Bongo

More than enough ice on the lake (8"+) to measure, mark, re-measure, adjust, confirm measurements, cut ice and install 39 permanent concrete anchors with attached buoys on our lake. 26 for the Slalom course and 13 for the Jump course - including a couple optional buoys (e.g. center high side of jump). They'll replace a floating Slalom course and a cable course for Jump. While neither my co-owner or I are surveyors, we did find ourselves arguing whether a 5 cm variance from exact course measurements on one turn buoy was acceptable. It was well within the allowed variance. It was also friggin' windy on an 8 degree day. I did think about some college physics experiment that went along the lines of: measure with a micrometer, mark with a pencil and cut with an axe. In our case, good precise measurements that we triple checked...then cut holes with a chainsaw. Always tried to cut a clean corner where we had the mark and we had a vertical line to the anchor from that corner when it settled on the bottom. But I am sure we had a few cm variance. And yes, using the metric system is way better than English measurements when installing these courses. 39°44'51.3"N 92°13'44.0"W

I believe @skiinxs used to ski there. Maybe still does on occasion.

@ScottScott Similar to a couple of the above comments, but slight variance. The "leave the tank completely full" or completely empty is relating to a metal tank. Air warms up faster than the fuel and the tank. Damp air condenses into water on the cooler metal wall. Water deposits in the tank. Repeat many times over the winter. If there's no (little) air in the top, much less damp air to condense to water and so nearly as much dilution. Since almost everyone's boat on this forum now has a plastic-type tank, the condensation is much less of an issue. Therefore, isn't a factor when diluted into 25 gallons of gasoline. Now, shall opine whether batteries go bad on a concrete floor when you store them outside the boat? :-) BTW, I've stored my boats in protected but non-climate controlled space in MN and MO for the past 25+ years. Never had a problem. But I do also leave my tank full and with SeaFoam when I think about it before putting away, and I do store my battery on a shelf (w/tickle charger) and not directly on a concrete floor. So even though I don't think it matters, I still follow ye' ol' protocols. Bongo

@Sethro - I had a brief conversation with Orange Bruce here in Minnesota today, the day before Midwest Regionals, and it just made me smile. The guy can ski well - has a great sense of humor - and serves as an inspiration to those of us younger to keep pushing on. Hell of a jumper. When he skis, most watch and more cheer. Bongo

Thanks for the comments. While I think my boat pattern is decent as I only glance at her turn balls and don't often need much of a course correction, I agree that video from the boat from an observer / wake-eye to be more than helpful in gaining input. And my concentration on a straight pattern to be more than helpful. She did get some unsolicited advice from her tournament runs over the past weekend by skiers who go deeper into the line: - Bend your knees more. She stands tall throughout her run. Especially after turning a buoy, she seems too tall and not able to get enough angle (twist?) on her ski to get as good initial acceleration to the first wake as she could use. - Hold the handle consistently lower. Again, lean against the boat and pull from your hips, which leads to better initial acceleration. And while not advice, one of her tournament drivers nicknamed her "Scrappy". While there's some good to this (e.g. she can get thru a pass after the driver / boat judge have given her up for done), it clearly points to inconsistency in her passes. Bongo

Brief background: By the end of last summer, my RFF (right foot forward) G3 daughter (now 16 yrs; 5'8" 125lbs) got to where she was getting into 22' off @ 34mph on her old ski that turns out to have been poorly set-up. (It did have make up speed on 2 and 4.) Earlier this summer, she got a new 65" D3 ARC-S and factory suggested set-up (Thanks Doug @ The Liquid Edge). In practice, she's becoming more consistent at getting past 28' off @ 34mph before struggling mightily @ 32' off. I'm a slalom skier and have run the course a few times, but she'd kick my a$$. So a marginal coach, at best. When I'm driving and viewing in my mirror, as soon as she's finished the 1 ball, I've got a very good idea whether she'll run the pass or fail, even if she doesn't know. I've seen some different advice on this forum, so looking for a little guidance. She starts wide before the gates and gets a sharp angle. My advice has been to get wide heading into the 1 ball, backside the 1 ball, and get ahead going to 2. This most often leads to what I tell her to be a "long and lazy" turn on the 1 ball. Occasionally, she really will backside the 1 ball, but then 2 ball becomes her long and lazy turn. And if she doesn't have a great 3 ball, she's doomed eventually...usually on her way to 6. When she doesn't get as strong an angle through the opening gates, it turns out her chances of running the pass (whether 22' or 28' off) are better. In these cases, she'll barely get wider than the 1 ball, but turn right past the ball, grab on tight and rocket to 2. In these cases, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 balls all look to be about the same. In other words, when all 6 balls pass by her ankles, she's better off than when early on 1 and it passes at her waist. So is my advice of wide early way off base? Suggested suggestions? Bongo PS: Yes, she'll get some better coaching here in the midwest over the next couple weeks. But I'll still pull her a lot more than anyone else.

