Porkfight

A guy I used to free ski with growing up is going with me on a river trip next month and wants to ski again. He's 6'4" 245 lbs and says he had success on his uncle's Connelly Big Daddy in recent years. I told him that ski was not allowed on my boat. He was an aggressive skier in his day but struggles with get ups (behind a generic 4.3L V6 powered runabout). Since I have other friends in the same weight range who want to learn to ski, I just bought a used 71" 2013 HO Triumph. It should be perfect for him at 30-32 mph.

@jah81592 I'm looking at an old issue of of Waterski magazine on google books and it mentions, "the port gunnel has a slot below floor level to accommodate a wakeboard." Could that be it?

 

link

I was trained at 26 on a Senate and it felt like I was sinking. Another vote for 28, here. The mini course will give you confidence once you nail it a few times but then start shadowing the big course. You'll get a lot more out of it and advance more quickly.

That looks so fun! My desire to do that with friends is far greater than my desire to enter a tournament.

On, I was pulling a friend behind her own '81 Stars and Stripes Mastercraft on the Parker Strip at about 8 am. A red Nautique G25 plowed by us in the narrow section by the island and my friend said she could see her prop from behind when we hit that wake. Clueless and careless with too much money.

 

That said, several other massive boats yielded to us while we were pulling skiers throughout the weekend. There are still a few respectful boaters out there.

Awesome video @Nautibynature!

One of my childhood ski buddies is going to spend three days on the water with my family in September. I bought a used '13 Triumph for him to ride, just so there won't be any excuses. He was easily better than me when we were in our 20's, but hasn't skied much since then. We're late 30's now. Should be memorable.

The TXi is pretty great if you need a boat that can occasionally be put into service as an open bow party barge but the interior isn't as modern as the others, if that's a concern. It's still very nice. Aside from the wetted surface (and, therefore, wake), the rest of the boat hasn't really changed since 2007. I spent three days behind a Carbon Pro last year and was pulled at 26 to learn the course. The wake was a tidal wave at -15, as it probably is in most boats. My tug is an '08 LXi and it doesn't feel as massive as the CP did at that pace. SN200 and Prostar were my first choice but everything I've read indicated that they have lower freeboard and aren't as good for recreational use as the Malibus. If you have flat water and money isn't a concern...used SN200 OB or Prostar. All of your options are great, though.

Probably pulls tubes like a dream.

55 miles per hour?

See avatar.

Whoa...just saw this thread.

 

I never saw the CL ad but found this course on Ski It Again. I put a deposit down on this a few weeks ago and met the seller in Parker, AZ to close the deal. It's in perfect shape and he just wanted to see it go to a good home. Coincidentally, I was going to be in Parker for a river trip anyway so everything worked out perfectly. Shipping was going to be unreal.

 

I've been looking for this exact course for almost a year. Can't wait to get it in the water!

Uship.com worked great for me earlier this summer when I had my RLXi shipped from IN to CA. All said and done, it cost $1,700 to be transported about 2,300 miles on a 40' flatbed trailer, excluding tip, which the guy almost didn't accept because I helped him unload the boat. (Bruce Beard is a good man!)

 

Uship will try to get you to buy their insurance, but it's not necessary if the shipper has their own. Definitely make sure whoever you go with has all the necessary credentials and insurance.

Hm. I fear that if he doesn't like the CX, he may just want to stick with his old reliable EP. Senate, V, Theory, TX/Triumph, P6 are all great skis that are wider than his EP and possibly the CX.

It is backwards. For right foot forward, your right palm should be facing down. Just like if you were holding a baseball bat in a left handed stance.

I broke an ancient handle on a get up three years ago and knocked the wind out of myself. We called an even older double handle into service as soon as I could breath again. Fitting, as I was behind an '88 Ski Sanger and riding a '83 Jobe Open Class that morning.

 

That was the first time I'd skied in 14 years. I hit SIA pretty hard that month.

Ooo, that Hybrid Rear Toe Plate looks interesting. My two year-old Vectors are starting to give out and I've been thinking about ditching the double-boot setup. Anyone seen or tried the HRTP?

My two current favorite pairs are made by O'Neill and RVCA. I spend all day in board shorts when I wear them so a zipper fly is at the top of my priority list. Velcro flies are a cruel joke.

I stumbled across that video shortly after it came out and immediately subscribed to YouTube channel. His others vids are mostly reviews of phone and go pro accessories. Needz moar waterski!!! That Glass Water video is so well done!

Awesome boat!

 

Here is a link to a slow motion video of Regina Jaquess running a pass. I think it pairs well with the advice provided in the posts above.

 

Double post :/

Ugh. So sad to hear.

 

My wife and I recently stayed at Ski Sunset Ranch with an Australian couple who get coaching from Andy whenever they're in Orlando for business. They had nothing but great things to say about him. He's celebrity status in my eyes. I never met him but he will be missed.

The guy that crashed into my fully restored 1979 Sterling semi-v while we we floating on the river, sending me, my wife and father in law diving off at the last second. His Tige with 8 people aboard was on top of my boat, completely out of the water, until mine sank. Not one person was looking forward. This happened in June. I really miss that boat. My dad bought it brand new in '79.

The TX is wider, easier to get up on, can be ridden slower, etc.

 

It is cool to see people supporting the industry. Some wakeboarders in my group of friends are starting to convert. What's old is new again.

Jobe Open Class. My dad looked a lot better on that than I do on my wiz bang carbon fiber stick.

@perkinsperkins, I recently had a boat/trailer shipped from Indiana to California on a lowboy type of trailer. It cost about $1,900. I recommend www.uship.com for that type of thing. You set up an auction and shippers bid on the job.