wtrskior

Now considering a socal trip in April and being able to ski in the region has increased the likelihood immensely. Anywhere we should look to stay within an hour or so? fun, cool, not LA... Want to visit Joshua Tree park, and add some adventure to our trip. Hiking, mountain biking, etc. Any other cool things to see and do in the general vicinity (within a few hours)? Would probably take a few ski rides, go travel for a few days, come back to ski a few sets, travel a few days, ski a few sets...

@Horton ski binding DIN settings correlate to your height weight and ability level. There are 3 ability levels. The lower your ability the lighter the setting (and lower number) you will have. It's concerning you say the reflex chart is too heavy because these alpine binding settings are good for 99% of skiers. Only racers and back country experts set measurably higher than the charts.

all the best and keep living life to the fullest! Looking forward to seeing some ski pics of you killing it when the water warms up

@scotchipman congrats! They look really really nice. Please share a post when you've had a chance to get them wet a few times to compare. I tell everyone that my RS1 boots are the single best investment I've ever made in this sport. I can't kill them (probably because I take really good care of them!). Interested to hear your comparison!

@scotchipman I am an 8.5 wide and have size 9 RS1s. 8s are way too small, but the 9s fit great! i need a bit more volume in the big toe area so have heat molded with just a thin sock and a piece of paper taped over my big toe.

@perfski any customers put the newer liners in older RS1/Strada shells? I have 2 sets of RS1 shells that are in near perfect shape but the liners are closing in on their functional lifespan.

Look at the demographics, look at the pro tournaments and amateur tournaments. Outside very few small areas all are decreasing (or increasing as far as demographics). Access is the issue and will continue to be. @Ob1 has said this many times and is entitled to his opinion but it's a self Centred myopic view of the sport. If we don't at the very least replace those that are falling off you will have fewer places to ski and less ability to improve as there are fewer pros to teach you. Things need to change or it will be doomed eventually

Look at the demographics, look at the pro tournaments and amateur tournaments. Outside very few small areas all are decreasing (or increasing as far as demographics). Access is the issue and will continue to be. @Ob1 has said this many times and is entitled to his opinion but it's a self Centred myopic view of the sport. If we don't at the very least replace those that are falling off you will have fewer places to ski and less ability to improve as there are fewer pros to teach you. Things need to change or it will be doomed eventually

The new masterline carbon handle floats

Masters is known to select skiers outside the lcq as well. Invitational tournament and one of a kind.

@gar the oil changes color much quicker than that imo. For the modern engines and synthetic oil you can go much longer between changes. 75hrs or twice a season is probably a good gauge. I always liked to put my boat away with fresh oil and I only put 50hrs a year on it. So it gets the oil change close to bed time and again earlier in the next season. Cars can go easily 7500mi these days between changes. I check my oil regularly and it is still nice and golden at that milage.

@horton never said you could re-heat as many times as you'd like... The intuition liners will shrink about 80% when you heat mold after the first time! That is going to take a lot of skiing in cold water and for 15min durations to get them molded to your foot. most of my season most likely. BTW I was a alpine ski boot fitter in a previous life and have sat through many boot fitting seminars. To suggest that heat molding will ruin your boots is 100% wrong. Ski shops are heat molding thousands of ski boots every year.

I got to ski with Mike when the video had launched and I was just getting into course skiing. I had been watching the video, but videos are difficult to put into pracice. I need a hands on approach. He helped me a lot in terms of leading with the COM and I picked up a number of buoys after skiing with him. He didn't get into the weeds in person like the video, very good coach. Was really great to meet and ski with one of the greats. super nice guy

I've had 3 pairs. all have been heat molded in my traditional oven per the instructions that came with them. I'm sure they will mold to your feet eventually, but one thing that would take too long or not at all is to get extra space in the toe box. I find the boots run a little small for me in the toes so I put a toe cap in and mold them that way. Way better fit for me. only way you are going to ruin them is if you forget about them in the oven.... 5-10mins max. you can re-heat intuition liners a number of times as well.

@MuskokaKy don't worry Michael takes care of the wildlife :). Don't ask about the snakes though!

@MISkier @mattp @Horton If we're getting partisan politics might as well tell more than 1/2 a side of a story. Farm the desert or fish the wetlands, doesn't seem so cut and dry to me. https://goo.gl/81N8KO

Width is the wrong term becaise width is controlled by how long the rope is and you never want slack in the rope if you can help it. You won't be able to get as "high" up on the boat at longline as 41off. But you want the same intensity for every pass so that when the line does shorten you are getting higher on the boat. A good trick to learning where you need to be us to put tape on the gunnels but you'll need to know where to be or have a knowledgeable helper... Pull out earlier so you aren't late at the gate and make mistakes trying to catch up. Once you know the intensity you need to get that line to 1 ball, you can adjust when you begin your pull out. You need to establish a repeatable routine. When you pull out, intensity, when you turn in. Then adjust it all later to get that perfect inside RH gate ball cut to 1. Hope this helps

Original syndicate A1 has to be up there http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RkSjrzA4WOs/SFqdzqadW3I/AAAAAAAAAYI/H4oFq8wk41k/s400/145-homain2.jpg

I have skied a few seasons on both. a 67 green vapor and a 66.5" A2. I much prefer the Vapor but the A2 was a very good ski. I think more skiers will take to the vapor compared to the A2 if you're learning to ski the right way. The A2 was easier to muscle around with poor technique for me.

@Edbrazil I'm really not sure what government funding has to do with this? This is the sour grapes I was referring to @ntx. The USA had what appears to be its A team at the tournament. #1 u17 skiers in most categories on the rankings list. I'm sure they don't need anyone telling them or insinuating in any way they didn't medal because there's no government funding to the team. Their performances on the water at his event, other's and their spots on the ranking list do the talking for them. Canada won and it's because there are some amazing athletes and an excellent program. With how small the country is, how cold and how small the sport is in Canada I'm personally super proud. I've also been fortunate enough to be around and ski with some of the team members over the last few years as well and they are Canadian as it gets @Horton. Very proud of them and all the other kids that worked so hard to get to the Jr world's.

@ntx in general and sour grapes not directed at you. There is a lot more corporate money in Ameeican sport's and much more focus in the school system as compared to canada

@ntx waterski Canada provides support to the junior team as I recall but its not very much. Money from the government would nil or negligible per athlete. My point is the USA spends more on sport than nearly every other country. Just because usawaterski is disfunctional doesn't mean other national programs somehow have an unfair advantage. Sounds like sour grapes more than anything else IMO

@Horton the only kids on the Canadian team who live in Florida are Paige and Neilly. The others just visit and are permanent Canadian residents born, raised and train in Canada when water is wet. This is also true for most high level althletic's where year round training is required. Where do you think the US alpine ski team trains in the summer? Not The USA! I do like to make the distinction and their success is more related to the strength of the program, coaching from Canada, Florida (often a canadian coach) and support from the Canadian skiing community than where they or their parents were born. @Edbrazil you couldn't be more wrong. Almost nobody spends more on sport than the USA. Show me the money! You think the USA wins all the time because they breed better athletes? LOL

@Golfguy may not be a concern for JT...

I would ride a modern ski just because it was called "El Diablo" hello HO? Radar?