adkh2oskier

For Slalom how about some type of automatic rope winder with no stopping. rope would automatically go to the next loop as you exit the gates and just keep going into your next pass, no let up, way more aerobic. Of course it would only work at sites big enough to spin at each end, and everyone would have to deal w backwash from previous passes, but conditions would be basically equal for all skiers. Sure would make for some quick rounds though.

I've qualified for the past couple decades but have never gone. I'm certainly not a contender but might get in the top 15 in my class on a good day. Boils down to the cost, travel, hotel, meals out, entry fee and only one round. Additionally the rule of skiing regionals first makes it that much more expensive. I really would like to enter Nationals once but unless the Regional rule is nixed it will probably never happen.

March? I'd head for Jackson Hole, they are getting bombed this year. Whistler would also be great.

@6balls, tried a fake a lake but it wouldn't seal properly on the hull so I use a short hose section, works great. On the 89 I just disconnect the raw water intake hose at the Strainer and connect a short section of garden hose, and use the hose clamp to get a good seal.

@6balls, I have an 89 Natique 2001 and have been winterizing it every year the same way your friend in MN has, I was given this procedure from the Nautique dealer who sold it to me. I am in northern NY and it gets very cold here for extended periods, never had any problems. I know several other inboard owners who use the same procedure year after year, no problems. Takes all of 30-35 seconds once the oil has been changed and motor is warmed up.

1989 Nautique 2001 model, 1400 hrs runs great(knock on wood), no speed control, Perfect pass Zero off wife driver. No engine overhaul or major work, occasional tune ups reg oil changes. 99% 34 mph slalom.

Maybe I'm lucky or just different from most, all my pbs have been at tournaments. My course may be off a bit so I always find tournament courses to be easier than the one I practice on.

I am LFF and had a strange experience at my last tournament. Best results in 5 yrs, ran 35 all 3 rounds. I am on rubber bindings, Connelly Visions(old). The day after the tournament I pulled my ski out and noticed that the rear toe plate had shifted far to the left, so much so that the plate was literally hanging about a quarter of an inch over the edge of the ski. Since it resulted in a good tournament I'm wondering if it actually helped my skiing, I don't know when happened, might have been first pass or last pass. Maybe I should just leave it there and see what happens?

2 yrs ago at a Class C I took a weird fall which took me a few weeks to figure out why it happened. 2nd pass 28 off 34 mph which I run 99.9% of the time, came around 4 ball in perfect position, but in the middle of the wake behind the boat my ski just seemed to stop dead, I went out the front, both feet ejected from the bindings, Connelly Visions. Did a couple front flips and ended up about 30' past 5 ball, totally bewildered. Ski was near the centerline of the course at least 50' from me. Swam back to shore but I knew my back was toast. Talked to some friends who saw the fall and they were also totally at a loss as to how it happened, said I was in perfect position out of 4 ball and the next thing they saw was me flying through the air. Bagged the next 2 rounds and drove home w 3 Motrins in me. Didn't ski for a week and a half, then just took a free ski up and down the lake. Got back to the dock and just happened to look at my ski, the fin had about a 1" section right on the bottom that obviously hit something really hard. It was flattened and the finish was gone, shiny metal showing with ridges on each side. Talked to another guy who had skied at the site where I took the fall and he said he has seen very large snapping turtles in the pond. My best guess is that I must have somehow hit one just under the surface at obviously a bad time. Had to replace the fin, not such a weird injury, just a weird way to get one.

I got in a set in the morning I got hitched along with my best man and best friend who was and usher. Wife declined to drive, didn't want to mess up the hair. I also barefooted the next day at the day after informal party. I'd check with your wife about skiing on daughters wedding day, ask, but if there is any hesitation you'd be best advised to take that as a NO. Congrats on the daughter.

No ski injuries always makes it a plus year. Got my course in by 3rd week in June a week before first tournament, which is better than last yr, one week after first tourney. Got to four 3 round Class Cs and Regionals, managed to run 35 at least one round in 3 of the 4 Class Cs, missed 32 at Regionals. Last tourney made my season, ran 35 all 3 rounds and came within a half buoy of my PB, 4@ 38. Great way to finish up. Got my last free ski in 10/12 and it snowed on and off all day yesterday, one week later. Time for the next H2O skiing season, in a slightly different form of H2O.

Sunday was my last, air 48 water 52, just made the 100 rule. Shorty suit was barely enough, coldest body part was the hands from the wind chill. Just free skiing but had to drop and rest a couple times after 30-40 turns. Still some nice foliage along the shoreline but most of the leaves are down here in the Adirondacks. Boat came out yesterday, oil change & winterized, wash and clean interior in the next week or so then into storage for the winter. On to snow ski thinking.

@SkiJay: maybe that is why I tend to get better scores in tournaments than in practice? Also could be that my water is very clean and clear and feels fast compared to small private ski ponds which tend to have much more sediment?

A little off the subject but I have a question. I am thinking of upgrading my boat to something newer w Zero Off. I installed my own course almost 20 yrs ago and I'm not sure how accurate it is, I put it in through the ice. All I used was a big spool of rope and a Sheetrock T-Square. It skiis quite well and never moves, put 6' pieces of Re-bar directly sunk into the lake bottom. My question is: How does Zero off work if the course is to short or to long? Will the times be off? Will the boat run fast or slow? squar

Pulled course yesterday, air 45 water 60, barely making the 100 rule. Hands and face hurt when the air temp gets below 50, wind chill. Hope to get in a few more rides up and down the lake before pulling boat Colombus Day.

I'm 99% sure I got them all right but only got a score of 87%??

Not sure of cure, I had it last year at the end of the season(Mid October) but then didn't ski again until mid May and it was gone. I've talked with other skiers who have had the same thing, one guy couldn't get any relief and switched to a bent type handle and that cured it for him.

Amazing weather in the Adirondacks, upper 70's w water in the mid 60's, ran buoys Sat and Sunday w shorts and vest. Looks like we have the rest of the week then reality sets in. I'd ski more but my driver would like a heater.

Can't win. go out for a set a lunch time, dead calm, sunny. Get to the blue rope and 3 jet skis show up. Air temp about 72, water 60. Air temp is actually warmer than a few of the days of the Eastern Regionals in Lake Placid.

Will ski through Colombus Day but the course will get pulled by this weekend. The way my course is oriented SW-NE I can't ski it in one direction after 2pm because of the sun glare. I really enjoy free skiing anyway start at 22 then chop it to 28 and 32 after skiing 40-50 turns in a row. Water temp is already in the mid 50's so it's into shorty weather, don't bother w a full suit, too restrictive.

Skiing is such a rush, either in the course or just free skiing for miles down the lake. Speed, acceleration, deceleration, G-Forces plus a great workout, what could be a better way to stay in shape? Skiing at 28 and 32 off feels to me a lot like snow skiing down a nice steep groomed pitch making big GS arcs. For me it just comes down to the Need for Speed, as many others stated, it is an addiction, no doubt about it.

I ski w Old tech Rubber w Toe slip, have for years. Seems to me it's a personal preference. But I have noticed that almost all the broken/messed up ankles and knees seem to come from guys riding on double hard shells. More often than not it seems to be front foot injuries from hitting a buoy and the ski stops dead and forces compression of front ankle doing the damage. Just an observation.