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?

@Chef23 I'm not sure what a pinwheel slide is but it sounds like fun! Could you give the location on Google Maps so I could check out this site? I have been wanting to "ski around the boat" but definitely will not attempt it behind the big ol' Galaxy; there is a show team nearby so I might join it and learn how.

@LeonL , I agree that tight turning is not the smartest thing to do :grin: , but we had to do a dogleg in the small pond I used to ski in and I felt like I was going to get flung out the passenger seat when I would ride (which makes me wonder exactly how fast we were turning). @DW , thanks for the numbers and explaining how the tracking fins cause the tight turns. Our old runabout isn't nearly as fast and agile as that! 5 seconds to 36 MPH is faster than my mom's little VW... :D

Does anyone know how fast a tournament ski boat gets up to speed and how many feet/yards it would take? Also, why can ski boats turn so quickly, or is it just an illusion? I ski behind an old runabout that seems to turns slowly compared to ski boats. For reference, while pulling a skier, what is the minimum turning radius/diameter of a ski boat?

My hands are pretty long (not so wide but that doesn't really apply to handle diameter, and I don't know what size glove I use). I use a .96" x 1.15" elliptical handle from Connelly that fits my hand well. It may be slightly small if your hands are really large, but roughly 1" diameter or (larger or a little smaller like the .94) seems to be the average handle size and should work well. I like the amount of grip I can get around it. You don't want your fingertips digging into your palm around the handle... but you also want to get enough grip enclosing the handle. In the end, it's up to you... if you thought your friend's handle was perfect or a little small?

TGas ran 41 off and then scored 1@43 back in 2006. But it was a C Class and probably unofficial...

You could buy the fin or maybe a back binding for that off my Monza ;)

Ahhh... My bad @skibrain! The pains of not reading the entire post before eagerly jumping to reply... Or get a Goode, I hear they're really inexpensive... ;)

Thanks for the reply @ALPJr. I looked it up on Maps but it is a little too far away for me.

@netwinder, I agree with @ALPJr. The HO TX would be a great option. The Superlite version costs $900, and the regular is $450 (without bindings). This is a great ski at your speed and the 30 MPH world record holder uses the Superlite version. However, at 130 pounds, it may be a bit big for you. I weigh around 145 pounds, and it is too wide for me (my dad weighs a little over 200 pounds and it suits him perfectly; I imagine it would work at 175 pounds too). Again, great for 30 MPH (or a little slower based on your weight). (Because of size, the HO CX might be better because it isn't as wide. I'm not sure of the price and have never skied on this, so you would have to get an expert opinion before choosing that option.)

@gmut I don't know exactly what the ski is in the first video (from 2010), but it is definitely an HO because Johnny always skis on HO (they sponsor him actually). In the second video (2015), he is riding a new HO Cross Superlite TX, which is wider than the CX and eligible for Wide Ride (69"). This is a $900 ski without bindings and, due to his/its performance, is probably the best choice for Wide Ride. If you're interested in the regular TX, it costs only $450.