BrennanKMN

Some people are too serious and some are not. I ski with people who try, can and will run 35+ off with all kinds of people in the boat, shit boat, bad wind, rollers, ect. I also know people who can barley run 22 off and are tweaking settings and complaining or telling you to do something different each pass because something is never right. I am fortunate enough to have enough of the first type of people to ski with that I don't often invite those that are less fun. I enjoy skiing because of the people, the vibe and the lifestyle. If your style doesn't mesh with mine then I will surround myself with other people.

If all you want it a dust cover, just make one? An afternoon with a sewing machine and some cheap-o material and you can get what you need. Unless you're looking for something a little cleaner/better fitting. I have an old school draw string cover for my 196 that I roll over it in the winter. No clue who makes it - it was built to the boat, but loose fitting. I'll see if I can find a manufacture.

I converted my surge brakes over to electric over hydraulic this last summer. I by no means needed it with my 3/4 ton truck, but damn is it nice a smooth. I really like the control of it and I can stop much better and more predictable with it as well. Well worth the $800 or so I put into it.

I'm going to be in Atlanta this Sunday and I'd love to check out your site here if anyone is skiing Sunday. Unfortunately I don't have a ski with, but meeting and seeing some skiers would be fabulous. I'm a little deprived this time of year in Minnesota! I am considering a move to the Atlanta area so I'd love to meet some Ballers and discuss the ski scene here. Brennan 612-532-8553

Have a lot of you gotten in trouble for this? I guess if I was on a big name lake I'd follow the rules more closely, but if I am at a 'cabin' spot or a small ski site I don't think that law would have ever stopped me from skiing.

I curled all through college and even had the national tournament at the Chaska curling club a few years back. If the Chaska club was closer I'd still curl. It is just to far away for an after work thing for me at the moment.

The split is almost always close to a dollar during the winter months. Sometimes in the spring it goes below gas for a few weeks too.

Thank you. You and this site are one of the many reasons I am a better skier today than I was yesterday.

2007 for me. I wanted ZO, otherwise I'd still have my 1997. No real reason to upgrade for hull changes IMO, not a big enough factor at my level.

ZO doesn't matter. PP doesn't matter. Are we talking about the state of the sport or the state of tournaments? You can ski all day long on a boat without speed control. Hell you can ski behind something that isn't a DD 3-event certified tow boat (gasp). There is more to skiing then running 38 off all day behind your brand new boat on your private lake. I used to run the course on my old I/O Sea Ray. ZO, didn't stop me, PP didn't stop me, a DD didn't stop me. I did learn my love for the sport and decide to prioritize those things after though, but grass roots bare bones is what gets people into this sport. Not 100k boats. Equipment doesn't matter. Access does. Lakes with courses and other skiers is all you need. Equipment will come after you have access.

How are boats the problem? There are loads of used boats available at great prices. If you are 20-30 years old and want to get into the sport and the cost of a new boat is what is stopping you, you got other issues. You don't need the newest, latest and greatest to ski. You need a boat, a ski and some friends. All of which can be had for under 20k pretty easily. Even less if you are willing. Not hard...

Great skiing Joel!

I know and ski with 15-20 people in the course locally. Out of that group I can count 5 that have ever skied in a tournament. 0 of us have skied in one in the last 3 years. All very active and skiing multiple times a week in the course. Skiing is alive and well. However, I see people slowly having a harder and hard time due to access. Access to a lake with a course is the biggest issue. We have boats, we have drivers, we have spotters, we have the equipment. We don't have a consistently reliable spot to ski distraction free. I drive 20-30 min to the lake one way towing my boat. I get really discouraged when I show up and there are 2 jet skis and a tuber out. This is a lake with 2 houses on it... Driving all the way there and not getting a decent set is discouraging and makes me debate if I should go the next day for fear of running into the same thing again. I am not going to sit around and bitch about others using the lake. It is a public lake and they have every right to jet ski and tube on it just like I have every right to slalom. It just sucks that our sport requires the lake conditions it does. Makes it difficult for us public water folks to progress.

I fog mine. It makes me feel better. Is it needed, probably not, but for the 5 minutes it takes for me to do it I am going to continue to do it. Plus it allows me to inspect plugs and wires. @swc5150 Not to start this debate, but has anyone heard of engine failure due to running non-synthetic oil? Me neither. Same concept here.

This season sucked for me. Started strong but then weather and work got in the way. Plus we had basically no fall. Pretty depressing...

Back when I had an RTP I had a pair of neoprene socks from Cabela's. Throw those on before your wetsuit and your feet will be just as warm.

Considering the price of a decent course is $900 to $2000 this isn't unreasonable for a technology that will never be mass produced. Frankly I am surprised how cheap it is. @bigskieridaho I would wager that the vast majority of people do not have access to a club let alone a $2500 club.

Ever since Rotella lost the SN rating I just go to the store and get whatever 15w40 diesel oil they have with an SN/SM rating. I am not running long enough drain intervals for it to really matter, so I don't care. I've been doing oil analysis on my truck for years. Thinking I might do one on my boat this fall. It's always fun to see the actual data.

2007 Ski Nautique 196 with ZO Rev R. Thinking about moving to a single puck.

I love my keypad. I've never lock it either, just start and go.

I have a bunch of random no-name buoys that I have been using on my permanent course on public water for many years. They look like crap, but function > form. I scrub them clean each year though. Some of them look like really old warn leather, but they keep floating!

When I lost my drop ski it was great motivation to learn how to get up on one. :D

1. TSC1 Ski Nautique 2. TSC3 Ski Nautique 196 (with retro graphics) 3. MasterCraft 197 (2014+) 4. Ski Nautique 200 CB 5. MasterCraft 197 (late 2000's) I am a sucker for big in your face, but clean, graphics, clean simple lines, teak platforms and the classic closed bow inboard look.

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like no matter what I'd be struggling to ski.

I am considering a move to Loudoun County Virginia, more specifically the Ashburn area. I am curious what the skiing is like there. I currently use my own boat and ski in the course on 3 different lakes 3-5 times a week. Because of the job I would be moving to the boat likely would be left behind for several years. Is there any ski clubs or anything near that area? Just trying to get a feel for what the ski scene is like. Skiing plays a role in whether I take the job or not.