MitchellM

@skierjp thanks for the confirmation about the lack of courses on those lakes. Lake Hollingsworth does not really have any homes around the lake. I'm looking for a nice home site on a lake with a course. I also do not want my dock across a street like many homes in Winter Haven. I've heard mixed reviews about the current crop of skiers on Spirit Lake. Currently no homes for sale there anyway. I'll keep looking.

Anyone know anything about the lakes in Lakeland, Florida? I'm interested primarily in Lake Gibson or Lake Parker. I can't seem to find out if either of these lakes has a course. Any information or contacts would be appreciated.

@GWaterski would be another good option. Gary is a great guy!

Is your vector RTP with the BOA? I jam my rear foot in and lock the BOA down Nice and secure.

I've been looking for about a year. The lake front market is very tough right now. Where are you looking? For the Orlando area, Drew and the LaPoint team alway come up among skiers. I'm also looking in Winter Haven. The skier/realtor there is David Small. Are you leaving Lake Weir?

Scott is right. Lake Weir may be your closest public lake with a course. Should be due East of Crystal River. I've never been but heard there is a course on the lake.

I live in Clearwater. Sad to say there are no public courses in our area that I know of. The closest public access would likely be in Winter Haven which is about 1 hour east of Tampa. Best place to ski closer to Crystal River would be McCormick's in Seffner. Michael is great.

Great purchase! Please let us know how your wife likes her new ski.

Your FIL sounds like a real piece of work! My wife skis on a 35 year old connelly concept. She loves that ski, but it weighs a ton! First try on my daughter's Connelly Carbon V and she was amazed. The lighter ski with new technology had her popping right out of the hole and carving it up in open water and even now into the course. Do your wife a favor and get her a new ski. Just don't tell your FIL until he sees her on it.

Are you left foot forward or right foot forward? I ski left foot forward. Best advice I ever got was from Jodi Fisher who told me to aim the tip of my ski at 11:00 and keep the tail under your bum (45 degree angle to the water surface). Most LFF will roll over to the right if dragged and trying to keep the ski tip straight up. Never a problem since then and I always tell myself "11:00" right before "hit it!". I suspect the opposite is true for RFF.

Love the name!! I'm out in Clearwater and ski at McCormick's. Just 45 minutes away. Michael is a great guy and awesome coach. Just relax and soak up the knowledge. The fact that you are asking about etiquette and what to expect already signals that you are a good person. Michael will pick up on this right away. It hasn't been too busy there lately. You will drop in right off the dock and head straight into the course for a run or two while Michael sizes up your skiing. I typically spin at the far end and stop on the dock end for his comments instruction. My daughters (better skiers) typically drop on both ends to hear Michael's wisdom. No riding in the boat when we were last skiing. Concerns about COVID. Michael's wife just had a baby a few months ago. Have an open mind and consider his suggestions. Let me know if you have any questions about our area. Don't forget to have fun! What an awesome gift and wife. Funny how I was just up in Montana last week skiing.

@Ed_Johnson indeed!! Any interior photos of your home? It should sell quickly. Every lake house I've looked at in Montverde, Clermont and Groveland have sold within 48 hours of listing. Crazy waterfront market right now!

That is a really beautiful dock!

Nice looking place, Ed. Any photos of the interior? I'm over in Clearwater and looking for a place on a lake. Was hoping for a bit bigger lake size but I am interested. What lake are you on?

How did each of you learn to ski? When did you first realize you could compete in a slalom course? Personally, my wife and I both learned to ski at summer camps behind 19ft outboard boats. No slalom course, but the goal back then was fun and we both could slalom. My three kids all learned to slalom ski on Robin Lake at Callaway Gardens. We go there every summer. Sadly, they pull out the slalom course after the Masters. We had never seen one until a few years ago. My point is that we should each consider how we were introduced to the sport. The lack of access to courses is a major failing and stumbling block. Outreach to specific summer camps with lake access who still teach waterskiing could work. Sadly, many camps have eliminated waterskiing due to perceived liability and cost. Personal outreach by you pros and accomplished skiers is paramount. Horton teaching his daughter is a joy to watch. Perhaps she has other friends who would like to learn and try the course. Pros with ski schools could do more outreach with the grass roots program. Jodi Fisher is having his 3rd such event in the past year with a good grass roots turnout (including my two daughters). We each need to consider how we can reach out and grow this sport or it will wither and die due to associated costs and lack of access and exposure. Just my 2 cents.

Really? A thread asking about how to grow the sport and appeal to more to main stream skiers is off limits to me because I don't have a USAWS card? The irony is almost overwhelming. Clearly being a member is the only way to have a valid opinion or suggestion on what's wrong with the sport today and how to fix it by appealing to our youth.

Is there some reason I cannot comment on the thread below? https://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/26243/make-slalom-accessible-to-mainstream-skiers-no-players-no-future-fans-no-industry

I'll put another vote in for Vector BOA. I purchased one with a RTP on the advice of Mike at PerfSki. I've been very pleased. All the convenience of a lace up boot with ease and security of the BOA. Really a great product.

The rest of the photos in that sequence are impressive. I'm amazed he is able to recover from that slack rope laying in the water and be able to ski on towards 2 ball. The jolt must be brutal.

Nate's 1 ball at 43 off.

@ bishop8950 yes we saw that flip! Great theatrics.

@Cnewbert great shots! Wish I had seen you there.

@DW I would guess around 400 people were there on Saturday. This was my first time at a professional water ski tournament. Considering it was the Worlds and held at a premiere site in what some consider to be the water ski capital, I was shocked at how few spectators were there. I live 2 hours away and drove in for the day with my daughter. We were both thrilled to be there. Both finals were very exciting. We couldn't believe how nice and accessible all the athletes were throughout the day. Most exited the lake right were we were sitting. Nate was high-fiving little kids who ran up to him and posed with many folks right at the edge of the water. We were so glad that we went. I'm not sure why more people do not attend. It's free! No charge for parking. Great venue. We plopped our camping chairs down and had an awesome day.

Just missed two ball on his last pass! Still a happy world champion!!

Great day for some spectator photos!