Deke

Though I snow ski, ice hockey is my favorite.

@Horton, Trigger points in the neck and upper back (often the scalenes) refer pain and cause some dysfunction in the elbows and forearms and hands. And, it just so happens that skiing can put a hurt on those same neck muscles. In the case of the scalenes, you won't really feel it until you put pressure on the trigger points and I guaranty you'll feel identical pain referred to the same places as you're having "tendonitis". Try finding a massage therapist that specializes in trigger point therapy or myofascial release, or someone who does structural integration.

This has me thinking that ski school might be a good time to demo skis.

@Horton, my crushed SportTube story is identical to yours, except for the happy ending. And actually, come to think of it, it was SkyWest under contract for United. Same hostile treatment and unhelpful behavior as well as I was given an ultimatum, if I didn't except her meager terms I would not be compensated at all. A very dark ending to a fantastic ski vacation! BTW, those SportTubes seem to be impossible to damage without being run over by a large truck. I don't think I could TRY to crush one and succeed.

@apodawil email me for the particulars of our club at McPhee. Want to be president???

@scotchipman that is an awesome setup. After trying dry tops with neo shorts I have often thought a shortie hybrid would be great for our climate. Neoprene is fine but after the first setup it is too cold for me.

Information on driving is real important. Here's three links. Hopefully they still work. http://www.proskicoach.com/waterski-instruction/boat-driving/driving-the-sweet-set/ http://www.proskicoach.com/waterski-instruction/boat-driving/slalom-driving-tips http://www.proskicoach.com/waterski-instruction/boat-driving/comprehensive-slalom-boat-driving In addition, info on driving public water would be helpful. Such as boat paths, cooperating with another boat in limited water, and how to approach and move around a course with the least amount of impact. Even how to not trash the entire lake when free skiing.

I think just less than 3000 rpm should do it.

I've been to Seth Stisher's. Not only is Seth a great coach, but the Charleston area is a great place to vacation.

The Response LX oil spec is for 15w40. Amsoil makes a marine grade 15w40.

@jhughs now your talkin'! You need to post this on your site.

@sunvalleylaw I'm about the same as you, water temp cold too. I don't use a wing and love it. Seems the issue at -15 and lower speeds is keeping enough speed in the turn to get a decent angle. So why would you want more drag? Toss it. Free your ski. Free your mind!

@Marco FWIW the oscillation from the short turnaround on Z-Box sounds the same as for regular Stargazer. As you know, our course has a long, straight in setup (depending on water level) so this is not normally a problem unless we spin. Even still, there is enough distance to even things out. However, with low water and a short setup our problems are the same as yours. At one point Perfect Pass thought they might change something to keep the control RPM based while in the turnaround by way of the accelerometer, then go back to GPS on a delay once out of the turn. I guess this didn't work.

Are these the 5" x 11" or 7" x 14" Spongex's?

Does anyone use this type of buoy on a semi-permanent floating course? Would the Spongex buoys need to be weighted in order to sit deep enough? My situation is the same as @Tuney but the course is floating.

@ThanBogan the thing that first comes to my mind about easing off the throttle is more slack and a greater chance to get tangled. As far as the release mechanism goes, maybe something with two phases that operate independently of each other. A breakaway device with a soft release out wide and a hard or no release right behind the boat? Sounds complicated.

Kinda surprised nobody jumped in here... It makes me realize why the WCS DVD didn't work for me. I obviously had it wrong.

If I don't get all three on the last day it is no big deal. But, if I don't take three sets the first two days, there is no way I can get the missed sets back.

@Than_Bogan I understand what you're saying here. How do you think it should apply at longer line? In other words, what should you do to get some of this swing, short of skiing a width or arc that is way beyond the course?

It gives you something to do when you're not skiing.

Re-powering would also give you the option of upgrading to Zero-Off?

Time on the water, not years, is a key factor. Looking at @OB 's progress in '98 and '99 where he went from 15/32 to 22/34 and then 22/34 to 28/36 is enlightening. There's the old saying that it takes 5000-10000 repetitions to master a technique and it seems to hold true here as well. I figure that skiing 5 days a week for 8 months amounts to about 3060 passes, or 18360 turns. In each of those years he progressed 2 steps, 1 speed increase and 1 line length. So it would look like it took 9180 turns to progress each step. Those old Zen Masters were on to something. At the rate that I ski, it would take me 3.5 years to progress a single step, which in my case are 2 mph speed increases at 15 off. I think I'm right on track. Oh sh1t, that means I've got another 8 years to go to reach 28 off.

My Sport Tube got damaged a few years ago and was probably run over or dropped out of the plane. Had a bent fin. Airline would not pay damage for the ski or the Sport Tube. See pic. http://static.cl1.vanilladev.com/ballofspray.vanillaforums.com/uploads/FileUpload/3f/c190f2c66f1b857e8c1315dbeec414.jpg

Has anyone heard any recent news regarding AM Skis? Just curious since I saw them mentioned in the GTF interview this month.

We'll probably pull our course next week, ironically, if the weather is good enough. Just not enough interest from other members and no one is there to maintain it. So I guess off season starts then even though the water is still around 60. There is kind of a lull in the fall and then, like Marco, I snow ski from late November through April but ice hockey is my favorite winter sport. What a workout!