Maximizing Buoy Count with Trick Ski

[Luzz]

During the great Ski Freeze or Die competition yesterday, I opted for turning buoys on a trick ski. I managed to get 2.5@43off at 21.1mph, which gave me as an Open Men a surprising high buoy count of 74.5, equaling (if I understand this correctly) 2.5@15off 36mph.

 

What do you think is the max buoy count one could get on a trick ski? No fin added, having to make the gates… so "legit" trick slaloming.

 

I can see myself handling faster speeds up until 38off, but at 39off you need to start using the zig-zag technique, so I am not sure you can go too fast.

 

Thoughts?!

[Horton]

@Luzz I've always stayed between 18 and 20 miles an hour.

If you are running 41 off that is amazing. I think we need to see some video.

[Luzz]

@horton not sure if anyone took video yesterday, but I'll try to get video if I ski tomorrow.

[Zman]

@mmosley899 Maybe Mike can chime in. His son in law Brett does this to have fun at tournaments.

[Jody_Seal]

@Eltorro does this also. He has not gotten through 41yet but skis it at 20 mph and opens up at 28 off.

"Note" his opening pass includes 6 flips and a couple of 180 backs around the bouy.

 

I think @Luzz probably has the unofficial world record for slippery slalom!

 

[chris_logan]

I’ve pulled quite a but of slippery slalom with the collegiate skiers. Most skiers opt for 17 or 19. I’ve pulled Austin Rodgers into 43 a few different times and very regularly deep into 41. Best slippery slalom we had was setup in a head to head format (very similar to Big Dawg) at Trophy Lakes, with a final between Austin Rodgers and Nellie Roberts - both getting into 43 off.

[fu_man]

Not sure how this scores but it is as good as I have ever seen.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap4wJjuuFpk

[mmosley899]

@Zman I encouraged Brett to try running the slalom course on his trick ski since he tricks a lot but seldom slalomed. After a few tries he got the hang of it and has moved on to running passes on a slalom ski.

 

Running the slalom course on a trick ski is great crossover training and helps work on technique. I use it regularly in early season training to help get in shape. And yes, I have regularly run into 41off on my trick ski...but no flips included!

[GregHind]

More video please. Especially 41 off!

[Intheday]

Need a reverse tournament slippery slalom and pointy tricks. Don’t know you would do for jump

[ntx]

There is no way the boat path will pass any type of video review. Unless you are in Europe.

[Chef23]

Boat path is very tough as the rope gets really short. My son has run 39 but I know my boat path was crap. Usually for him we just run him at his regular trick speed which is 18.9 so I am running trick mode not slalom mode.

[chris_logan]

Yes boat path is very tough - especially for skiers who all but stop at every buoy. I imagine, based on and similar to @fu_man video, a skier that carries more speed through the turn is much easier to drive.

[Luzz]

Joel's video is impressive, nice off-side technique there. Here's my first attempt at 39off at 23mph.

 

I can see myself getting used to 23mph and knocking down a few buoys at 41off, so 3@41 at 23mph = 3@43 at 21.1mph. Which meaaaans… = 3@39off at 25mph. Gotta have to try that next

[moski]

Jamie B. back in 2012. Only one foot in the trick ski. Pretty cool video.

 

It’s starts at 2:41

https://youtu.be/hioqVQ5AjMw

 

[Luzz]

@moski gotta love the foot-dragging offside turn!!!

[mike_mapple]

This was something growing up my dad, mom, and myself used to do regularly as it was the only way we could all "compete" with each other and usually led to some pretty gnarly crashed through the wakes from my dad and myself, I don't think I ever beat him but would love to see a full event of just this!

[Horton]

This is 10 +/- years ago and the last time I ever skied on Lake #2 at my dad's house.

 

[Horton]

10 years later and 15 pounds lighter...