morfoot

Deal with it all the time. That's the problem with living on a large lake like Lanier. The small cove the course is in a haven for surfers to head too. We have seen many start surfing it up while someone is in the middle of the course. Yeah, 💩head...Don't worry about the 3 competition ski boats waiting on their turn for a set. It's not like you have 38,000 acres of lake to surf on but you insist on doing it in skier cove. Downfall of living on a public lake. We make it work however by raising the course on Sun night and lowering it on Fri morning. The guys that work from home start their day with a set and go to work. Since I don't have that luxury I have to wait until I get home and keep my fingers crossed that someone isn't surfing it up. There is a positive to it.... One of my neighbors who surfs all the time (not in the cove) wanted to go with us for a set. He thought it looked cool and wanted to try it. When he got back in the boat after attempting to round just a single ball........ he was hooked. Man that was FUN! Bought a slalom for Christmas and wants to start skiing with us. I've surfed several times and after about 15 mins. I'm bored! ..Yo man... you're up. Nahhhhh I'm good. It's boring, you go ahead.

Add me to the list of DIY's. Great to see so many skiers do their own Maintenance. I own a 72 CC Mustang, a 88 SN and a 99 SN so it's nice to be able to do my own wrenching. Might cost me a small fortune if I didn't on top of the fuel bill I already have. 🤪

Matteo, been playing A LOT of your Podcasts here as of late at work and on the ride home from work as it's an hour commute. Been a fan of the sport for a long time and have just started getting into course skiing the last two years as I moved to a lake and finally have access to one. A masters regular attendee since the 90's so I'm very familiar with the big names and legends of the sport. I just want to publicly thank you for doing these podcasts for us to listen to. I've enjoyed listening to them all and appreciate the time and effort you've taken to grow the sport we all love. I've learned from the many tournaments I've attended as a spectator that the waterskiing community is like no other. Whether it be a professional skier, boat driver, organizer, coach, or watersports president; they are ALL very approachable, friendly and humbling. It's an awesome sport to be involved in. Keep doing what you're doing to grow the sport. The guys I ski with are doing our part by trying to get the locals to put down the wakesurfer and pick up a slalom. We swervers appreciate it!

For the diehard slalom course skier as most of us here are then the GS or any crossover boat means nothing to any of us. For the guy who wants a multipurpose boat that the family can enjoy then I get it. Neighbor 2 doors down was wanting a SN 206/ or 196 as a family use boat but wanted a boat that had a great ski wake but also one that you could surf/board behind as his teenage kids said they wanted to surf. :s Told him that the 206 or 196 wouldn't be a good choice. He still wanted to slalom and eventually run the course but wanted a do all boat. Told him that it didn't exist. Only thing close was a 200 Sport but even then he wasn't gonna get the best wake for anything. For the sake of getting his kids more watersports involved he bought a 2013.Fast forward 2 years and each of his kids has surfed twice. I've made 15' off passes behind it but obviously would rather do it behind my 99SN. Its a beautiful boat and he likes it but he does regrets buying it instead of a 196. We tried warning him that his kids probably wouldn't take to it as he hoped but he bought it anyway. I totally get the marketing avenue for a hybrid boat but you'll never convince course skiers to buy this boat as the only boat you'll ever need to do everything you want it too.

A 99 SN is approximately 2340 lbs. So if you were to weigh the boat and factor in the weight of the trailer plus fuel then you might be able to determine if you've got wet foam. Does she list to to port when sitting still in calm water?

So several of diehard slalom skiers on a busy 38,000 acre lake maintain a slalom course in what is known to the locals as "Skier Cove" It's semi-permanent as it's not a portable course but it's not permanent either. 25lb anchor at each end and a separate long (weighted with washers) rope attached to the anchor with a skier ball attached to the other end. Sundays we install the course by simply pulling up the anchor to the get to the rope that's attached to the mainline cable of the course pull the boat down and start installing buoys. The inside boat ball is left on when we sink it on while the outer guide ball and course ball is removed. The PVC sinks almost to the bottom but the lone ball keeps the mainline cable off the bottom preventing snags on stumps on whatever else is down there. Pre-gate balls and gate balls are completely removed on each end. We leave the course up all week and have had pretty good luck this year not losing any balls or damage to the course. On occasion you will have to chase a wally out of the course or hydrofoiling around the course balls and let them know they are endangering themselves by doing so because if that foil snags that cable or ball rope they may come to a sudden stop and faceplant into the board.After the Friday morning ski we lower the course and sink it because the Weekend Wally's come out in full force and the wakeholes surf it up sometimes 3-4 at a time and rock that little cove. As the course is sunk even with the inside balls on we haven't had ANY issues all season except this past weekend. I assume some big 38' yacht parked his boat over the course and dropped anchor. When he left he yanked up the course with it. We went out last night to find the anchor, cabling, anchor guiderope/ball and pregate on shore. Took 5 of us 2 hours to get it back to a usable course. Is it worth it? YES!!!! We enjoy it that much that its worth the headache. The homeowners on that cove say they enjoy watching the skiers run the course and hate the wakeholes because they are destroying their docks and shorelines. This time of year as fall is here we'll leave the course up 7 days a week til mid December when it's even too cold for us Georgians to ski the course. Free ski probably.

