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@LakeboyWWK @lpskier lot of good information, thanks. - Regarding leg strength, I have been studying the pro-tournaments on youtube. All of the men ski with their forward knee bent almost 90 degrees except late in the preturn and when reaching out over the buoy on very short line turns. I think that's fairly new in slalom technique. Older videos of the pros didn't do that so much and I recall attempting to use the legs like that only in rough water back when I was on top of my divisions. Leg strength has to be VERY good to handle the loads in a near squat leg position. I don't understand what it does - any comment ?

Starting over with competitive slalom in Men9 next spring - last tournament 1985 nationals in Men3 and have only free skied once every 5 years. That's a 35 year gap. Everything I have done since then does nothing for upper body; bike, ski, roller blade. We have a weight machine and I have a full time desk job at home . . so I have been doing a set of Pull Downs on the machine every time I need a break from my desk - hoping to work up to pull ups. Been doing about 20 sets per day of 12 or 18 (multiples of a perfect passes) a day for 2 months. The weight I can do has advanced 50% since I started. This all day approach of quick sessions is not a prescribed method that I have seen for resistance training. It suits my short attention span gives and me a 5 minute break from my desk several times a day. Is it counterproductive for strength and conditioning ? I know there are better ways but can this be "bad" in some way ? There are also other conditioning things I do on a more traditional schedule.

@ dbutcher My original question was an attempt to understand which factors in age that cause the performance differences, then try learn how to improve those deficits if possible. A big part of my enjoyment of water skiing and other competitive sports is brain storming every possible thing I can do to do it better. Addressing age related things is just another set of variables to figure out how to do my best. Of all the crazy memories, Warren Witherell got me and a bunch of other local skiers into endless ski tuning when we were teenagers. Every time you touch the ski it got worse or better, sort of like gambling.

I am not up to date on buoy counting, so I was just counting the pass difficulty differential between a run at 38 off/34 versus a run at 35 off/30. I believe that approximates the high level performances in Men3 and Men 9. That's 4 steps difference in difficulty. 3 steps in speed + 1 step in rope length. However you look at it, there seems to be a big difference between being age 40 versus 75. I am doing a lot of weight training now and anxious to see what happens after about 6 weeks in a course next summer.

Looking at record-setting scores, and National tournament qualifying scores, the slalom performance levels taper off significantly for the 'senior' age divisions but I don't know what age related deficits cause the greatest problems. At glance it seems Men9 performances are about 4 passes lower difficulty than Men3 performances in 1985. I am preparing to resume competitive skiing at age 75. My last tournament was at age 40. With no experience with competitive skiing at this age, I don't know which age deficit causes the greatest decline and which deficit the least decline in slalom performance. This would vary by individual but there must be some generalizations that are true. The lifetime snow skiers my age ski just as well as they did when they were 40 - they are good in powder but stay away from steep mogul runs. Obviously slalom water skiing has a large strength component that snow skiing doesn't have, but otherwise it seems similar . . . applying skills with relatively static body position. A separate subject . . I am imagine that trick skiers have a greater challenge. Their body positions are very dynamic and require high levels of quickness, balance and flexibility. By next July I will probably know some answers, but would like to prepare with training that may possibly help. Any feedback from some senior type skiers who have been at it for years would be appreciated. Thanks

@ 2Valve @ Oldkier Thanks for your tips. I will lookup "Planks" and "Peg Board Setup" to see what they are. Its great to have a reason for diet and exercise. There is No better motivation than preparing for a competitive sport you love. WEIGHT . . I always had my best competition years when I was at the light end of a 10 pound weight range. That's something else for me to work on. Thank Again

I have talked to a couple of top world and national senior-type trick skiers who live in the MidWest and train hard through the off season, but have had little feedback from slalom skiers. If someone has a plan for maintaining strength and/or skills for slalom in the off season, it would be great if you could share your experience. I am returning to competitive skiing now in Men 9 after a 35 year no-skiing gap. Skied in tournaments from age 14 to 40 and most of the best skiers around here are still competing in Men 9 and 10. I am hoping to become competitive with my peers who didn't have the big gap. If its just a fantasy, at least it will get me in shape and will be fun trying. A pro-tour announcer said Nate Smith can do pullups until the Gym closes. I am starting over with "1" Thanks

@dbutcher I appreciate your feedback. I met Jerry when I was about 17 and he was about 22 and we occasionally ended up in Slalom run-offs like in St. Charles Illinois. Its been a pleasure to re-unite with people in skiing. The boat I just bought was from a local guy who placed 2nd in tricks (Men 8) in the world tournament (Italy) and needed to upgrade to a 2019 Correct Craft so he could prepare for the 2021 world tournament in Florida which is using Correct Craft for all events. He will be in in Men 9 for this world tournament. Then I found that his daily practice partner is one of the guys I drove to Illinois with when I was 17. The water skiing people are great people ! Thank You again.

@Andre @dbutcher Thanks for your suggestions.

@dbutcher Does balance affect your skiing ? My balance is not great but it only seems to affect me when I am standing still. For example my snow skiing is not affected at all. Don't know if it will affect slalom performance. Do you know Jerry Hausner ? He's the guy that told me that short line 38/39 off at 30 mph is hard on his shoulders because of the sinking at the end of turn. Comparable skill levels like -35@34 mph were not as tough. Since you have decades of experience . . what about vision correction ? Does anybody wear contacts or sports glasses in water ski competition ? I might be able to get by on a sunny day.

dbutcher. I turned 75 last July so I will be in Men 9. I hope it doesn't take me forever to catch up with my friends that always ski in the Nationals but didn't have a big gap in their skiing. I should ask you . . What happens with age if you keep at it. I have talked to trick skiers my age that say their runs have lower point values in spite of year around fitness training. But tricks has some specific athletics requirements that slalom doesn't. If all your body parts are healthy what happens to slalom with age ?

Jody . . what would the 68" D3 ION by like compared to the Senate ?

My last tournament was a Nationals where I ran into 38 off at 34mph. I just bought a boat and am starting over but now my division is 30mph. sloooow ! I remember goofing around with some friends skiing in the course at 30 mph at 38off many years ago it was like doing a deep-water-start on the back-side of each buoy. If I skied on a 66" ski at 36 and 34 mph, what do 175 pound guys use at 30 mph? I know there are a lot of differences with different models, but does 68" seem logical for 30 mph ? I talked to one guy who is 82 years old and runs into 39 off in tournaments. He says the slow speed is more difficult because you sink so deep before you get back on a tight line on the back side of each buoy. I don't know how big a ski would be too big.

Just bought the HO SKYMAX and its has pressure points and loose areas against my foot. Feels sort of like a snow ski boot without the liner (not that bad). Does this binding get more comfortable after a few days of skiing.