that the mens world record does not go up by exactly one quarter buoy.

[MattP]

@Horton I'll take that bet for .5 buoy increase.

[Horton]

.25 ball or no bet

[BG1]

@Horton I did say "or so". I was in a hurry when I typed that. Point is I think those two factors, trick mode+T3, could put him back in the hunt for the slalom WR. 3 ball is his on side so getting back to the wakes for a full 3 @ -43 might be possible for him.

[Horton]

@bg1 your "error" was pointed out to me by one of the guys who could get to 3 ball. He thought it was pretty funny.

[BG1]

He should hear the rest of my act. I’d have him rolling in the floor!

[Jack_Haase]

@Stevie Boy I don't like Freddy Winter he is a very talented athlete I will give him that, but the way he skis is to wild and there for he keeps injuring himself. Water skiing is a totally different sport and you can push yourself but if you push too far you end up hurting yourself and thats why I don't like Freddy Winter because he is too much of a wild card to become world champ. Skiing is like surfing you have to be smooth.

[Freddie Winter]

@Jack_Haase I totally agree. What the hell does that Winter guy think he's doing? And his hair is completely absurd.

[Horton]

@Jack_Haase yea @FWinter isn't really all that good anyway

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

@FWinter he's alright @Horton, he needs pigtails then he'll be cool...

[MickeyThompson]

I'd take being hurt every now and then and ski anywhere close to that level. O wait I do get hurt and still don't ski remotely close to that level.

[Than_Bogan]

@FWinter Although I have to agree his hair is completely absurd, he also seems to have the maturity to make fun of himself. So I think he'll be OK...

[Gar]

He sure skied well the first time I saw him at Bennett's in May think he ran 41 off in all three rounds...not too shabby.

[Jack_Haase]

@FWinter sorry ;)

[Jack_Haase]

@rico I see what you mean by different types of skiers. I feel if Freddy Winter was smoother in the water he could definitely become #1. Smooth skiing is the only way to be a consistent skier in my opinion. Freddy seems very consistent at 39 but I feel he could get a little more consistent at 41 and from there 43 and soon the full pass at 43.

[Freddie Winter]

@Jack_Haase You're not wrong, mate. And that is why we all practice as much as we can. Always improvements to be made. (Also I've only ever been injured once

[Jack_Haase]

@FWinter I don't think I'm wrong thats just how I interpret the sport.

[Jack_Haase]

@FWinter I didn't just mean being injured I was also talking about all of your really hard falls.

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

@Jack_Haase at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how you do it....6 buoys is 6 buoys. @FWinter can just flat out run buoys.

[Jack_Haase]

ok I understand @Colebrah

[wilecoyote]

I don't think smooth can be over emphasized. This in no way is a critique of FW or any other skiers, but it's rare in any sport for the dominant champion not to perform in a manner that makes it look easy. Currently in our sport, Nate is that guy. How many times have you said to yourself, or heard someone else say that 38, 39 and 41 looked the same when Nate was out. I don't agree with the attitude that 6 buoys is 6 buoys. It does matter how you do it. Scrapping out a pass where you made a bunch of mistakes but still managed to turn 6 is a tonne of fun, but running it and feeling like you could have turned 2 more? now that feels good.

 

All that being said, JMac is my guy, he's got 5, and he's LFF so it's only a matter of time before he runs it.

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

Obviously being smooth is what we strive for, and in practice we can run as many smooth passes as we want, but it comes down to when your skiing a pro event, and conditions are less than ideal, and the pressure is on. Smooth isn't always possible, a lot of the time it isn't and in my mind when it comes down to it, 6 buoys is the only thing on my mind. That's all I'm trying to get across.

[Ralph Lee]

If you pay attention Nate gets scrappy quite a bit, it's just somehow he makes it look smooth.

[BG1]

Freddie is an incredible skier who uses all of his skill and athleticism to win. Same thing with Andy, the LaPoint brothers, Jeff, Nate, Will, Chris…Or any other top athlete in any real sport. I’m sure every one of them worked/are working incredibly hard to improve in any way possible.