As an owner of 3 Old boats the answer is yes YOU can. Bought a 88 SN in 2001 as primarily a wakeboard boat as I got bit by the wakeboarding craze in the 90's and hung up the slalom ski. I'd break it out occasionally but not too often. In 2009 after attending the masters and watching Mapple and Bob Lapoint ski head to head and shreading the course well into "retirement"; I thought maybe I should pick up a slalom again. Best decision I ever made regarding watersports. Free skied the mostly as a course wasn't available. Added a 72' Mustang to the mix and continued to ski behind it as well. Both boats not exactly the best wake to slalom behind but did teach me EDGE thru the wake. If you can ski behind those two boats....then you can ski behind anything. 2020 opened a new chapter in my life as I moved to the lake and actually into a cove where my neighbors raise a course on Monday and drop it on Friday. Got into course skiing 2 years ago religiously and have ever since. Got spoiled by skiing behind a 03 SN 196 and mid 2000 Malibu responses. Man what a difference in wake size as compared to the 72' and 88' SN that I have. One neighbor who is 68 is capable of running 28' off @ 32mph behind HIS 88' SN. First time I ran 6 was behind my 88'SN @ 15'@30mph. At 54 years old I was excited to say the least. Since then I added a 99 SN to the fleet and it's my bonafide Ski tug. To date I've only run 22' @ 30 mph once. Still at it everyday trying to improve but to answer your question in a Long Story. Yes you can! Key is edging thru the wake. If you get flat over the "hump" you'll get your bell rung for sure. Hope this helps you find the answer you're searching for. Ski Hard, Ski Daily but have fun first!

Good stuff and feedback here gang. Having just returned yesterday from Lake Norris after hanging out with a few Nautique ski buds from across the country and actually a friend from Belgium who drives for Mass Masters Ski Team who came over; skiing is very much alive at least in Tenn. The wonderful thing about the whole experience the last 4 days was there is always glass to ski on and with 5 or ski boats rafted up, someone was always peeling off to take somebody for a Footin run, A swivel run, slalom run, or even trick skis. Huge age gap as a 19 year old was Footin with a 74 year old. Cool stuff!!!!. A ski boat not even affiliated with us, cruised by with a heavy set guy on combos. After spending two weeks in the states, my Belgian Ski Bud who hadn't slalomed in 2 years got the fever again. He thanked me for talking him back into the sport and he was gonna dust of the HO when he got home and spend a little more time behind the boat instead of behind the wheel. Even if it means getting up a little early to get the glass. Its up to as as skiers to promote the sport and get people to get off the board and on a ski. A boom is the best investment I ever made for teaching newbies to ski. They are intimidated by long line and trying to control the skis. Try a few times and give up. Put them on a boom and 80% of the time they get up on the first try and the smile is priceless. " Wow!!!!! That was fun!" Keep pushing our sport swervers! We ain't done yet! Even my stepson who wanted me to pull him behind the boat on a tube has been converted. I told him years ago. We don't tube behind a ski boat. We ski, foot or board. He was bummed but has learned to do many disciplines behind the SN and has no interest in tubing anymore! Mission Accomplished!

Yep...agreed Jody and Joel! Armchair QB's are a dime a dozen after game day and same thing applies here but there is a reason why they aren't announcing OR Skiing in the tournament.

@Jody_Seal ...Nuff Said! Don't blame you.... enjoy buddy... @Horton ..Been going to the masters since about 92 since I'm only about 2 hours away from Callaway. I did enjoy Des's announcing. A couple years ago he was back in the booth one more time and for me it was like being a younger man going to my first masters. Maybe it was the Irish accent or maybe it was because back in 92 it was an eye opening experience to the world of Competition Waterskiing and his announcing sealed it for me. (Kinda like Howard Cosell on MNF) He was on the beach talking with Nate and I walked up to wish the best of luck to Nate and tell Des it was good to hear him back up in the booth. He brought back memories of the first time I ever went. He laughed and said" Boy, you sure do know how to make an Old Man feel good!. Thank you for that!" I always enjoyed slalom sking as a kid and once the wakeboarding craze hit I bit it. Hung up my HO Ceramic Ski and bought a WB. Did that for several years and even bought my first SN in 2001which was a 88' masters boat solely for wakeboarding (Even has Andy Mapples signature on it). At the 50th masters after watching Andy rip it up out there and then having him autograph my boat, I was in awe again. Dude is older than I am and shreading the course. I put down the wakeboard and picked the slalom back up and never looked back.

