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Running the training balls 18m @ 46km/h, all six and proud seeing that I could only do one in Nov 2013.

Maybe we should have a poll (with names) 2 x a year so that we can see how everybody improved

Speed Calculator

Change the data in the yellow blocks

@Than_Bogan and @Jordan, thanks alot for the input, I will go back to 43kph and 18m and practice being stacked / basics.

I can assure you that I'm having fun, been doing the course since Nov 2013.

The whole family's addicted

@Than_Bogan, Thanks for the advice.

I started at 18m 43kph, it was too slow, my back leg would touch the water during and after 2, 4 & 6 creating drag. I shortened to 16m because it feels as if I get to the balls quicker.

I'm LFF, 78kg, 1.82m and skiing on a 2013 Connelly V 67' with Double Sidewinder Bindings and as you can see by the video still new in the game.

The feeling I get after turning to the gate, Ball 2, 4 & 6 is as if the boat wants to pull me over, I then compensate resulting in me not making Ball 1, 3 & 5, my position after turns at 1,3,5 feels good / better.

So my question.....

If I open my feet/stance on the ski more to "duck" stance will this prevent that feeling of being pulled over? (at this moment the bindings are aligned straight and I don't know if they can be moved).

Maybe there is something else wrong, as I said I'm a beginner, any advice will do.

@BraceMaker, look at the Jobe Competition vests

Looks quite cool and it looks as if the belly button will be hidden

http://www.jobesports.com/products/vests/comp-vests/progress-comp-vest-women-pink/

http://www.jobesports.com/products/vests/comp-vests/impress-comp-vest-women/

@usaski1. Put some candle wax on the belt while it's running and hear if the sound goes away

(Take the candle and push it against the belt as the engine runs), this will eliminate belt noise as the cause.

@mmosley899, I see that you have a tension adjustment for the front as well as the rear boot.

Could you have made the system shorter by eliminating the front adjustment and using the rear to adjust the tension for both boots? My train of thought is that, if one boot releases the other should as well and immediately to prevent injury.

This would also loose some "weight" ;) and bring the costing down.

I'm Johannes ,I have been skiing since I was 10 years old (back in the 70's). I live in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa where we have good ski weather most to the year.

In Nov/Dec last year I saw these buoys in the water and guys making the most awesome spray when they go around them. We joined the Inanda Waterski Club and now the whole family's hooked!!

@Horton, I tried your straighter back leg this weekend, I'm skiing at 46km/h (28mph) and at 18m, and I can say for me it works. Before I used to ski with no weight on my back foot and my backside would still be out there. With the straighter back leg I feel a 50/50 weight distribution, definitely more hips forward and I'm crossing the wake with more speed and confidence.

Note that I have only started skiing the course in November last year, so as a beginner I think Horton's advice can help.

I looked at the specs of the 4.2L but could not compare it with a Mercruiser Gasoline engine (Mercuiser data does not show all the info) so I used the 4.3L MPI (220HP) and compared it to the 3.0TDI (230hp).

The 3.0TDI is 46kg (12%) lighter than the 4.3MPI and gives 10HP (5%) more.

I'm wondering if this would be the case with the bigger engines as well.

With the advancement in Turbo Technology, I think that in future the smaller engines will take over.

With regards to EGT being high on Turbo engines, the boat is in water, a lot of water, use it to cool it down. A car can only make use of the water in the radiator and ambient air to cool the engine and is doing it successfully.

Try again....

The perfect tow car for it (colors not the size though)

Our Water Ski Club (Inanda Water Ski Club) is having a Mini League at Satellite Dam next Sunday (23rd), so looking forward to it...

Here's a clip of Travis Fisher at Satellite Dam.