h2onhk

Maybe its just me but people seem to be flocking to public bodies of water more and more the last 10+ years. River and lake property is at a premium and traffic volume on the waterways is much higher. We see many new little campground get-a-way spots popping up every year and with it brings more boats, jetskis and pontoons. Back in the 80's i remember our river having 2 different permanent ski courses and a jump. Now we debate whether we should take our portable course out each time we use it for fear of damage or legal issues if they wrap their boat up in it. Hard to get people interested if there is nothing there to use. Skiing can be a tough sport that requires practice, patience and persitance, but has huge payoffs when you learn something new. Even if that's getting up for the first time. @ToddL makes a good point at least in our neck of the woods... "I think the reason why the sport was crazy big in the 80's was due to a few key factors: 1) so many people slalom skiing on public water with friends and family for fun" fast forward to now and replace "slalom skiing" with tubing ,surfing, wakeboarding. We're doing our part to help the cause. Taught of 2 our kids friends how to ski this year. 7 and 11 years old. Never skied before in their life and couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces while they were learning....especially after they got up for the first time!

Really appreciate everyone's feedback and suggestions. For the record she has only been free skiing at 21mph no buoys involved. We will definitely slow way down for the first time ball shadowing and will look into the thin rope for LL. @Bruce_Butterfield great article! The whole larger ski surface area at slower speeds makes a lot of sense and I happen to have a 64" KD7000 laying around when she's ready to try something new.

@Intheday and @Luzz , great suggestions! I like the ball shadowing and 1-3-5, 2-4-6 approach. Actually jogged my memory when I was little. The pull game also sounds great as well. We use an Insta-Slalom and we only put it in for the day we are using it to prevent damage from other boats so free skiing time will be higher than course for now. The tummy up hands down is a good call out while doing the pull game for finding that strong position. Thanks guys!

So my 7 yr old is a sponge right now on the water. Soaking up everything she can and having a blast while doing so. She starting skiing on 2 late last summer and has already just about mastered the deep water slalom start this year. Her balance and feel for the ski are really good for her age. She can slowly traverse each wake and then cut out very well. She wants to learn to run the course and has played around in it early this year on 2 skis just for fun. I'm not a coach and have never been professionally coached so looking for some help. I hate using the term "drills" and want to keep our water and boat time fun and not work. She skis 21mph and RFF so we will work on the "correct" handle grip nipping that one right away. Any suggestions on some simple "drills" we can work on to help her progression and build confidence on turns and eventually pulling through the wake the correct way? She also skis 15off vs. long line and looks more comfortable at that length. Is this ok or should we switch to LL and bump to 15off later? Would love to have her learn good techniques while shes a sponge vs. trying to correct bad habits later. Many thanks!

@WIRiverRat , thats a tough situation. I'm assuming since you are in a backwater area you don't have to deal with debris during high water/flooding?

very cool. My 7yr old daughter loves watching those video clips of girls ripping it up!

Thunderstorm had just rolled past. Late in the evening past their bedtime. Kids wanted to ski so I told them they could each get one short ride and we had to make it quick or mom would get mad because it was getting dark. So they chose to combine their rides into one long ride together on the glass. Laughing and loving every minute of it. Always makes me smile.

Just started playing around with hand position this year after reading several articles here. Haven't had enough time in the course yet to know if it helped or hurt so the jury is still out. Off-side turn definitely feels more solid. One thing i did notice is that my forearms get fatigued more quickly when switching to the "correct" grip after many years doing it "wrong". Top forearm and bottom forearm muscles seem to work differently when grip is switched.

Hello everyone, Nate, 36yrs old and lived on the muddy waters of Northwest Ohio my entire life (minus 5years of college). I was skiing very early in age and grew up helping my dad with the local ski club's activities. I remember as a kid on Saturday morning of the big 2 round 3 event tournament we held every year in August, skipping the cartoons on TV and helping out where-ever the club needed it. The club dissolved 20 or so years ago but the memories will last a life time. I have a great wife and 3 awesome kids, 2 girls (7 and 5) and a 2yr old son. They are all starting their progression with waterskiing as well. "Tubing" is a bad word in our house! We have had several different used boats and were big into Wakeboarding for several years. 3 years ago my dad, uncle, brother and I went in together on an Insta-slalom course and the buoy addiction began all over again. PB last year was 6 at 32off. This past year we downsized our 2011 Malibu FXi and landed an amazing 2007 SN 196 TSC3. Kids, wife and I love the ski/trick wake and my 7yr old even wants to learn the course this year. Hopefully I can make as many great memories for them as my parents did for me growing up. Its going to be a great summer! Cheers!

