BallOfSpray turns 14 years old this month

[Horton]

Sometime in December 2009 BallOfSpray took the basic form it has today. 14 Years is a long time.

I could not do it without you guys!

[thager]

Or us without you! 

[Horton]

Thank you brother. You certainly have added some humor over the years. 

[Andy]

Thank you for all your effort each and every day.

[503Kento]

Thanks @horton, I’ve learned so much on this site.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated. 

[swbca]

Congratulations

The success of this forum can be attributed to the total involvement of it's publisher.

[DW]

14 years and many of us from the Coyote Bros. Research days!  How time flies and old we get.  Flex matters.

[Horton]

Flex Matters!

[The_MS]

Anyone have a carbon 106? I think it would be great with the KD. 
14 years🙉

[Horton]

@The_MS I got rid of almost all my inventory and r&d stuff but I might have a 106 somewhere. The magic ones were really the 98s and I could never recreate them after I lost that supplier.

if I get out to the workshop today I'll look for you

[The_MS]

Awesome

[DW]

The beauty and the curse of the carbon fin:  the layup is critical and as Horton noted, could be supplier dependent.

[6balls]

Slalom theory--advanced for sure.  I have learned a lot, and taught a little, over the years.  Thanks @Horton

[skibrain]

I think I was on waterskiing.net reading posts from “wildcatskier” @MarcusBrown when I first heard about BOS. 

[Horton]

@skibrain I've been trying to buy that URL for over 10 years

[BlueSki]

How many have been banned over 14 years?  Frustrating for you but often very entertaining for us. 

[Jaypro]

when I started skiing in the course in 2017 at 49 years of age, this site fed my newfound addiction.  Not much has changed!  Thanks for a great site @Hortonand Ballers for always chiming in to newbie questions!

[Horton]

@BlueSki I was just posting about that in a forum for site admins. In the early days it seemed like I was banning at least one user a month. Now it is a few per year or less. The bad actors are entertaining but are not good for the goal of promoting the sport. 

[Fbris]

Congratulations!! Here’s to another 14!!

[BlueSki]

@Horton definitely, glad that it has gotten better. 

[buoyboy1]

@The_MSI have a 116 in excellent shape if you don't find a 106.

[ALPJr]

Long live ballofspray!

[KRoundy]

Here's to 14 more! Man, I'll be old in 14 years... I better go ski.

[DonT]

Thanks...The Source for all that is good in the world....well maybe not all, but a good portion of it.

[Fam-man]

Kudos to @Horton and everyone that contributes. This site has been a great source of information and entertainment and the access to knowledge for a little known sport is unparalleled.

I've spent many hours reading about technique and theory especially when someone would post a picture or video and ask for feedback from the knowledgeable folks on this forum. I'm hoping that continues and even increases in the future.

[skinut]

On 12/19/2023 at 3:34 PM, Horton said:

Sometime in December 2009 BallOfSpray took the basic form it has today. 14 Years is a long time.

I could not do it without you guys!

You've created an awesome space for our ski community. Thanks!

[The_MS]

@Horton is the 116 stiffer then the 106 or less ? 

[Horton]

@The_MS it is .008" thicker and a tick stiffer. 

106 is 10 layers vertical and 6 horizontal

116 is 11 layers vertical and 6 horizontal

If I remember I made the 106 just to get thinner so fit in fin slots. It was a long time ago so 🤷‍♂️

[jeblanc]

@Horton finding BOS coincided with me getting back into this sport.  It's helped me with my technique and with updating my gear.  So thanks for that.

 

[VONMAN]

@HortonTime fly's when your having fun! Thank you so much!! And for Your carbon fins, I was a believer!

[Cooper_Trelawney]

I remember when I turned 14.  I was tall, skinny, pimple faced and awkward around girls but I sure did love to ski.  Happy Birthday BOS!  Here's to 14 more! 

[rawly]

You do realize that celebrating your birthday in December on a waterski site could effect the size of the party 🤷‍♂️ You could have easily told us this back in July , we wouldn’t have known the difference 🤣. Back when I was working , I occasionally got jealous of that guy next door that worked from the lake and skied his brains out. Now that you are in Hollister , it wouldn’t be as bad on me 🤣. Congratulations on your success with your site , and thanks for providing a place for a bunch of ski bums to hang out and share information. 

[Horton]

@rawly

Believe it or not, I think I skied more last summer than I did when I was still down in Bako

[tjs1295]

Congrats!!! Love the site. 

[Mose]

This is great Forum I really enjoy the interesting conversations that this site creates. Good work Horton. What was the first ski u reviewed 

[Horton]

@Mose oh that's a long story. I put together ski reviews for Water Ski Magazine around the time the forum was founded and then I individually reviewed I think Connelly Prophecy first. That review is likely somewhere in the database, but I'm not at home to find it right now. It should be noted that I've learned a hell a lot over the years and absolutely do not endorse the methods used in the early days.

[ForrestGump]

Oh man, I remember day 1.  Not like it’s yesterday.  Because I drank a lot between then and now.  Including now.  Happy birthday to the ‘spray!

[LeonL]

Congrats!  I've enjoyed BOS for many years.  Don't know exactly when I joined.  I tried to look it up on my profile and it says 1901.  Don't think that's correct, LOL!

[auskier]

My 106 redim I had in my 2006 Monza got stolen recently after a break in at my lake 😞 

I learnt a lot back in the old CBR forum days from many of the OG's. Good times. 

[skibackwards]

THANK YOU for making my summers go better and giving me a life and a reason to turn on the computer in the WINTER.🦺

[Zman]

On 12/25/2023 at 6:40 AM, LeonL said:

Congrats!  I've enjoyed BOS for many years.  Don't know exactly when I joined.  I tried to look it up on my profile and it says 1901.  Don't think that's correct, LOL!

Oldest baller award!

[Horton]

took 14 years for a post about nude show skiing. I never thought I'd see the day.

[brody]

Thanks for all you do and this site.  What other sport gives you the opportunity to speak with suppliers, see unbiased reviews, get tech support or speak directly with top athletes

[Ski2000]

@Horton Just think at 14 is when the nudist shows up. What will 15 bring😂

[Horton]

@Ski2000 more @The_MS?

[rawly]

    We were watching a ski show at Lake Shasta and when it was over some guy came by the crowd barefooting naked. It was their favorite part of the show 🤣

[thager]

As I remember it, someone I might know skied past an Easter morning church service at the swimming beach in the buff behind a Nautique in about 1972. Streaking was a thing back then. Boy, was my Pop pissed!!!!  😂

 

[rawly]

First the nudists , now the NFL ? A defensive player for the Rams had his arm out to his side as he side steps in that direction to make the tackle. Announcer -   “ look at Houcht , he’s just putting his hand in , waterskiing down the line “.  And a few plays later Kupp is held pretty badly and is towing the Giant player who is “ waterskiing behind him “ . Whose next ? That’s one way to get waterskiing on tv. Horton may have to interview Mark Sanchez or whoever made those calls. 

[6balls]

I've done a lot of stupid things, and I've done a lot of barefooting.  No way I'm barefooting naked.  The risk/reward balance on that one just isn't there.

The nudist thing was pretty funny.  More weird than that goofball from Korea that got banned after numerous warnings---name escapes me.