Hallpass

@PUoldmaid, yes, marijuana is legal in California. But, we never call our state Cali - not ever - not even if stoned. You wouldn't call your mother a moth or your country a c---.

Couldn't be me @The_MS. Must have been a typo. 'bout as close as I'm getting to a HOF, a typo :).

I love both. But, to me your comparison is off. I feel like the "vibe" of powder skiing is more close to surfing (ocean, not five feet behind a boat) than to water skiing. FWIW.

I think Loopski is correct about the stringers in the Calabria, but I cant' find any literature to prove it. I'm not sure exactly what model Calabria you are talking about either. In your title your talked about a Cal-Air. That would be a direct drive boat with a tower on it. In the description in your post, you mention a Pro-Air. Calabria did not have a Pro-Air. They had a model called Pro Comp, a direct drive boat with no tower. They also had a model called a Cal-Air Pro V, a VDrive boat.

I have also found the big fat skis do better with a very easy pullup. FWIW

I've been thinking about this announcement for a week. My Dad was my hero. I think that's true for many. We wish the whole world would honor our hero as we do. My own daughter never met my Dad, and I struggle for her to know him as I did. But, for you @Horton and family, there is an entire community, even if a small community, that recognizes and remembers your Dad. Folks, that don't know you that will be talking about his first man-made ski lake for years. I think that's really cool. I think that is such an extraordinary gift to your family. Godspeed Dr. Jack Horton.

@teammalibu There is a Kimball Sticker on the Ski. Any reason to think they are not Kimballs?

Seems like @brettmainer 's daughter should get the hat. Just sayin'

Our longest trip - California to Wisconsin and back 2,150 Miles each way, plus some side excursions. Well serviced trailer, no issues.

@vtmecheng "Hallpass why do you say the 206 is a better ski wake?" I say it because I've spent a lot of time skiing behind both. Admittedly, not skiing in Slalom course. However, the wake is just better in the 206 for skiing. To me 206 also drives better than the Sport. But, the Sport is a great boat - drives well, skis well, wakeboards well. I've seen people surf them, though I have never done so. But your question was about a ski boat. If you do some searches around this site, you'll find some very good slalom skiers who used the 206 as their training boats. I have read a few were promo boats. I've read some of the good skiers on this site lament that they wish Correct Craft still made the 206. One guy's observations. Take it FWIW.

Actually, only a 7" difference in the length of those boats.

The 206 is a better ski boat, no question in my mind. I'm not so sure about more interior space, however. The Sport is about a foot longer than the 206. However, by 04 they reduced the size of the gunnels, so there is more room beside the motor box in the 206. I don't have specs in front of me, but I would just suggest to double check your assumption.

I never cared for the really high-end skis when free skiing. I found that to ski them, I have to concentrate all the time, never relax. Stop concentrating for a second and the high-end, extremely responsive skis will take off whatever direction I happen to wobble. I've taken more than one nasty spill, unexpectedly, just hanging on for a breather. On the other hand I could cut as hard as I wanted, on any of the "mid-level" skis I ever tried, without having to concentrate constantly, maintain a textbook body position, etc. We ski in the California Delta, where most of those who still water ski (as opposed to mostly surfing) measure their free skiing in miles. Very few take seven cuts, rest, repeat. Many of our skiing friends ski on long skis, wide skis, even race skis. When you don't have to get to that next ball, it's just not that important to get every last bit of turning capability, responsiveness, etc. out of a ski. My contrarian, mostly free-skiing $.02.

@greghind, I believe it is because after this nationals is complete, they will move from 3 Boys and girls categories to 4. The chart is telling you this year, and next year. Next year being in bold.

My daughter started using the miami Nautique gloves last year, and she really likes them. FWIW.

In a Correct Craft/Nautique, I won't bad mouth the Sport - It's a good utility boat. Ok to pretty good at everything, not great at anything. For Slalom, the 206 is much better. MHO.

Saw a set of used Vortex that Bruce references for $30 on facebook market in Sacramento, CA area. FWIW.

Looks like "Mint Chip" to me

@jimski. Not sure how you define close. When I take my daughter to Bell Acqua, we stay in the Natomas area, not far from the Sacramento airport. Takes about 10 mins to drive over in the morning. Last time (about 4 weeks ago) we stayed at Hilton Garden Inn which is brand new. It was nice. I believe that the owner of Bell 3 suggested Crowne Plaza last year. Also remember Horton saying last year, no matter where you stay, don't leave your gear in the car overnight - he is right. Hope this helps.

Wiley's sells replacement parts for "other" binding manufacturers. Looks like they have parts for the combo bindings.

FWIW, I was at a youth development camp last week with my daughter and asked the coach (you know, highly ranked skier and coach, as probably the case at all good youth development camps) and he said stay with rear toe plate. In fact, he said if he was starting over again, he would never have gone to double boots.

With Gates!

Ouch!

Wow. I have no idea if that is a good value in Texas. But, I do know, you would not touch a property like that in CA at 2 times the price, and probably 3X

I'm no expert, but if that's your bodybuilding photo, then I think your overall strength and conditioning probably need to be factored in. I understand that weight is weight, and heavier weight will bog down at slow speeds. But, with your height and weight measurements, that is often someone, like me, with a spare tire around the middle. Different game than someone young and no doubt very strong. Maybe I'm wrong, but thought I would throw it out for those more in the know than I am.