Jetsetr

@DaveinPa ...he drops as soon as he’s up, waaaay below normal ski speed (for him I use 28-30). I did the same thing this spring when the water was 43 and was having issues getting up single. We use an old wood Dick Pope Cypress Gardens combo ski as our dropper. Don’t need a matching drop ski, just something to get ya up and get rid of...I put a small (10x10) fluorescent orange flag on it just in front of the binding so it really shows up on the lake. Ski stays upright about 80-90% of the time if ya step out gently...makes it super easy to find and other boaters can see it easily as well...

Will look into that! Thanks!!

Thanks- totally agree on all your points! Would like to ski during our northern clime off season as well...planning on stashing my gear in the baggage compartment when we head south (usually at least once a month) to ski with a coach to keep improving...

Spot on @Chef23 At your weight you can have a super soft pull on two... Friend of mine who has some back issues comes up on two and drops...it’s amazing how slow/gentle he can be pulled up... Think if you work on coming up on a single you might hit a bit of a wall, then it will all come together and it will become second nature...try a single a few times each session, but would suggest in the mean time come up on two, drop and have fun...

Agree on the gates...if ya mess the gate up, everything goes out the window...

Thanks for all the good replies... Live in Twin Lakes east of Lake Geneva (there’s a Twin Lakes in northern Wisconsin too). I ski a smaller lake near my home but it usually has little or no boat traffic. Skied almost all day yesterday and we were the only ones on the lake with flat water. Might work on getting approval for a course for this lake. Going to start course skiing at Stillwaters... My 69 has plenty of lift at 28, just seems mushy. But I do agree that a slower speed is better for getting form and technique down. I will try 26 to work on edge and angle of attack for wake crossing (like using aviation terms since that’s one of my real jobs, and if you think about it, it really is angle of attack and creating space in the course). I’m EXPECTING to be totally humbled by the coarse. But knowing that will reduce my frustration (somewhat) and hopefully I will pick up some good tips. Also expect everything I worked on to go out the window on the first tug (so I’ve got that going for me!!) Forgetting the gates at my level seems like a very good idea. Watched a lot of videos, including Jodie’s and Seth’s...working on being stacked will help me a great deal, and a bit slower boat speed will slow everything down a bit, thus allowing a bit more time to work on form. I travel to Orlando a lot for work and looked into getting coaching at a few different schools in that area. Looked into skiing with Matt Rini, but couldn’t connect due to my schedule. Not sure he would want to work with a novice at his level... I free ski between 30-34 all the time... comfortable @ 36 as well. Not sure how to put a video up here...suggestions? Thanks again!! Dave

At this point it’s ALL coarse (fixed it)!!! Ya think autocorrect would catch that-but.... Only on the 1st cup off coffee when posted... Totally agree-ending up down course will be the challenge to overcome...would think pre-turn, turn and after turn pull/angle are all important to avoid going long into the next ball... Know I have a lot to work on...

Have a 69 Butterknife as well a great ski, but recently upgraded. I prefer RFF both feet in. Let the boat do the work. Maybe some people or ballast in the FRONT of the boat to help it plane out faster. No shame in dropping if need be...if you come up on two you can have a much “softer” pullout that will be much easier on you...we all must remember to have FUN at this sport at ALL levels...

Good morning and thank you in advance for any help... I’m a pretty strong free skier and moving into grassroots coarse skiing... I KNOW one issue I’m going to have with course skiing is not cutting the turns tight enough and ending up too far down course to make the next ball. So I’ve been working on pre turn technique but it seems I’m not rolling on edge soon enough nor holding edge thru the wake. I am trying to keep elbows in and at hips after the turn as well as keeping stacked... if I get a decent pull I’m still not getting free of the boat on the next turn, and sometimes getting pulled forward prior to the next turn, or at the turn. I have video of my skiing and it confirms the lack of edge and more of a sweeping turn. Hopefully will get some good course instruction this week, but I like to go in with out looking too silly. I FULLY expect to be seriously humbled by the course...and I’m ok with that. I want to take my skiing to the next level and think this is a great way to do it... I ski a 2018 Senate Alloy 69 6ft tall, 195 pounds. 55 years old... Any suggestions for rope length and speed for non course training? 28 seems a bit slow, the ski seems happy at 30-32- but the water is super warm now too. Started skiing this year (April 1st) with water temp of 43 (drysuit) and guessing now temps is 80+. I can definitely tell the difference in water temp by the way the ski behaves... I think I’ve built up enough strength (can free ski very hard for 7-10 minutes) but I know brute strength isn’t the key and good technique and form will actually make it much less work... Live in SE WI have my own boat if anyone is in the neighborhood to help coach a bit... Thanks again in advance... Dave