JordanOz

That's my mate's Monza. He finally upgraded to a V Type R. He skied it for the first time on Sunday, and looked good!

I saw the new Vapor boots at a 'to remain nameless' Radar designer's lake a couple of weeks ago, the day after I got my 2016 Orange Vapor boot. Bit bummed about the colour of mine after seeing the 2017, but I know it's still a great boot. The black with the new shell looks amazing.

Hi Ballers. My name's Jordan. 34 from Melbourne, Australia. My grandpa had a boat when I was little, but the folks split up when I was about 7 so that is when I stopped learning on the water. I'd forgotten about watersports until my late twenties for various reasons, so bought a boat when I 'remembered' because I wanted to drive fast on the water (side effect of having raced things with and without motors my whole life). I never really had any interest in skiing, so devoted myself to becoming a skilled boat driver towing others in all aspects, making sure my friends had a safe but very fun day on the water. Wasn't until about 2 years ago I walked by a top end ski in a shop near me, and I was quite interested in the materials and R&D from a technical aspect, and thought to myself that I had better learn how to do it before I spend $2k on a stick. That was 2 years ago. Spent some of that summer trying to learn how to ski. 2 was easy, but could barely get out of the water on 1. Didn't help that I had no skiing mates and they couldn't help me. Then I joined an awesome club (Latrobe Valley Waterski Club - where the first annual Invitational was held this year, the week after Moomba) at the start of our last summer, and they helped me so much I can never repay them. I've gone from missing almost all my starts and giving up to running 3 at 49km/h in he course. Now it's an addiction - to the point where I have taken time out from visiting my sister who lives in Canada just to come to Orlando to get coaching from Rini. I even flogged my other boat and bought a 200 Team when I joined the club. I've met some amazing people and my club is full of people I feel like I've known forever (9 months really), and hopefully I can help people learn to ski one day as much as everyone else has helped me. And the skiing is a by-product for me. I've started driving a couple of local tournies and become an accredited judge and judged some tournies also, so hopefully I can keep progressing that way. I wish I'd done it all 10 years ago! Looking forward to bettering my skiing a bit, and helping others be their best a lot. Have a good ski. JJ

Just thought I'd bump this......I'm at Whistler now, and Green Lake looks like it wants to be skied on. :p

As someone who is definitely newish to the sport compared to everyone else around here, I went through this at the start of the Aussie summer season just been (October last year). So hopefully I can give you some good info on this. This is what worked for me. I'm left foot forward, so the ski tip goes on the left side of the rope. Usual drill, knees to chest and elbows outside of knees. Before rope goes tight and if you have both feet in to start, ski can be at 10 or 11 o'clock (1 or 2 for RFF) to help keep your balance whilst floating in the water. Sometimes if you find yourself tipping to one side while floating when both feet are in (if you're a 2 foot starter), I find I just tip my head back in the water and look at the sky for a couple of seconds and that settles it. When you tell the driver to go, forget about the rope not having a long V. Put the ski to 11 o'clock (or 1). As you start to move, push forward with the ball of your front foot in the direction of the boat. This will straighten the ski for you. MAKE SURE you don't push your whole foot forward (common with trying to stand up too early) as that will make the ski push against the water, and you'll be pushing a wall. That pressure will also make the handle get ripped of your hands. So, while pushing the ball of your foot forward, simultaneously bring your back foot under you. This action should subconsciously make your back heel come up which combined with pushing the ball of your front foot forward will help the ski flatten out and get on top of the water. Be sure to keep your back knee in against your front knee, otherwise you may lose your balance and it may also catch the water and bring you down. Then, just stand up as usual once you're on top of the water. I realise I've just exposed myself as the noob I am, but I don't care. This is a great sport and I am addicted. Haha. But, these are the tips that the great people at my club gave me, and they got me from not being able to get out of the water at all, to deep water long V and then short V within a couple of short months, and I was 113kgs then. Since then, I've probably missed 2 starts in the last 50. So if I can do it mate, you can. Get yourself some Radar Vice gloves too, it will help with learning. Best of luck.

Agreed with the other Jordan, Vice gloves will improve your grip on the handle in the short term and help both with your starts, and with less arm fatigue during your sets. Long term, build the strength up as everybody else has mentioned.

Forget Prime and Vector. I had a Vector on my last ski, but have the Profile on my Senate Graphite now. After using the size and foot specific (left front for me) Profile, it is so much more comfortable than the Vector, I'll probably never use the Vector again. Haha

I see what you meant @Horton about the wind and boat paths in that other discussion. Check that shot of Twinter.

2 seasons on my Rip Curl E-Bomb, reckon it will still be good for another 2 or 3.

@B_S sorry to hear about that, that's a bummer. Bit of a shame they couldn't let you know earlier. Hope you have a handle to get through this summer....or In Tow maybe? It was out of Brenda or Masterline for me.... Just out of interest which handle was it? I wonder if it's the same type I'm after. @gregy thanks for your help with the extra places. You wouldn't believe it, but Russell actually sent me an email about 15 minutes after I posted my reply to you in here, and he told me to place the order, and it will be ready for me in July. Thanks again guys.

@Jody_Seal going to be in Orlando for 5 days late July, skiing with Rini and maybe another mate who lives there. @gregy thanks for the contact. I would ring, but I'm in Australia. @Orlando76 thanks, I will try them too. I'm buying a stick from them anyway when I get there. I wanted a custom one with the handle engraved though, wonder if they can do that. @B_S hopefully they sort you out mate. I want to give them money as well, so with any luck it works out. Haha

Hi all. Just a quick one for those who deal with Masterline. I emailed them through their site about ordering a handle or 2 to pick up when I'm in the US, back on Monday or Tuesday, still haven't heard anything from them. Are they usually pretty good with contact, or a little slow? Any help or info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Grand Cherokee's seem to be quite popular for tow rigs. :) I know why - mine tows the boat like a champ!

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone knows if there is anywhere you can ski during late July/early August at Whistler. I know there's a small lake called Green Lake there, and I remember seeing a Waterski mag article from ages ago saying you could ski there. The company they mention is not in business anymore I don't think though. My sister lives there, and I've been a few times before for mountain biking. Just thought it would be cool to waterski there, as usually everyone goes to Whistler to snow ski. Thanks, Jordan.

That's great. Met and chatted to him over the weekend back at the Latrobe Invitational, super nice guy. Hope he has a great season.

+1 for Rip Curl. Look at Their Dawn Patrol tops.

Long time reader, finally a poster. 2012 200 Team, Open Bow with 409 6ltr. If you're ever visiting Melbourne Australia, come ski behind it. :)

@brody I respectfully disagree in that I've seen Nate toss the handle as soon as he has done enough to win. Just look at Moomba Masters final from 2015 as an example.