What were your "firsts" this year?

[MISkier]

What were your "firsts" this year?

 

Of course, everyone is aiming for the next PB, but what other notable milestones did you reach this year?

 

For me, I try to find some bright spots when I haven't reached the score I want. It also helps me remember my overall enjoyment of the sport.

 

1. Driving a skier into mid 41 off at 36 mph at a tournament (@CaleBurdick with 3@-41 at the Tivoli Tidal Wave).

2. Running 28 off at 34 mph as an opener at a tournament - accidentally. The boat judge did not set the rope correctly. I had never done that before, not even in practice. Oddly, it wasn't even a scramble - I just felt a little narrow and wondered why it seemed to be a little more work.

3. Running 22 off at 36 mph as an opener at a tournament - on purpose. The main reason I did this is that my back was killing me that day and I didn't feel like I could run any extra passes - or any passes, really.

4. Getting a look at my "wall pass" in all three rounds of a tournament. Was also my highest average for a tournament.

5. Competing in double digit number of tournaments this calendar year.

6. Reaching Level 7 in my age division.

7. Skiing in the pouring rain at the State Championship and completing some of my best passes ever in it. Tripped up, again, by the "wall pass".

 

I did increase my 34 mph PB by one buoy, but didn't make any headway at 36 mph.

 

Still left on the table:

 

Running my "wall pass" at 34 mph at a tournament - I'm at 4 ball and I run it a few times a year in practice.

Running my "wall pass" at 36 mph at a tournament - that stands at 5 ball.

Qualifying for Nationals.

 

The tournaments are over in Michigan for the year. Looking to next season.

[ozski]

Bought my first Goode and now I understand...

 

 

 

[skibug]

Ran 38 off for the first time in my life on August 6, 2017. Never thought I would be able to say that. At 46, I am still improving.

[jcamp]

Ran 35 off for the first time and had both of my daughters ski in multiple tournaments with me.

[Just1MorePass]

I now own all of my own ski gear (gloves, rope, handle, ski, bindings, life jacket, wetsuit) everything short of a boat. Before that I was using all of my ski buddies old gear. It's nice to finally own everything that I am using.

The new ski also made a world of difference.

[dhofert]

1. Deep water start without a deep v handle.

2. 96% successful starts this month.

3. A few good wake crossings.

[76SS]

First time back in a course in roughly 30 years.

 

[Bdecker]

Lots of firsts this season: Nationals, regionals, a tournament with both of my sons competing, a new PB for my 10 year old just about every time he got his ski wet (after yesterday we are both at the same max speed), and it sure looks like our first 200 hour season given the weather forecast.

 

In addition to skiing our first out of state tournaments with Regionals and Nationals, we also caught our first “out of region” class C in Colorado. The crew at Laku puts on an awesome event.

[Bill22]

First year consistently running -15/34mph in practice. Also, first year joining a ski club.

[BrennanKMN]

1. Bought a new Radar Vapor (should have done it years ago)

2. Got a ZeroOff boat (really helped with consistency and short setup courses)

3. Ran 28 off at 36 MPH

4. Ran 32 off at 34 MPH

5. Ran 32 off at 36 MPH

6. Started getting good looks at 35 off at 34 MPH and 36 MPH

7. Put more than 100 hours on my new boat breaking a record for me

 

 

It was an amazing season for me this year and it is not done yet. I am running up to 12 more balls then I was running last year. Feels amazing to progress faster than I ever thought possible.

[sunvalleylaw]

First completion of the course at any speed under real conditions behind a tournament boat (zero off equipped). (not counting running it behind an old outboard years ago)

 

First time membership in AWSA/USA Waterskiing and first time with a number

 

First tournament.

 

Multiple personal bests at the tournament, as I completed a couple passes and got into a third. Ended up with my tournament best being 3 at 15 off, 32 mph.

 

Participated in a "head to head" winning one round, and ending by rounding 4, 15 off, 32 mph.

 

First video coaching, and first in person lessons/coaching, which really helped with all of the above. ( Thanks @twhisper ).

 

EDIT: Forgot two. First time owning calipers and wing gauges, and first time learning about and actually setting up my ski. And first full season with a tournament boat.

[Bill22]

@BrennanKMN daggone... what are you eating for breakfast? Wheaties?

[lpskier]

Ran 12 meters three times in a four round tournament.

Chief judge at a Big Dawg.

Announced at Nationals.

Highest ever score at Nationals: 2@11.25/55.

Became a senior driver.

