OSUwaterskier

Good idea! Maybe also as part of those Class C tournaments, we could set it up so that it wastes your whole day and when you fall, you have to swim to shore and wait 4 hours to try again! Count me in!

Thanks for the insights, David! Awesome stuff. The early morning, public water slalom crews would be all over this - set up league's among your ski crew, instant facilitator of handicap based bragging rights. What is the fee structure for participating in Crossfit Open? Couple bucks to submit your score each week? Subscription for the season? Subscription to get access to the announcement of each week's challenge? Does the gym pay the Crossfit Open organization to host an event where people set scores?

I think this is a great idea. Really like the analogy to a golf handicap - can put as many scores into the system as you want, but no one will believe you until you prove it in a tournament. May be getting a little carried away here, but would be awesome to have some kind of leaderboard app that mixes in a periscope-type live feed where you could hop in and watch the sets of whoever is currently skiing/entering a score around the country/world? Would be awesome to keep an eye on those around you in the leaderboard. Does something like this exist in CrossFit? Probably too ambitious since we still struggle to piece together a good feed of the largest ski tournament in the world...

We would rent 3/4 tons from the Enterprise Commercial division to pull our ski team trailer. Had to go to the commercial lot to get something they would let us tow with.

A case of beer makes anything interesting!

My parents are on their third MTC screen on their 2012 Wakesetter. Luckily the first two were under warranty, had to bite the bullet from the dealer on the third however. We explored all options, seems like purchasing from dealer is the only fix. They are meticulous with their boat, there is just nothing you can do about it. Had to wait 4 weeks for the third screen because they were on back order. I think that says a lot about how severe the issue is with these screens! I feel bad for those with the new 12inch Wakesetter screens. Once those start going bad, I'm sure those will cost you your first born to replace. Malibu dealer at the boat show was telling everyone they have had no complaints on the new Wakesetter screens thus far... makes sense since no one has had to replace one out of warranty yet!

@RazorRoss3 Intention was for the ski tractor option to be a new brand with only the essentials. I have no idea if it could be done for $35k but if HeyDey can make a (somewhat) wake boat for $29k as @AdamCord showed on the other thread, you'd think a direct drive at or below that price point would be a possibility.

@DW definitely a break into the market - using the 196 shape as an example of something that is not new, ground breaking technology but definitely not something to scoff at either...

Totally agree @AdamCord. Could see a simplified online tesla model working great for the niche ski boat group.

If you had $35k to spend on a ski boat, would you prefer a brand-new, 196-shape hull with ZO and a 5-year warranty or a modern big 3 with 800+ hours (estimate from quick SIA research)? I see many advantages and disadvantages in each. If you would prefer a bare bones, maybe leave a comment with what you'd like to see in a true ski tractor. For the sake of the argument, lets say the ski tractor would be approved to pull tournaments.

Not saying I have any idea that it could be done for $35k, but if heydey can make a wake boat for $40k, surely you could make a bare bones direct drive for $35k?

@6balls just to clarify, say you could get in a new 196 hull with a pcm, ZO, and a 5 year warranty for $35k. You would prefer a modern big 3 with 800+ hours (seems to be average on SIA at that price point)? I am not sure where I would fall. This would be an interesting topic for a voting thread.

If the boat were left in the water, how much of the cover would sit in the water? Looks to be a considerable amount from the photo above.

@Horton - Nice try... OSU Synchronized Swimming won't be giving up that title anytime soon!

New teaser out on the Radar Skis FB page. Looks like light blue and black!

On my EZ-slalom, I added stainless steel eye rings to the buoy arms underneath the boat guide buoy opposite the turn ball. Then use carabiners to clip milk jugs filled with rocks to the eye rings. Buoys now float perfect height and holds the course much straighter. Great solution for under $20 and only adds about 5 secs per buoy arm when taking the course in and out.

Thanks @MISkier, if you wouldnt mind sending my way as well, that would be great!

There is a nice reservoir in our area, about 2100 ft long by 300 ft wide. Seems like the perfect setup for a certain hobby of mine... Water ownership is shared between about 10 different properties, half with homes (no docks), half just empty, wooded land. Anyone have any experience approaching property owners about selling and/or using their water for skiing? Obviously a very complicated situation with about a .001% chance of success but wondering if it has ever been done and how. Thanks!

Thanks @bigskieridaho Sent you a PM.

Hi everyone, I am a former President of the Ohio State Waterski Team, graduated in 2016 and now serve in an alumni oversight role for the team. We are currently in search of a reasonably low hour Zero Off boat at a great price. In other words, the team is looking for a generous owner or dealer who would be willing to make a sale price reduction as a donation to the team and a promotion of collegiate skiing. We were able to unload our 94 Malibu Echelon this winter in hopes of moving into a current technology boat by this fall. We are struggling to find a ZO boat listed in our price range that does not come with a history that will put the team at risk. We have a lot more than $0 but not quite the $1 million that these new boats cost. We understand we may be looking for a needle in a haystack but wanted to get a message out to this awesome ski community in case there is that owner out there who sees (or remembers) the difficulty in funding but importance of growing a collegiate ski team. Donations which could bump us into the next (safer) category of ZO boats are always welcome! If anyone has a boat in mind or know of an owner who may be willing to help out, please shoot me a PM. I'd greatly enjoy speaking with you about our team's incredible growth story! Thank you to those out there who donate their time and treasure each year to collegiate skiing! Your investment in the future of out sport is greatly appreciated and does not go unnoticed (despite how the 300 college kids may make it seem on Saturday nights). Thanks all. Ryan

Hey guys, I am President of the Waterski Team here at Ohio State. Last weekend, we qualified for Collegiate Nationals which I'm sure you know are held at Lakes of Cypress Hill this year. We are interested in getting some Zero-off and warm water practice in on Wednesday, the 14th in the Houston area before the tournament begins on Thursday. Just wondering if you guys had any suggestions on someone to reach out to who may be interested in helping us with around 20 pulls. Just looking for a more laid back site than practicing in Cypress. Obviously, we would are willing to pay per set! Thanks for your help!