Baller_ MISkier Posted January 3, 2020 Baller_ Share Posted January 3, 2020 We were fortunate to get in some water skiing in Michigan today. Many thanks to our friend, AJ, for generously providing his 1989 American Skier with the 454 engine for the cause. Air 45F. Water 35-40F. It wasn't too bad in the drysuit. My feet were the most affected. Right at the end, we do encounter some ice that had broken free from shore during earlier runs and I decided to drop and avoid any collisions. This completes my quest to ski in every month in Michigan. Note: those drinking beer had already completed their skiing and were not driving. With no skiing since early October, I suspect I will notice it tomorrow or soon after. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 3, 2020 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 3, 2020 Here is the post-skiing video with the boat. @Rook is filming/narrating. AJ getting the boat drained. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted January 3, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 3, 2020 Our lake opened up 2 days ago, I gave skiing a thought for about a millisecond. Figured there were some crazies somewhere who'd do it. Looked like fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller bishop8950 Posted January 3, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 3, 2020 Nice. Love the Bells Beer! Latest I ever skied in MI was early Nov and earliest must have been late March. Definitely never Jan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted January 3, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 3, 2020 My latest was Nov. 14 and the next day I was up north sitting in a deer blind in the snow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted January 3, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 3, 2020 @MISkier - you guys are amazing. I skied yesterday 1/1 here in Arkansas in 45 degree water in wetsuit and couldn’t feel my toes after about two minutes. But Michigan in January- that’s amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 3, 2020 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 3, 2020 @bishop8950, prior to this, my earliest was February 22 a couple of years ago. I think we had something like 60F air and around 40F water. Latest that I've skied buoys was November 6 (45F air, 45F water) several years ago. A couple boat dealerships have polar bear ski events in December. I participated in one of those on December 1st a few years ago. March skiing is quite common for our group. My earliest buoys are March 24. @MDB1056, we always have a cooler full of hot water for hands and feet. And, there is no way I would be only in a wetsuit in 45F water. I frequently wear my drysuit into the summer and, as a another personal record, have worn a drysuit in every month in Michigan. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ski_Dad Posted January 3, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 3, 2020 very cool ! I told my ski buddy several times recently I wish i had bought a drysuit b/c we have had several good opportunities to ski in December. The latest I have made it in northern Ohio is early November. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller cougfan Posted January 3, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 3, 2020 @MISkier you and @Rednucleus would get along great. He is a BIG FAN of the drysuit. He doesn’t like to ever get cold while skiing. We skied on December 21 and again on New Year’s Day in 46 degree water with the air around 44. Very pleasant in a drysuit. Having a heater and hot water shower in the boat made skiing doable. We usually ski all year around here in the PNW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted January 3, 2020 Baller_ Share Posted January 3, 2020 How do you decide what is the latest set of last season vs the earliest set of the next season? My latest set of the season as a New Yorker, in my mind, was January 1, maybe around 2010. My earliest was March 18 in 1974 (no wetsuit, no drysuit, and I missed my start. Crap that was cold.) I figure there has to be at least a couple months of ice between seasons. Now that I live in Florida where I have no ice, my season ends and my new season begins with the last tournament of the calendar year. How unromantic. Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller epnault Posted January 3, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 3, 2020 That is cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller OldGuysRule Posted January 4, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 4, 2020 I was fortunate enough to join Kevin Day and the group for a Polar Bear Water Ski on New Year's Day in St. Louis under the Arch on the Mississippi. Air was a sunny 58 degrees and the water....it was muddy! A large crowd watched 6 or 7 skiers brave the fast flowing river. The event raised approximately $2,000 for the Missouri Disabled Water Ski Association. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 4, 2020 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 4, 2020 @lpskier, I guess I use calendar year as the reference point. Usually, it's much more divided, as we'll stop skiing in late October and won't start again until about March. So, that span of time sort of delineates the season boundary. I'm going to consider my January 2 ski run as the first of the next season. I realize the AWSA tournaments season is far different, but that switches in August, anyway. So, my first ski of the season in that scenario would be the first skiing after Nationals. Likewise, the latest ski would be just before Nationals or during. Neither of those make any sense when discussing the battle between the skier and the elements. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller kurt Posted January 5, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 5, 2020 @MISkier , Billy's puddle unfroze earlier in the week and if your desperate to turn bouy's bleach your bu out and make the drive over. The MC is buried behind the snowmobiles in the barn. The bouy's are still in cause the owner is lazy.....or smart so he doesn't have to put them in when spring comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 5, 2020 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 5, 2020 Thanks @kurt. I’ll have to keep an eye on the forecast. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BlueSki Posted January 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 6, 2020 I tried to find the thread with Brooks skiing with the Shorts beer guys in winter in Michigan, but I didn’t so I’ll put this here. After @MISkier’s video, this Pure Michigan video was next. Skiing, beer, and summer days on a warm Michigan lake are perfect for sharing on a cold winter day. If you have never done a Michigan lake trip, you should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 6, 2020 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 6, 2020 @BlueSki, this is what you were looking for. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 6, 2020 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 6, 2020 And, here is that old thread: https://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/comment/302596 The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 2Valve Posted January 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 6, 2020 I skiied Nov. 2 of last year but you guys that are trying to ski now....in Michigan? You're nuts. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 6, 2020 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 6, 2020 @2Valve, we’re not totally insane. If the waverunners and surf boats show up, we’ll give up. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DaveD Posted January 6, 2020 Baller Share Posted January 6, 2020 @MISkier the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem. :smile: You got to love Short's, waterskiers and they make Huma Lupa Licious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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