I think Dano and Tyler do a great job announcing this tournament. Dano is no Des Burke Kennedy by any means but brings a different style to the microphone for sure. Many don't know it but Dano is also a well accomplished Yo-Yo Man. Always has one in his pocket and won't hesitate to pull it out and entertain those around him with some pretty impressive tricks. ...Jody, Hate that you won't be there as it's always good to catch up with you.

So I just got through listening to both parts of this podcast and all I can saw is wow on many levels. Jacinta... you are truly a class act and role model for women and men of all ages. Thank you for taking the time in giving us all a look into who you are as a person and not just an athlete dominating your sport but where you came from (other than Oz). As an owner of 3 Nautiques, their luster has been forever tarnished for the way you were treated simply because you chased and attained that 200 ft dream, record and goal. Who cares if it was behind a competitors boat? you will ALWAYS be remembered as the first lady who did so!! Shame on them! By you stepping up, coming forward and saying the things that you said, was exactly what many needed to hear. I applaud you, I commend you and I admire you for that. Thank you for the many displays of flight over water here in the US. You were and are always a joy and thrill to watch. I for one am glad I got to see many of your flights in person.

@Wish As far as I know there isn't an additional fee... If you don't/didn't get your tix ahead of time you just pay the $36 as you get to the gate house entrance at Robin Lake. Cheaper if you go ahead and by the 2 day beach pass at $50. In the 20 years I've been going I've never seen the rest of the gardens. Saturday prelims start at 8:00 am and go to about 4:30 pm so you're pretty wiped out from sitting in the sun all day, hanging in the water or on the pavilion out of the sun close to the action if you purchase those passes. My advice to all you ballers is to get there early and claim your spot on the beach waters edge. The place fills up pretty quick and folks on the grassy knoll stack their claim Fri and leave their canopy, chairs and etc there for the next three days. Beach goers don't. Alcohol is permitted on the beach but do yourself a favor and don't bring bottles. Barney is ever present and although I've never seen it. They'd probably tell you no bottles. Bring plenty of Sunscreen and you're floppy hat as that beach gets blazingly hot in the Middle Ga Sun.

I'm there every year and have been for the last 20. Advice to those attending get there early and stake your claim on the beach on on the grassy knoll behind the sand. Bring a cooler full of food and libations and have a good time. Limited food is available for purchase and vender row on the beach has skis, ropes, jackets, etc on site and usually includes a masters discount if you buy it there. Canopy covers aren't allowed on the beach and a few years ago they outlawed beach umbrellas but last year they were all over the place so maybe they eased up and making people take them down. The pros themselves mingle on the beach with fans and many don't realize who they are. IE Whitney qualified for the finals and 10 mins later she was hanging out on the beach with her young son right next to me and just like that she was in full mommy mode and talking with other young new moms about newborn stuff. I don't think those around her knew who she was. It was kinda cool to see. Fireworks and a concert are on the docket around dark so Callaway has stepped up there game to get more folks to the tournament. Not too many places to eat in Pine Mountain and those places are packed with masters fans so be prepared. For you Christians, there is a church service at the Pine Mountain lodge led usually by Kristi Overton Johnson, Shaun Murray, and Emily Copeland Durham on Sunday morning. Then its off to the beach for Stars on the Water parade with all the athletes in the finals. It's a great couple of days. It's usually hot and the water is cool so if you haven't been and are thinking about it; then pull the trigger and go. you won't be disappointed.

Myself and the regulars I ski with on a Public lake always drop if the course is up or not. Only reason we spin on the south end is if the water is cold or if the %$#&ing surfers decide to invade skier cove and start surfing it up instead of waiting their turn.

I've got a Barefootin Ski Bud who used Pro Footer Keith St. Onge to find his lake front home in Winter Haven. Has nothing but positive comments about him on both fronts so there is yet another Pro Athlete/realtor in the mix.

I'd love to keep both boats but I have a wife... Huh???? :p What kinda excuse is that? ;) I have several friends that are multi inboard owners myself included. I too thought the same thing but my ski buds were always telling me.... Dude...You gotta have a spare! I took their advice a little too far and I now have 3. :#

Gotta Go with Michael Phelps. He is in a class all by himself. 28 Olympic Medals in all with 23 of them being Gold. Broke SEVEN World Records in one Olympics alone. To be THAT good in the four disciplines of swimming is a freak of Nature. To be the best in the world that many times over the time he swam is untouchable. In all games involving a ball, ...talent and the gift of the game goes along with Athleticism but to be the GOAT based on Athletics alone...... Phelps.

