Hallpass

Same capacity rating as a Jeep Wrangler. No surprise.

CA Delta was home for 25 years. Our daughter skied in that tournament 3 times. It is a unique setting.

Have used a Thule since 2014. About 25 trips to the mountain each year, and used for water skis multiple times each summer. Remained on car full time this year after I moved to tahoe. Still in great shape. I can take it on and off in under 5 mins.

@mike_mapple must be big people if standing over your shoulder

That picture is in Discovery Bay, CA, FWIW. Tracy is about 20 miles away. If the boat is in DB, should be lots of people who could help. I checked out several boats when I lived there.

Took up Golf at age 27. Unrelated back injuries "saved" me from that time and money rabbit hole at age 43.

Hard to beat UC Davis as very highly ranked academic school, Water Ski team practices at Bell Aqua, and world class skiing just 100 miles away in Tahoe.

@ToddL. I think your estimate is a good start. Of course, lots of other costs could be added. Tournament fees. Travel and lodging to tournaments. Here in CA, I see most of the Top kids take far more lessons than what you have estimated and the cost per lesson is often higher than your estimate. Seems like the top kids also go to Florida, Louisiana, or elsewhere for training. Gloves, ropes, handles, vests, etc. add up as well. I think a three event might be a better comparison to snow skiers as snow skiers from 10-15 usually ski SL, GS and Super G, and have 3 to six sets of skis, 3 sets of poles, and the specialty shin guards, arm guards, back protection, helmets, etc. for the disciplines. Similarly in water skiing you could count the trick skis, jump skis, trick ropes, toe ropes, jump suits, helmets, arm slings, etc.). I would think that without being too ridiculous in the estimates, the junior water skier number could go over $200K. Seems as though it's costly to raise a top athlete in most sports these days, and particularly in equipment intensive sports.

@ToddL - Good question as to cost to raise a junior water skier.

Interesting article citing the high cost of junior snow skiing as major cause of US waning success. Article states $500K to raise a junior snow skier. https://www.foxnews.com/us/u-s-alpine-ski-racings-500000-per-kid-problem

@jgills88 good points. For 25 years I lived in Discovery Bay, CA, a waterfront community with the majority of the houses on the water. Yet, the majority of the kids don't ski, wakeboard, or surf. There are no organized programs for the kids through school or otherwise. The kids constantly complain there is nothing to do (rolls eyes). By contrast, I moved to Lake Tahoe last year. Almost every kid can snow ski or snowboard, and most do so regularly. Almost every high school within 100 miles has a snow ski team, and many also have snowboard teams.

While aging demographic may be a problem for recreational snow skiing, I don't think it's an issue for competitive snow skiing. In competitive snow skiing the vast majority of competitors are the youth, ages 9-22 (and those numbers drop significantly after age 15). For example, there are over 700 kids competing at Palisades Tahoe (Squaw Valley). I doubt there are even 20 of their parents who still compete. There are master and adult programs, but the numbers are far smaller than the kids. I think I have read here that the majority of competitive water skiers are 30-60 year olds, and primarily men. The number of kids is very small. Feels to me as though waiting till college is too late to get them hooked on Water Skiing. Maybe I'm wrong.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Did she got the factory to make the skis? I beleive that's Parlor's differential in the Custom Ski market - you can visit the factory and make ( or help make them). Thought that was interesting.

Sanding and power washer work, but they take off a lot of material. Power washer leaves the surface uneven. I have been using this chemical for over 20 years. Works great. It says scrubless, but if you use a nylon brush to scrub, it works better. For really bad stains, you may need to let it dry, and then apply a second time. Let it dry thoroughly and oil the heck out of the clean surface.

:) Johnnie Cochran died in 2005. Leave him out of this.

@jimbrake. His family posted on facebook, so I think it is ok to say that he has Covid. Yes, he did have a stroke a few years ago. I'm not a doctor, but would have to think the previous condition cannot make Covid any easier.

Wow, never seen Adam Caldwell ski. That is one crazy strong dude. And quite the dismount as well.

@jayski. Probably some truth in what you say. Although many states have passed tort reform which has curtailed certain liabilities (for now), plaintiffs lawyers will test those laws and find ways around them. Regardless, as @klindy suggested, it would be very difficult for any sports organization in the US with minor age participants to obtain insurance, or adequate insurance, if the organization refuses to participate in the SafeSport program.

@MS "In this case I guess I don’t understand the liability issue. Will the training just make the end payout smaller? A good lawyer is going to get his clients a payout weather there is training or not. The organization can’t just say that everyone is trained so we are covered." Legal argument could go many ways, but the basic argument is that if the organization could have taken reasonable precautions (here safesport training), and failed to do so, then they are negligent. As you suggest, it is unlikely that training alone would eliminate liability. However it would be one of many factors assessed by a jury, and could potentially reduce the award, and/or the percent of responsibility attributed to the organization.

No experience with X9. 216 will meet needs of family as you described them and be better than the boat you have. Safer for watersports as well, IMO. Ski it before you buy. My $.02 Edit. Nevermind. Just saw you bought a 206. Nice boat. Enjoy!

@Horton. Are you going to drag out the jumpers and go for a sweep?

@Klindy.

And now we know why @Horton can't afford Nationals.

"Don't worry guys I will never never never never get her a wakeboard." I guess all kids are different. Erika Lang seemed to stay pretty focused on skiing while also becoming a pro wakeboarder. My daughter rode a wakeboard for a couple of years because that's all her friends wanted to do. Then, she asked me to sell it. Just liked skiing better.