lantley

Make the switch if you can. I'm LFF also, and when I was learning to ski the course, I held the handle like a left-handed baseball player would hold a bat. I recently found out that this was incorrect for slalom and asked, like you did, "Should I change?" I was unanimously instructed to switch. I went out freeskiing a few days later and tried it. I got used to it pretty quickly, although sometimes I found myself holding it the wrong way again. I free skied again several days later and was already used to it. It makes my pulls seem stronger and more secure (it helps my elbows stay down and attached to vest).

Now I understand @Than_Bogan. I would be the one who slammed the big waterwheel when it popped up... "Nope sorry that's your fault buddy" @jcamp Laughed at that but very good point!

A gear in the water? Now I know why that tow boat was never the same again. Since it was wooden it must have fallen off a Centurion... proof of just how great they are built and with the strangest materials (No offense meant to any Carbon Pro fans, but I was looking at their ad on the side while I was typing and decided to pick on it). But a wooden gear? I think he definitely deserved a reride and maybe a new fin.

@unksskis I agree with your idea. It seems like scheduling pro divisions later in the day would improve attendance (for you official tournament planners out there, this means more MONEY can be made). I am just a skier and don't have the authority to actually change this, but I am letting people know that I agree. Perhaps there is a reason we aren't aware of that explains the current setup? Maybe it is so the pros can ski several rounds a day in some scenarios? Hopefully some forum members with tournament planning experience will chime in... (EDIT: it seems they have already and I typed too long)

Thanks again @Horton. I figured if Wade Cox could get into 41 off with it then it was plenty good enough for me. BUT, I wouldn't mind getting a newer ski... Or I could use my family's 30 year old HO Esprit instead... :wink:

Thank you @Than_Bogan and @Horton for clearing that up!

Not me - I couldn't ski 38 off on Dr. Michael's pond with the boat weaving around the guides!

I have read the discussions titled "Stack" and "15 off Help/Questions." I learned a lot from those, but I wanted to ask a question that I didn't see addressed... I recently watched Robert Marking's dry land training videos. He frequently mentioned that the weight should be mainly on the skier's back foot. However, everyone else I have talked with says that I should put more weight in my front foot in order to be farther forward on the ski. So, which way is correct? Or, if I keep my elbows pressed against my vest, will the weight distribution come naturally? I would also appreciate any other tips to learn the correct weight distribution/COM. 5'8" , 145 pounds , riding a mid/late-2000's Monza (double boot - should I move them forward?) , skiing 15 off while working on increasing speed (at 30 MPH now). Thank you!

Just don't tow it through a previously calm cove with a slalom skier waiting to get back up at the end... happened to me today :angry: :wink:

Thanks @Orlando76! Lots of information there. So as an overview of what I saw... For approved tournament boats 0-36 MPH (deepwater start) 250 ft max (normal tournaments) 230 ft max (record capability) Turning 75 ft diameter circles as Figure 8 (17 and 26 MPH) 150 ft diameter 180 degree (36 MPH) For approved ski boats 0-36 MPH (deepwater start) 300 ft max Turning 100 ft diameter 180 degree (17 and 26 MPH) 150 ft diameter 180 degree (36 MPH) Another question... On page 4, it mentions accelerating from 35.4 to 38.2 MPH. When would this be necessary?

Thanks for the link @ScottScott. To everyone who helped: As I mentioned earlier I went free skiing today (along with the hundreds of other party boats and this one huge annoying boat pulling a tuber down/up/in circles/all over the place in my previously quiet cove!) and changed my grip. Like most everyone who commented in that poll, changing the grip already made me feel improvement. The main thing I noticed was that my onside was stronger actually (but my offside felt a little better, too). My arm muscles are unused to that position so I will have to strengthen them... Thank you

Thanks for the encouragement @lcgordon. I sure would love to improve my offside... :grimace:

OK thanks @Jordan

Thanks @Jordan and @lcgordon. I will be free skiing tomorrow. Anything particular to look out for/do when switching it?

I am a LFF skier. When I was first learning to ski, I used a "non-professional" both palms down grip on the handle. When I was taught to ski the course, I was told to hold the handle like a left handed person would hold a baseball bat (with the left palm up and the right palm down). I have used this grip for 3 years and had gotten used to it, but recently, while watching a tournament, I noticed that I had it backwards! The RFF skiers held the handle like I do, and the LFF skiers had their left palm down and their right palm up. I tried this once while free-skiing, but it felt awkward. Should I try to relearn it the traditional way, or should I continue the same way (I am still skiing 15 off but want to develop good form and habits)? What are the pros and cons to traditional vs "backward" handle grip?