Skied in Texas.

And will marry off my three event daughter to a three eventer next weekend.

[keithh2oskier]

My skiing didn't improve at all and I spent the last year starting to play with settings.

 

But I have a few important milestones that I got to be apart of.

- My daughter started skiing at just shy of 4 years old. She really enjoys it and just got to pass the handle to her 3 year old BFF yesterday who had a blast and even took a 2nd ski ride down the lake.

- I got to drive someone through their first pass through the course. I don't know if I have ever done it before. But seeing how happy she was was far better than any PB I would have ran.

- Skied a Rico and fell at 5 ball on one of the best -32' I have ever had yesterday on what is likely the last set of the year. :/

[Than_Bogan]

A new waterski was released that I kinda-sorta had a little tiny bit to do with. And some people are in love with it!

[thager]

First year in a long time with no improvement and no tournaments! New job, no time.

[scorban2]

1. Bought my first inboard (and first boat with my name on the title vs. the parents). While I'll still ski with the I/O from time to time, I haven't had a set behind it since I bought the SN.

2. Took my first ride ever through a course. With the ~10 total passes I got this year, I managed 4 at 15 off, at 28 mph. Looking forward to spending more time in the course next year.

3. I got 2 others hooked on slalom. Both started on 1/2 of a combo set this year, and now both have HO freerides. They're progressing quickly and they're always up to head to the river for a set. Definitely my proudest "first" of the year.

[Booze]

Bumped best Nats score to 2.5@38

First missed opening pass at Regs.

Most 5@38's in practice and tournaments

Tripled the number of 38's ran (all in practice) to 10 (with 3 back-to-backs)

First Cedar Ridge Tourney, including QuikSet.

[Cam]

Broke a Reflex spring and luckily not my neck, broke the Scottish +65 record twice, broke a ski.

[lpskier]

I shortchanged myself on my Nationals score: 2@11.25. But Chad Scott gave me the pull behind a 5.3 liter Nautique, and that's probably worth a pass right there!

[SkierAtHeart]

Finally starting to run the course with consistency.

 

@keithh2oskier that was so exciting to see Shauri so happy when she ran that pass for the first time.

 

 

[aupatking]

Ran into 28 in my last two tournaments

Ran 28 at 34 for the first time in practice, and a lot of them after

Bought my first ZO and current tournament boat

[vtmecheng]

First dip into the course. Haven't made it through 6 yet but I'm half way there, 30 at 15 off, in the six times I went out. Lots to look forward to next year.

[KRoundy]

Turned 50. After toying with skiing again the last few years (after basically not skiing for 20 years) I finally took the plunge and decided to really improve. Skied multiple times per week from May forward. Lost 20 lbs with the purpose of skiing better. Got into a course and got 2 at 30 MPH. Long ways to go, but enthused about what the future holds.

[bikesrus]

First year seeing Lake Nacimiento 100%full

First time in a long time being in good shape and having my knee feel good enough to ski multiple passes per weekend.

First year making openers in all of our tournaments

Hopefully a few more firsts before winter hits!

[bassfooter]

Skied regionals. Ran -32 in a tournament.

 

Unfortunately, the latter didn't happen during the former.

[JAG]

FIRST time running a pass in a tournament. Talk about being on a natural high...:)

[Skid]

Photographed Nate Smith from the water for the first time.

Skied more tournaments that ever before. 6 tournaments in 2017! Total before this year was 4 in my life.

Ran 32off in a tournament for the first time.

Nearly ran 35off in a tournament (4.5 buoys. Still mad I missed it! Little Mountain Ski club is amazing!)

Hung on around 2 ball at 38 and got back behind the boat in practice.

Competed at a regional tournament and somehow found the podium.

Went to nationals and had a blast, even though I fell early.

[JGray]

1: Won my first medal for skiing, 3rd in M3 slalom at SCR Regionals.

 

2: First time to qualify and ski nationals!

[Fam-man]

Bought my #1 ski partner her very first ever brand new ski and got her excited about skiing again.

Our 9 year old got excited about trying and nailed the rec course.

Took advantage of a couple coaching opportunities

[dvskier]

At the age of 70 having never been serious about course skiing I entered my first tournament, I was hooked!

Entered state tournament, placed first then entered regionals and placed third. Taking advantage of placement I competed at Nationals. Ran my opener and had a fantastic experience. Still hitting it hard and ran a PB yesterday that was my ultimate 2017 waterski goal.