Used boat market and it's prices are insane right now. I'd been searching for a SN196 TSC I or II for months in the SouthEast and NONE were to be found. when one did pop up I waited a day or two to inquire about it and when I did it was already sold. Thanks to a midwest ski bud who saw a 99 SN 196 posted on SIA at about 8pm EST only 25 miles from me. He texted me to let me know about it with instructions to drag it home. Was up at 2:45am to get ready for work and saw his msg. Looked at the boat and thought looks clean and taken care of...I think about it on the ride into work. That lasted 30 seconds and then immediately messaged the guy and said I was interested. After talking to the guy later that day he told me that I was the first of 3 interested in the boat but because I was1st guy that responded at 2:59am that he would give me first right of refusal. By the time I got to see it that day he said he's had 7 other interests in the boat and 3 were cash in hand site unseen. Needless to say I brought home an early Christmas present. Guy was dumbfounded that the boat sold in less than 24 hours. If you find one be ready to pounce on it right away. High demand and low supply especially as new ski boats are $100k.... Sellers market for sure.

Sorry you had a bad experience with TRBenj in purchasing a used item. I'm friends with the guy and it seems unlike him to do a fellow Nauti owner bad. He's a motorhead, has a Barefooter than he's restrung using composite naterials dropped a big bored motor in it that'll do mid 60's on the water. Back on topic he is the prop Guru when it comes to Nautiques and probably other brands and the first guy I'd call or recommend to someone looking to upgrade their prop. As mentioned above by 75Tique. TRBenj KNOWS props. @6balls ...what year is your nephews Sport Nautique. My guess is that its got a 1:23 Tranny and a ACME 422 might be the prop for that boat BUT I'd search Planet Nautique or CCFan for a definate answer or response.

@6balls... I have a neighbor that might be interested. He has been on the hunt for a 196 for months and has had no luck scoring one. I don't think he is a member here but will let him know. He is a home grown Minnesotian and transplanted to GA a couple years ago to extend his waterski season. I'm sure he'd be interested. Sorry to see you're hanging it up. I'll let you know.

Well ......there's this!

Agreed.... To win the masters 15 times and surpass Andy's overall tournament podium wins by one is Nate's goal in his skiing career as stated by himself when asked in interviews. Then and only then, can you call him The GOAT. I wish him all the luck in his quest to meet and beat Andy's record. I think if anyone can do it then it's Nate. He has many other talented skiers in the way so it's gonna be a tough journey. Amazing feet for sure but Ski Technology and advancement of boat/boat wake technology has definitely added more thrill and excitement to all disciplines.

Politics are in EVERYTHING. People used to escape to TV and sports to get away from all things Conservative or Liberal. Now even Pro Sports and TV shows are dragging political views into the fold. I've cut the cable cord, refuse to watch Pro Sports and even TV as a whole. Thankfully those in the watersports industry have kept politics out of it and the minute they do I'm done with them too. The last thing I wanna do is come on a forum that is all about the sport I love to participate, watch and learn from is to see it get political. There are plenty of other forums to do so just don't bring it here. Thanks Horton for keeping politics out of this forum. You wanna be Liberal...be Liberal...You wanna be Conservative be Conservative... If you're on Lanier I'll be happy to give you a pull regardless of what side of the fence you're on and then we can discuss who is right or wrong on what on this or that over an adult beverage. I obsolutely DETEST Politics in sports and this one should be no different.

I was lucky enough to not only have met Andy but own the 88' SN that pulled him to his 5th masters title. I was asked to bring it back to the masters as a display boat as Nautique wanted a model from each decade as the 200 SN was making it's american tournament debut. I had approached Andy at his booth and asked him if he'd autograph the boat for me and he said " Absolutely, lets do it!" As he climbed in he looked, paused and smiled at me and I responded with " Everything Okay??" ......" Yeah, everything is good. I'm just a bit nervous."...."Nervous???" I asked puzzledly???? " "Yeah, you see, I have never autographed a boat before and I don't wanna mess up!" He was a class act through and through and then we chatted for a few then he said." Beautiful boat man, thanks for bringing it. I gotta go do my thing on the water." Watched him go ski head to head with Bob Lapoint and after seeing the both of them grip it and rip it.....I told myself I need to put down the wakeboard and pick up a slalom ski again. I did and I've never looked back. I never got the chance to thank him for getting me back into slalom skiing. I had several opportunities to do so at masters tournaments following this one but everytime I had seen him he was always chatting with a another fan, or Nate or another skier in the tourney. I'll thank the next time I see him somewhere...then he passed. Thanks Andy for getting me back into a sport I'm passionate about and when I'm behind "The 1st Andy Mapple Signature Edition" SN about to attempt to run though the course...I say "Thanks Andy!'.... Hit it!!!!!!