Ditto on the thread. Years ago when my wife and I were getting into snowmobile riding (separate sleds), I asked my uncle if he had any advice. "Yes, always ride behind someone else's wife." (Huh?!?!?, I think.) His wife overheard the end of the conversation and chimed in; "Mr Swanson (their neighbor) is so nice. When I tip my sled over he comes along and puts my sled upright, compliments me on how well I dodged the trees and asks if I'm ok. I now always go to Mr Swanson if I have any questions. Not like riding behind Ronald (her husband) who not only tells me what I did wrong, but also lets me know laundry is late and the dinner last night was overcooked." I've followed this advice for a long, long time, whether when riding snowmobiles, skiing behind her driving or learning to play a new card game. Always better if someone else gives any helpful advice there may be.

@Pocomoke_Skier As a recent novice to this type of competition (my kids now compete after we made the transition from Show Ski), my advice to you is (a) go ski a tournament, and (b) don't get too wrapped up in finding a 'F' or 'GR' tournament. In my neck-of-the-woods, most tournaments are 'C' and move up from there 'E', 'L', 'R'. Very few 'F' or 'GR' tournaments and not worth getting too anxious that you are registered in a 'C' tournament. After training on our local semi-public lake, we headed to a local tournament. Quite frankly, the lingo was more confusing than the tournament and what we needed to do. So here's where to start. When you search for tournaments on the www.usawaterski.org, you'll see a line something like this: "6 Pulls PandC, Slalom 2C , Trick 2C , Jump 2C Extra Pulls Available 2S 2T 2J". The means you can sign up for a maximum of 6 pulls (PandC = pick and choose), with a maximum of 2 Slalom runs with the 'C' scoring rules, maximum of 2 Trick runs with the 'C' scoring rules, and a maximum of 2 jump sets (3 jump attempts each set) with the 'C' scoring rules to count for your overall score. If you didn't sign up for all 6 of these (to get an overall 3-event score), you can add up to 2 slalom, 2 trick or 2 jump. Most you can do in this tournament is 6 pulls. But that could be 2 + 2 = 4 slalom runs. From a skiers perspective, there's really no difference in a 'C' or 'R' run. It is simply the number of judges that need to judge/score the event; e.g. you cannot set a new International world record in a 'C' tournament. So what. As a slalom skier, you'll start at the speed you think you can reasonably make the opening pass and attempt to progress upwards. After you may a full pass (opening gate, around all 6 buoys, closing gate), you'll move upward. Which is increase the speed by 3 km or shortening the rope. As soon as you do not make a full pass, your slalom run is over and they'll give you a score. This is why others above have suggested multi-round tournaments. If you miss on your first pass, not a good feeling for the day. As others have mentioned, let the organizer or first person who helps you out when you pull up to the site know this is your first tournament. In my experience, they are often too busy running around to keep the tournament flowing to spend a lot of time with you...but absolutely WILL find someone to talk with who will answer any and all questions. And when they use lingo you don't understand, don't let it go without getting clarification. Bongo

Thumbs up, Dave. Thumbs up, Chainsaw! Good video. Well done.

