ESPNSkier

Thank you so much for the positive feedback and encouragement! @jhardin and @dchristman, you guys are an inspiration and it's great to hear form folks who are actively skiing again after this procedure! I'm just starting Cardio Rehab and not yet doing any strength building but that is next. I also see that I need to add a tattoo to the scar!

@jhardin your recommendations are right on the money, particularly #3 as I believe that pro coaching is the best thing you can do in this sport. I knocked around @ -15 and -22 off for 40 years before I went to see Matt Rini. He took me from -22 to -35 off within 2 years and all of my recent PBs have been set at Matt Rini's Ski School. I am so much more focused when I ski there and it's awesome to be able to sit and chat with the pro skiers who are just the nicest people you could meet.

I’m a 68 year old course skier and I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve 4 weeks ago. Recovery is coming along nicely and I’m hoping to ski again at 12 weeks (after the sternum heals up a bit). My Surgeon thinks this is doable.  Does anyone out there know someone who is running the course after AVR surgery? Just looking for some advice on things to avoid (like an OTF fall)! I think I have at least one more PB in me and I can’t wait to get back out there!
 

 

Love this post! Last year I dropped to shorten after a pass in the course and a guy in a nearby bass boat yells out: “How old are you?” I told him I was 65 and he told his buddy: “I told you that was an old guy skiing!” My ski buddy and I had a great laugh and then headed back into the course.

Awesome shot @MitchellM! I can put you in touch with Joel through Matt. PM me for contact info.

I went from a 67” 2019 Senate Pro to a 67” 2022 Senate Pro a few weeks ago. I’m about 8 sets in and still getting used to the new ski. First thing I noticed is that it seems to turn much quicker on my onside and feels faster cross course. It’s a bit harder to get up on and I’m struggling on my early passes (-22 and -28) but it seems to work better for me as I get into -32 and -35. Matt Rini watched me run my opener on it and told me that it was the ugliest pass he has ever seen me run?‍♂️. He suggested moving boots back and that seems to help. I’m within 2 buoys of my PB and feel that I could set a new PB once I get more time on it.

Thanks @tjs1295! Yes, courses seem to be somewhat scarce up here. We have lots of courses on public lakes in central Florida but also lots of boat traffic.

Nice looking site @Mastercrafter!

Thanks! I skied a couple of sets at Still Waters last summer. Fantastic site but it’s a 3 1/2 hour drive. Any other sites closer to Door County?

Skied my last set for a while at home in Winter Garden, FL over a week ago. Air temps were already in the mid 90s and water temp was low 80s and climbing. Arrived in northern Door County, WI a few days ago to open my wife’s shop for the season. Dang it’s cold up here still and I can’t imagine how cold the water is!

Looks like a great project boat for sure!

 

@Mastercrafter can you PM me with info about that Ilmor 5.7 you have available? Thanks!

Thanks all! I’ll probably schedule a set at Jay’s.

Thanks for the feedback! I skied my last tournament at Tri-Lakes in 1980. I’ve seen the ski lake off of I-12 near Slidell but never skied there.

I’ll be in Covington, LA for a few days next weekend and looking for a place to get in a slalom set. I grew up in New Orleans and skied my first tournament in Covington back around 1977 (I think it was on the Bogue Falaya River). Any contacts out there? Happy to reciprocate with a set in Winter Garden, FL anytime.

I’ve gotten to know Joel fairly well over the last year and he is the real deal. I would not describe him as “Cocky” but he does have confidence that belies his youth. He is a consummate showman but he is also grounded and respectful. I can’t wait to see what he does next!

Agree that Joel is insanely talented. He also happens to be a really nice guy who is bringing a lot of attention to overall. Remember that this is the 2nd time he set the Wotld overall record this year and he came back from an ankle injury to set it even higher during the biggest tournament of the season!

Wow does that bring back memories! I had that identical boat back in the early 80s (minus the extra throttle). Wake was like hitting a brick wall and I broke 2 skis on it over a few years. That’s definitely not the original pylon either….too tall.

@ScottScott gives some great advice here! I would add that a pro coach told me a few years ago to drop -15 off as soon as possible as -15 off has different geometry than -22 off and beyond. I followed that advice and it helped me progress. Only downside is that you may be dealing with a rooster tail on your opener depending on your boat. Now I need to spend enough time on the water to drop -22 off….

Ruptured left one slalom skiing and right one barefooting. Both were years ago and both healed with no complications and no loss of hearing. Of course my hearing is not what is used to be but it’s mostly related to age.

Senate Pro. Excellent 32 mph ski. I’ve taken it through -35 off and it has more to offer.

Amazing skiing Robert!

Thanks @klindy, it was a great tournament!

I had the opportunity to help out with the webcast this weekend and I came away with a huge amount of appreciation and gratitude for @Kelvin and the other fine folks who put on these webcasts! It is much harder than it looks and these folks do an outstanding job in representing tournament skiing! Thank you for doing what you do!!!

Agree with @markn, best one yet and Matt Rini’s insight was the perfect compliment to Tony’s commentary. Well done!

Once had a Diver Duck pop up just inside 1 ball as I was going through the gates. He tried to fly over the ball just as I was rounding it and ran smack into

my ski just ahead of my front boot. I didn’t fall but the pass was done and I looked back as I skied away but never saw the duck again.

Joel is an awesome skier and a genuinely nice guy!