h2onhk

5-20ish. portable course on a river that fluctuates water level, current, and debris pending weather.

@richarddoane believe it or not back in late June I brought that up to my wife that it would be fun to take the family down to one of these events. She looked at me like I was crazy. (8,6,2 yr old on a plane) I need to get a few tournaments under my belt first and a handicap established. And maybe let the little guy get a year older for my wife's sanity.

Had the same issue early this summer. Definitely check the kill switch. With kill switch out the fuel pump will not prime. My 2007 will turn over and crank and crank and crank with the kill switch out. just won't fire due to no fuel or fuel pressure.

This video was just awesome. Very few kids waterski where we are and my kids connected to this video in a way I haven't seen. I remember watching my dad at the tournament scene when I was little but they have never had a chance to experience that. They loved all the footage of smiling faces and in turn they smiled the whole time. They must have watched 3-4 times in a row. My 8-yr old tried the course again last evening for only the 2nd time and was more aggressive than i've ever seen. Said she couldn't get that song out of her head while skiing. I asked what song....she said you know, the one from that video, the kids tribe video.

Bump! -32 gremlin goes down! Many thanks for all the tips a while back. Didn't have access to the course for a few weeks so spent a lot time free skiing and working on my gate pull and and handle position on turn in. Also focused on my offside turn and getting my right hip around back to the handle sooner along with the other items noted in this thread. Finally got a set last evening and BAM! no slack on 1, a solid 2 and the rest was history. Ended up with 2 @ -35. Actually did all this behind my ZO 196 so I know the speed and times where spot on. You guys are great. Thanks again. Super pumped!

@bojans, not necessarily, but most of the docks are out of the water by then so it kind of forces the issue or requires you to get real creative. ;)

Weather is usually what drives us out, but just to keep pushing the envelope we created a little competition a few years back with some other folks on the river. The semi-annual FiLo Crown is awarded to the last guy/gal on the water in the fall and the first guy/gal out on the water in the spring. Any means of water skiing is allowed and the only rule is no wetsuit or drysuit. Life jacket and swim trunks only. Winner gets a certificate and the fashion rights to wear the great big fuzzy purple crown until the next season. The banter gets better and better the later it gets in the season. Lots of fun. :)

JB Water Weld also works very well. Its an epoxy putty and is not quite as fluid is regular JB weld. Stays were you put it and is a little less messy. $5 on amazon.

+1 for what @MISkier stated above. Had the same issues with ours after a week or so. Is your portable course a rope main or cable main? That would be something else to consider.

" the reason its so obsessive is every time you go you try to better yourself and occasionally you do better yourself. So the next time you go you think right, now I'm going to take this a step further, but that very rarely happens. So your always striving to go that one buoy better"....... such an awesome statement and so very true. Great video. Very motivational.

@Edbrazil not to hijack the thread but is there a link to an article about this "adjusto SL course" and "Dr. Jim"? My curiosity is getting the best of me

that's just awesome....now i need to go make one. I even have an old O'Brien X-9 binding laying around as well

glad i found this thread. I have an 07 196 with PCM 330. If I just turn the key over without letting fuel pump prime the engine will crank but makes a slight grind noise (almost sounds like starter disengaging then re-engaging) before firing or sometimes takes a second time before firing up. If I let the fuel pump prime completely it pops right over. Is this a starter issue or do I have a check valve going bad? Low pressure fuel pump?

@Waternut, great observations and feedback. Reminds me of the center of mass and GUT articles I read on here. The security of the back foot is a really bad habit of mine. Definitely something I can work on when we don't have the course in.

Had a chance to throw our portable in late last evening for a quick set. Ran my usually 22 and 28 then on to the green gremlin. Lot of stuff running through my head approaching the gates. First attempt my timing was off due to the wider pull out and had to turn in before the glide had settled. second attempt gate timing was better but not great. I kept the handle down to my lower left hip which in combination with getting wider really helped me get higher on the boat and edge change into 1. I was able to stay connected with the boat longer and release later, but still only ran 3 balls because I wasn't patient and didn't ski back to the handle on 3 leaving me out of position and really late to 4. 3rd attempt pull out glide and gate was the best I ever had at 32. Pull out timing, getting wide, not quite as aggressive of a pull, and edge change right behind the boat left me early and wide at 1 with no slack. actually caught me completely off guard and I buried the ski around the ball and got pulled out. (basically i choked). Ran out of daylight for more attempts but considered the set a big success. Finally felt what it was like to put it all together on the gate and be high and wide on 1. This gremlin is going down this summer @Howa1500 , yes 34mph.

@Shakeski i like that thought of hitting the backside of the ball mentally. definitely makes you think to get wide. If i could do that consistently my left shinbone would thank-you.

@ToddL after reading the "personal best and oldest age" post saying never would be a crime

Assuming I get my gates/ball 1 dialed in how do I know when to release and change edge on 2,3,4,5? I feel like my timing is off on edge change at 32 vs. longer line lengths when its not quite as critical. Seems this is happening if I break at the waist or not patient skiing back to the handle and take too long to get connected with the boat.

You guys are awesome. Great advice and very much appreciated. Everything you observed from the videos is spot on to what i'm feeling in the course. I know the effects of my mistakes but never could dial in on the causes. @ToddL , @Chef23 , @Texas6, @Than_Bogan good call outs on my gate. I will definitely work on getting higher on my gate pull out, not rocking back on my turn in, a less aggressive pull with lower arms and a better edge change going into 1. @wtrskior, Never thought about throwing my releasing arm out too early until you mentioned it. Makes sense. @Texas6 I also like the right ear and right hip analogy on my offside turns. I can feel myself breaking forward to compensate. @lcgordon, @jhughes nailed it. Its my brothers 1988 Nautique 2001 hull. We use it from time to time to have some old school hand driven fun. We use a stop watch on the gates for first few passes to dial in the old air guide speedos and off we go. Don't get me wrong, I love my 196 with ZO. Still getting used to the ZO pull though. Did some reading on here and switched from B2 to A1 on the settings which seemed to help a little bit. Speaking of 196's @Than_Bogan, so sorry to see that happen to your boat. I cringed. And mouse tunnel looks really really cool.

I've read a lot of really good advice and constructive criticism from this forum so I'm throwing myself to the wolves. I've been stuck at 32off for 2 years now. Usually get between 2-4 balls. My 28 pass has gotten more and more consistent each season and feel that if I make a few mistakes I'm still able to work back ahead on the balls to complete the pass. 32 is not the case. One little bobble and I can't recover. I've attached two video links, one of 28 and the other at 32, both on the same set for your viewing pleasure. Help me slay this beast and start another chapter. Thanks! 28off https://youtu.be/ZW9wQB53v18 32off https://youtu.be/ATOIC9QDJeM

36yrs old and 3rd year on our portable course. Last time i was in the course before our portable was at age 14 running long line at about 28-30mph. PB this year is 5 @ 32 34mph. Can't seem to get the green gremlin to fall. This thread is an inspiration to keep pushing!

@dbski at 500bd ft that cherry must have been a monster! All 5/4 or 4/4?

@Bill22 if letting air out still doesn't give you good results on lower turn balls try filling them half full of water. Made a huge difference on our portable course.

You're never too old to ski!

@Chef23 , I was thinking the same thing.