What an addictive sport. I highly recommend competing in tournaments as everyone there has been supportive and friendly. Time waits for no man.

[Chef23]

No firsts for me this year except for first time on skis after a lengthy illness. Some back issues slowed my return I am looking forward to lots of firsts next year.

[LakeOneSkier]

First perforated eardrum. Off the water for 7 weeks. :#

[76SS]

First new ski in about 12 years. Should be here later today.

[ScottScott]

Today in my lesson with Jodi Fisher he snuck up the speed without telling me.....as a result, 2 passes at a new practice personal best of running the course at 29.5mph 15off. I was hoping to make it to 30mph this year, and since we're in florida there is still plenty of year left.

[MuskokaKy]

@LakeOneSkier, i remember when my grandfather blew his eardrum slaloming...was told no water or to wear a bathing cap...he wore the cap although was ridiculed hard!! wishing you have a fast recovery!

[Deanoski]

First year of not running a -35 at 34mph even in practice

 

Back on my old ski and bindings running 3-4 at -35 last few times out!

 

sometimes new is not better.

 

[cragginshred]

Said goodbye to the -22 loop to come out making back to back -25's

 

Did many sets that were PB's like 3 -25's followed by back to back -28's then 2 -25's followed by 3 -28's in a row, then,..............

 

Made -30 several times from the end of Aug till last week. 6th season skiing the course.

 

I will try -32 sometime but not in a hurry. Still trying to perfect skiing back to the handle at 1/3/5.

 

[vtmecheng]

@LakeOneSkier I did that a number of years back, not fun. Take care of that ear.

[BraceMaker]

Pops did that. Que the ear band

[kingshredd]

Just skied my PB of 15 off @ 32 mph! Started my season at 30 mph, so it took some time but it was clean! To bad our season may be wrapping up next week, So I celebrate a successful season!

 

.

 

[Chef23]

I did actually have a few firsts that weren’t all time accomplishments but were big for me after the past year I had with getting better from the pancreatic tumor. The first time up on skis was huge and it was riding jumpers in July. I progressed pretty quickly to a first of riding a slalom ski and then first time back in the course running 22 off at 30 mph. Unfortunately my back issues popped up again and slowed me down but I am fixing that and looking forward to next season.

 

I also walked 5 miles yesterday in 80 minutes which was a recent first. In December I couldn’t walk 20 feet with a walker.

[dvskier]

@Chef23 your progress has been phenomenal considering the time off and health issues you faced last year.

[GaryWilkinson]

@Chef23 Continued good health and therefore good skiing my man.

One of the most popular trainers at my gym finished every workout with "be happy and grateful you can do what we do each day"

Amen to that.

[chris55]

This my third season slaloming.......61 years old and I run for the first time in tournament at 34mph 1 at 15 off. (I did ran it in training...not the same as tournament)

I am feeling that I just enter the "real world" of tournament !!!! I love the sport !!!!!

[bogboy]

After a bit of a drop in winter performance, finally working up to more consistent -15/32 passes, and 8 -15/34 passes so far this year.

[APB]

Blue rope for me. Switching from the a3 to the vapor helped a bit. Ditching bad habits helped a lot!!!

[6balls]

First fracture of my leg this spring...no weight bearing 8 weeks then very hobbled afterward.

 

5 months post-injury ran buoys on jumpers (also a first).

 

Free skied in September (also a first--free skiing in Sept???) to get back on my feet and prep for a 6 round tourney a few weeks later.

 

First time on MOB release plate...it's cool!

 

Missed a few tourney 32 off passes (another first...haven't missed a tourney 32 off since M2). Thankfully ran a few of 'em too and got some decent starts at 35. First time not upset about whiffing 35's...just was really happy to be skiing again.

 

First time I took enormous slack out the end gates...ok that's a serious load of BS! I did throw the rope once, though...progress for sure...I guess that's a first, too!

 

First tourney in M4...geez how'd I get this old???? I guess I do FEEL this old!

 

First time since the pro-tour that I've seen pro's ski in person--holy crap are they good! Regina, CP, Dane, Matteo just wow.

 

First season since age 12 no barefoot run.

 

First track day at Brainerd International Raceway (I know that's not a skiing first...but I highly recommend a track day at a track near you!)

 

First kid to college...happy for him and doing great but it's different around here.

[bishop8950]

My 9 yr old son decided he would ski and is now running the course and enjoying it!

[jetpilotg4]

I added a member to th ski team

Noah !

8lbs 5oz 21inches RFF Sept 27 12:26 pm