Fam-man

I wish we were that warm in Alberta Canada. Getting very close to freezing overnight, some areas having snow

@dvskier thanks, I've been considering the profile. The local shop has 2016 vapor on sale pricing it close to the profile, based on fit probably good idea to go vapor.

@Wayne thanks. My goal is 15 off @ 34 mph next year and shorten to 28 off in a couple years @Dano thanks

The season is wrapping up here in Canada and I'm contemplating an equipment upgrade. I'm working towards 15 off 34 mph, currently on a 2015 radar senate with double vectors. Thinking about switching to a front vapor or keep saving for a new ski. Any thoughts on which to switch out first?

@dhofert that's why the lucky's drill is good. Slows things down so you can focus on the wake crossing. The trick is to pick one movement key that resonates for you and focus there until you own it.

@dhofert If you search lucky's drill there's an explanation of how to work on positioning across wakes. Basically forget the turns and just cross the wake, glide wide to burn speed then cross the wake again. Watching video and trying stuff until you see/ feel the positioning you're after. Arms straight. Handle on hip Proud chest Straight legs All things that work towards getting the stacked hips up position you're after. Dry land practise also helps. Using a static position to find the position and work on memory. It takes time to undo years of "safe" hips back position.

The glass always makes me feel excited and I love it when you turn around and can see the boat path and where each of the turns are. Prefer the feel of the ski when there's some texture, although texture always turns into chop then whitecaps around here.

I've also been considering the profile boot. @fu_man or anyone else that has tried vapor and profile did you feel a significant difference in forward angle between the syles of boot? When I look at pictures it appears the vapor would encourage more forward ankle bend where the profile looks more straight up.

My ski partner struggles inconsistently. Things that help; Ski size Ski angle in water (don't get the ski too vertical, maintain some angle so it climbs out of the water) Force against balls of front foot, don't use heel or back foot. For driver; Very different than wakeboarder. I use a very easy and progressive pull to get the skier moving and climbing out of the water. I've hardly moved the throttle off idle to get the skier moving

@ironhorse drove by Moyie on Saturday, lots of action with the fire coming over the mountain and waterbombers loading and dropping on the fire. Hope everything turns out okay for you and all those in the area!

@Thager thanks for the heads up, touch screen scroll issue, been fixed I actually still use a black Mach 1...to step off when barefooting

@KevL I've been comparing my body position to the body position of the skiers in the youtube video's below. This will give you a good idea what longer line lengths should look like, watching shortline pro's can be misleading and tough to translate to 15 & 22 off. The skier in the first video is fairly recognizable. 26 MPH - 36 MPH at 15 off behind Centurion Carbon Pro 34/15 off -Water ski practice for critique

It's good to video and see what you're actually doing, I'm finding what it feels like and what it looks like is very different. It looks like your dropping your hips back to start the turn towards the wake which puts you in a position deficit from the start. This position is hard to undo once the rope is loaded. There's some good discussions you could search about how to turn in, most is in reference to gates but still applies.

@ironhorse I just heard of a course on Moyie, is that yours or do you know who's it is? We have some friends that camp out there and were trying to entice us to come out from Medicine Hat

To qualify my thoughts, 2nd year in the course 15off @ 32mph working towards 34mph. If I'm not thinking about something during a pass I'm just repeating what I always do and not improving. As you said the key is not thinking about too many things. Last night I was giving up the handle immediately at the second wake and skiing straight into the ball. I had to think about maintaining some hip-handle connection and feeding the handle out as I approach apex. As that becomes automatic I can move onto the next thought.

Our course is on public lake, the west end is much shallower and very weedy. To avoid the weeds we general drop & start in the east end and spin on the west end. Rollers aren't too bad when we run straight out a ways before spinning.

@sunvalleylaw I totally understand your feeling, and as others say when it comes together it feels great. Last year was the first I'd skied in a course. By the end of the season I was 30mph 15 off consistently. On good days I'd either do 32 mph 15 off or 30 mph 22 off. I was in the course 1 or 2 times per week May to Sept. I found a few things helped it come together for me. 1) focus on what your doing behind the boat, forget about sacrificing rhythm or position to get a ball. 2) go early and hard at the entrance gate. Sets up a good 1 ball and good run. Start to work closer and closer to the gates. 2) video. I'm always surprised what I see to improve when I video myself. This year I'm a steady 32 mph 15 off. Working towards 34 mph. I toss in the off 32 mph 22 off to keep it fresh.

The group I ski with is all a bunch of novices, myself included, and I find watching some of them to be extremely entertaining. My brother in law will hold onto anything and be out of control 90% of the time and is always surprised to make it to the turn ball. Lots of Ooh..aahh...cringe moments from the boat. Skinny will talk tons of theory and technique then demonstrate the exact opposite set after set.

Use your back foot to push the ski around in the turn Never, never, for any reason take a hand off the handle. Two hands all the time.

@RazorRoss3 I like your advice to "turn and go". If you miss the gate adjust next time. Some of the group I ski with will turn early and ease off their lean to make the gate. They end up late at 1 ball and struggle through the entire pass.

We had a similar problem in a MB Sports with GT-40. After a bit of messing around we found rag material plugging the fuel inlet at the tank.

@hemlock I was doing some work on my trailer a couple years ago and there were warnings of pressure treated lumber causing rapid corrosion to any metals that aren't stainless. Just passing it along to be sure you've considered the potential.

6 weeks later then originally planned but FINALLY got the course out of the weeds and straightened. The S.Alberta wind and crew availability has really made things a challenge. Skied my first in-course set of the year last night at sundown and I've been smiling ear to ear since. I've got some coaching lined up in July and was starting to think I wasn't going to even see the course before that. Better late then never!!

We use a tube (ugh) to get them comfortable behind the boat. We also use dad rides to help them get comfortable, that's what's happening in my profile pic. We also have a boom which helps with stability. Finally I will get in water and stabilize the skis for take off then float in the water waiting for the return.

Thanks @Chef23 I saw the nonskid in your earlier post and thought it was a good idea.