brettmainer

The correct answer varies by region and water supply. Well fed lakes in northern CA require a jackhammer to get water spots off due to minerals brought up from the ground and fast evaporation due to low humidity. Years ago at Bell Acqua when we were river fed prior to a flood control project that ruined the river feed, water spots were a non issue. Now that we are well fed, it takes a strong acid or the aforementioned jackhammer. I skied with @dave2ball for a couple of weeks this spring in Orlando and was amazed at how clean, clear and soft his water was. I don’t think I showered the entire trip (not really, but close) and his boat just needed a towel wipe, if that. So, water spot cleaning varies by water supply and mineral content. As a side note, the best part of this sport is the friends you make. Dave’s site is fantastic and his hospitality is the epitome of what makes waterskiing and friendship in general such a great thing.

The Hovercraft is fun as long as you don’t go too fast. I’ve run -39 at 17.3 but took a huge wreck at -32 28mph. That wide body and those little fins are not made to go fast! I’ve also gotten a guy through the course on the first set at 17mph who had never been up on a slalom ski before (disclaimer: he is a pretty good wakeboarder). For the adventurous among is, I have also seen someone ride a flip around on it, but the subject skier is better than average.

@Beezer, i agree the Goode length measurements are irritating. Fin length is what it is (tips). Measuring inaccurately with the jaws with the caliper against the ski and reporting an alternate length is a mind bender because the measurements are affected by the bevels and the conversion factor is different ski to ski. However, for the Goode XTR and Team, 6.77 (wonky Goode length measurement) = 6.845. Add 0.075” to the Goode lengths to convert to the true length. This conversion factor will be different for other models.

Reflex front, cut down R style in back. Short, deep, bindings 1/8” back from stock. Obviously subject to change, but not much I would change based on the first ride.

Only 6 passes in a 18mph head/tail, but whatever they did to the ski works for me. Or maybe my 4yr old XTR really is worn out. Either way, it was a really fun set and I am looking forward to riding it again in better conditions when I get back from a short business trip.

I tried cleaning the nuts before I skied today. I still suck at skiing, but I felt cleaner while falling. I think that is an improvement.

@klindy, I know you were trying to be helpful with that post, but you just highlighted why this sport is suffocating in its own red tape. Let’s harken back to the wisdom of John Madden. If all three guys in a bar agree it’s a catch, it’s a catch. If the only judge who actually saw 6 ball says it was good, it is either good or a-ride is given because 2/3 of the judges couldn’t see it. A score of 5 is wrong in those circumstances. Even @Rico wouldn’t like it. At least we can draw comfort from the fact that all of the judges were Safe Sport trained.

Sounds like an error by the chief judge, who should be more in line for sanctioning than Freddy if anyone is sanctioned. Boat judge calls it 6. Other two judges say “At least 5, but we couldn’t see 6, need to see video before we can conclusively determine any score beyond 5.” Except, there is no conclusive video. @Horton is correct that the proper solution is a re-ride, but I think an equally good (but more susceptible to JT protest) choice would be to say that the boat judge called 6 and there is no visual or video evidence to dispute the call, so the score is 6. I don’t see how the the chief judge can justify “Majority score = 5” if the the two tower judges actually said “at least 5, need to see video to award more”. Score should have been 6 or re-ride with protected 5.

If the two sites are currently surveyed as RC and the SurePath is green, it counts. Period.

Yes

There was a three lake site in Los Banos I skied at a few times in the 90s. Not sure of it’s current status, but it was a nice site and very close to Hollister.

Make sure you let the computer fully boot up and get to main screen before cranking engine. Mechanically different but similar to waiting for glow plugs to warm up before starting a diesel engine in that you turn the key part way (or single push of the button), wait 5 to 10 seconds, then start engine.

No Dorien Llewellyn in jump?

Good stuff. Rob Hazelwood is a a good watch in addition to being a pretty alright skier. He stopped by our dock the other day and was the same humble good guy. Rob is what our sport (and any other sport) needs.

Bump. If you need a new flux capacitor, boat repower or anything else boat maintenance related in the western states, there is nobody better.

@JackQ, do you know if it is the exact same shape with a modified composition or whether the shape was tweaked? I am not suggesting the shape needed to be tweaked or that doing so would be an improvement, I am just curious as to what physically changed.

So what is actually different between the Team and the XTRcc it is replacing? Is it the same mold with a different material layup or an all new shape, different bevels etc.? I am currently on a high mileage XTR that I am looking to replace. I tried all three of the cc options last year and ran the same buoy count on all of them despite their different feels. However, it was the same count as I was running on my old XTR, so I didn't see the point of spending the money. I also got to try an experimental 9970cc with larger bevels, and even though the ski was a size too small for my current weight and speed, I ran my practice pb for the year. I would have bought that ski in a second if it was available in my size, but it wasn't. I am curious how the new Team ski compares and whether Goode might be introducing a modified 9970 this year as well, as I expect I will be buying one of the two.

@jimbrake, special gummy bears...

More power to him if he can get $60k and maybe that is what a 2013 200 is worth in this inflationary market, but I sold my 2013 200 promo with 100hrs in 2013 for $45k. Who knew used ski boats were a solid investment and I should have held onto it and let it appreciate? I’ll bet a ton of guys tried to convince their wives of that back then…turns out they were right!

Try a larger diameter handle. Stress shifts from elbow to forearm muscles.

Late one afternoon a few years ago I was on the dock talking about my struggles on the C-65 with @twhisper. He took a ride on it to see how it felt, with my bindings, my vest and my gloves (lucky he already had his own board shorts on). This was several beers in already. I recall he missed his opener, but then proceeded to run straight through 39. Apparently my struggles on the C-65 were not the fault of the ski or bindings. Fewer beers, his own bindings, a C-85, and I believe Terry would do quite well regardless of what he thinks about his onside.

I’ve used 1.03 for years, but started rotating through 1.03, 1.09 and 1.125 diameter handles, changing almost every day, last year. Changing the diameter on a regular basis seemed to help elbow issues. Or maybe I just pull like a G1 skier now, which also helps elbows. After cycling through the above diameters (I have 3 of the 1.03 handles), I am pretty sure that the 1.06 would be perfect for me, as the 1.03 feels a little small now. I’d order one, but I have five perfectly good handles in adjacent diameters I feel I should wear out first. All of my handles are 13” bent.

It would be nice if S Line and Masterline offered deductive pricing options for a rope starting at 28' off. Maybe three (say $5ea or similar) possible deducts if one wishes to purchase a rope that starts at 22, 28 or 32. Tournament organizers still need full length ropes, but when I get a new rope every year, I take off the red and orange lengths and toss them in a pile to be used as dog leashes and boat ties. I am to the point where I don't need any more dog leashes and boat ties.

I once heard of a tower judge who called zero on a perfectly good entrance gate. Same guy takes candy from babies and would rob an old lady. He makes it look like 32mph when he is supposedly skiing 34. Highly suspect to me.

@rockdog, are you tweaking the ankle crossing the wake or during falls? If crossing the wake, I don't have much advice, but it is interesting because my ski partner is having that problem as well. If the tweaking is due to slow releases during falls, I guess that you are using the highest top buckle placement? I use just the lower two, which allows my heal to lift and for the foot to come out easily during a fall.