@arigold22 its nice to see someone else having the same issue. I was a long time wakeboarder and have a hard time getting used to more weight on the front foot and shorter approaches. Good luck!

@swc5150 sent you a PM

now that you guys got me all geeked up about a newer ski I found a couple great deals on a 2011 65" Radar Strada and a 2010 65" HO Syndicate S1. From what I read the Radar is more of a pro level 36mph ski and the HO S1 was built more for a 34mph rider. Any thoughts?

if/when I get this newer new-to-me ski i'm gonna have to put a piece of tape on the nose that says "stupid hurts", because I know whats going happen on my first set when I go shooting down through the course thinking i'm super man...... or maybe "get milk".....I guess thats popular with the pros

@SWC5150, no problem. Hope it works! @horton, thats a bummer. I understand the pinned arm thing. My kids liked them because they didn't push up around their face and smash their cheeks where they couldn't move their neck.

@horton, i just realized I totally botched the long link thing, sorry

We had similar issues, especially when they were right in between vest sizes. Believe it not not these are actually USCG approved. Kids love them and they are comfortable and safe to wear in the boat or while swimming because they buckle in the back. We don't let them ski or zip sled with them though. They wear a true vest for those activities. Just another option. A happy kid in the boat = a happy parent in the boat. Link

So based on my size I'm assuming most newer skis 64"-66" would be ok? Understanding that a 64" may be on the small side and a 66" would be pushing the high side? I can shove my 64 around the turn pretty well right now. probably not the best technique at times. @skibrain what do you consider a "high performance hard to ride ski"?

Sounds like the concensus is upgrading skis will help along with technique practice. I have been browsing though Ski it Again over the last several weeks just seeing whats out there. Lots of options for sure. I've read a lot of the ski reviews on waterski mag and other sites. I hesitate buying not knowing what would be the right size, style, etc. Lots to consider. Am I over thinking it? I don't have the luxury of a large ski crew with lots of skis to demo. My dad still runs the course with a 1978 Connelly shortline!

Quick background: 34mph, 148lbs, 5'9" tall, RFF skier. Current ski is a 64" 1996? KD7000 that i bought used 10 years ago. I verified fin set up is still factory set and binding position is in the middle hole. 15off and 22off passes are solid, 28off passes are hit and miss and I occasionally catch my self breaking at the waist, not getting stacked soon enough, etc. I ran a full 32off pass last year (not gonna lie, pulled it out of my butt), but typically only get 1 to 3 balls when i get into 32. I have spent a lot of time on this forum and reading about GUT and other tips/techniques. I'm not a hard core tournament skier, but I love chasing a personal best and constantly improving. I understand I need to continue to focus on my technique first and foremost, but would changing skis aid in advancement? Also prefer to buy used to help stay in my budget. I know you guys/gals like video to help illustrate and I'll see if I can dig some up from last season. Any advice is welcome and I take all criticism constructively. Thanks!

My brother is putting up drywall in his garage. He sends me this txt last evening that made me laugh out loud. I couldn't resist not sharing with you ballers... "I've decided finishing drywall is similar to slalom skiing. You have one evening with a bunch of good passes so you get cocky and decide to watch some more technique videos on YouTube and the next thing you know you can't make one decent pass. So you find yourself starting from scratch."

@Andre installed a motor on mine last season. first time you hit the switch and effortlessly watch the boat raised from the water you'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner!

@richarddoane , thats a neat concept. looking forward to seeing the finished product display.

For me its about the whole experience. Walking down onto the dock on a hazy Saturday morning with a cup of coffee in hand as the warm sun just breaks over the horizon. A little bit of dew on the smooth gel coat deck. Glass waters on the river as far as you can see. Firing up the V8 and listening to it purr as you idle down to pick up your crew at the other docks. Dipping that ski in the water and slamming your foot in the binding. Gloves on, vest on, squeezing the handle a few times to loosen the forearms, then taking a deep breath before that nod to the driver and a step off the platform. Seconds later your in the zone, gliding on what feels like air, ready to tear it up. ....can you tell i'm ready for winter to be over? PB's are great and its always awesome to get that 1 extra ball, but I look at the whole picture....even if I run my best set or my worst set I still love everything about the sport.

Personally I like owning my stuff vs. the bank owning it. Not too mention I can buy a lot of boat gas for a $500/month boat payment.

Any feedback on this model/hull? the good/bad? I'm not familiar with the EVO hull on the 190 of this era. I know the fuel pumps were an issue when the tank was run low. Primary use would be recreational course skiing (34mph, 15-35off), trick, maybe a rare wakeboard/barefoot ride. Thanks