Trophy Lakes Estates III, which is northeast of the cities. Two private lakes. Houses and lots on the lake, though don't know what's for sale other than what the bank holds. The local association holds a couple 3-Event tournaments there each year and held Midwest Regionals there a couple years ago. Google address 15198 356th Street, Center City, MN 55012.

Trophy Lakes Estates III, which is northeast of the cities. Two private lakes. Houses and lots on the lake, though don't know what's for sale other than what the bank holds. The local association holds a couple 3-Event tournaments there each year and held Midwest Regionals there a couple years ago. Google address 15198 356th Street, Center City, MN 55012.

@JeffSurdej and all contributors, I'm late to the thread - but read it beginning to end, as it was interesting. And while my opinion is largely inconsequential, I am in favor of this type of idea. Two scenarios: (1.) Previous year, my G2 daughter got to the point where she could consistently run -15 / 32mph (max G2) and grab a buoy or two @ -22 / 32. Tournaments that year were a bit of anxiety to make sure she got her base -15 / 32mph pass, then anticipation whether she could beat her tournament PB... She could see big disappointment (not get to her base pass), slight disappointment (didn't match PB) or mild excitement (adding 1/2 buoy). All good emotions to learn from and build upon. All kept her very engaged in wanting to improve. This year, she graduated to G3. New max speed; 34mph. While her skill has improved year-over-year, her scores certainly don't indicate as much. While she can go deeper into 32mph (very consistently run -22), she has yet to make a full tournament pass @ 34mph.* So her buoy count is less and she's had a lot more anxiety on making her max speed pass. But when she does, oh boy, an ~18 buoy increase. (-22 / 32mph = 60 buoys; -22 / 34mph = 78 buoys). In essence, no demonstrated progression in skill improvement via tournament scores** - but (me hopes) a big jump when she gets a full pass. Not quite the message I want to send; I prefer more practice and you can see improved results. Makes it a bit more like the lottery; hey, take a swing at the pass and you might get very lucky and have a great increase in your score. Thankfully, this daughter isn't as focused on tournament scores and more focused on improvement - which we demonstrate with practice improvements. If this were my older daughter, we'd certainly have been done with 3-Event skiing if/when she graduated up a division where her skiing got better and her scores got worse. (My older daughter moved from Show Skiing to 3-Event when she was G3, so never "moved up".) (2.) My kids have a friend who is a college freshman. She's making the jump from Show Skiing to 3-Event ski and joined the college ski team. She'll have no chance to get to max speed anytime soon and neither will many of her friends. First, try to explain that shortening the rope doesn't count until she gets to max speed. Second, how do a group of kids the same age differentiate themselves if none can reach max speed but demonstrate some separation when they ski the same speed? * We ski on a quasi-public lake with the slalom course up against the cement spillway. The next relocation of the slalom course will be off-the-lake due to competing interests of the association homeowners. Lots of bounce back and someone's boat wake from 1/2 mile away hit the course. So we get few practices at 34mph; tough to come out cold and make a run at close to your PB. After a down-and-back, no calm water - and dicey to run 34mph or 36mph (B3...). ** I really only value tournament scores as a comparison of skill-level, unless same boat and same conditions. I had a buddy of mine who had a daughter that "for some reason" couldn't come within 4mph of her top speed in a 3-Event tournament. He attributed it to her anxiety. I took my handheld GPS and found his paddle-wheel speedo to be about 4mph off. While no malice was intended, might remind me of some dentist near WI. -Bongo-

I stand a bit corrected. Still up the Gallatin Arm, but not on the angle toward Lock 4 Road. You can see the course here: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.3402481,-86.4899046,1419m/data=!3m1!1e3 Zoom in. In the cove between Rozella Way and Plantation Blvd. Google Maps view must be within past ~2 years and the course is still there. Public lake, so my guess is early morning runs. Of course, you'll need to make friends with the locals who maintain the course. There used to be an Old Hickory Ski Club on the lake, but that was a decade ago.

Last I knew, there was a slalom course on Old Hickory Lake. Up the Gallatin Arm and past the marina. Near what looks to be Lock 4 road - though only viewable / accessible via boat. Lots of very nice houses have gone up in that immediate areas since I lived on the lake, so possible it has moved.