ktm300

attached.

Agreed @Ed_Johnson. I love the new plus mode. I bitched as much as anyone about ZO. The new plus mode feels AWESOME to me. Previously, ZO always felt like it was one step behind me and it beat me up. Thank you to any and all involved in developing the new plus mode!

To my eyes, @Horton's skiing has greatly improved in the past couple of years. I watched that and thought "that guy should be running 38 every time with that skiing" I suppose switching skis monthly has its drawbacks...

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&category=Slalom&postid=50044

@SkiJay Where does the skis rocker fit into this equation? Most of the discussion seems to focus on getting the correct drift as if the ski is flat. I ask this because, in the past, I have thought of boot location as standing in the right spot to be on the kick point designed into the shape of the ski. I am wondering if having the boots so far forward to accommodate a small fin and get the correct drift in the turns can be reconciled with the need to be standing in a certain spot on the ski white water to white water. Put another way, the ski can be made to turn great with drift, but as the ski flattens out going across does not the rocker cause the back end to be looser if one is standing on the front of the ski. If drift is the sole focus and rocker is nearly irrelevant, then why not have the boots back with a bigger fin? I did read and think I understand your point about the apex (max roll angle) taking the fin out of the equation to some degree so that the boots become the smear regulating force there. It is white water to white water that I am having a hard time understanding the concepts. If you asked me what will happen if I move my boots 1/2 foward, I would say prepare to go OTF or at least land on your front foot after the second wake and ski straight at the next buoy. I hope my questions are somewhat intelligible. As you know, I'm not great at expressing ideas about physical things. Thanks Jay

Huge congrats to Caldwell! I interpret his last comment above to mean: I'm going to fix those buckles, rest up my grip and go take down the 55k record

In my mind, I have linked Parrish with Scot Ellis. They are both and each my favorite skiers. It is so easy to wring the joy out of something that you once loved when you get "serious" about it. They have both, for decades, been at the pinnacle of competitive skiing and still maintained the joy. Why come back hard after serious injuries? Cause this sh*t is fun. When you see these guys smiling, they mean it.

Nothing rocked my confidence more than a pre-realease I had. Concussion, the works.... That was several years ago, and after concluding that it must have been user error in that I didn't fully engage the silvretta (I think), to this day I triple check that thing. I skied scared for quite awhile after that one. Felt like something I didn't deserve...

"Natural hip and knee bender" is a term known to most any pro sports trainer. A natural knee bender like Mapple or JB or Twhisper ain't going to benefit from trying to ski straight legged. Can draw a straight line from head thru hips thru feet: that is stacked. It is also very dynamic. Though it may be true that non 38off natural knee benders haven't perfected their stack, I disagree that they should abandon their natural athletic stance. Maybe they just need to move everything forward an inch or two. What is holding back the straight legged non 38 off skiers? Lack of dynamic balance?

This Radar bag worked out great for me. Not padded. Simple. Can put ski in neoprene sock if you need a belt and suspenders. Only $50.

@Drago I understand that if I am beside the boat, it isn't pulling on me but, if I understand correctly, Caldwell is advocating for allowing the boat to move ahead a bit before the skier moves inbound...start with the line tight. Not going the same speed as the boat but, slightly less. So, when the skier creates some drag, the ZO responds. So that there is some energy earlier. This v. going slightly faster than the boat at turn in..."free of the boat". One smart theory that someone shared with me was to ski "A" settings so that ZO comes on later and is still building rpms as the skier connects to the handle out of the turn...swing. Same person did not like "C" because "C" releases the skier off the second wake and the boat is not gaining rpm at hookup but rather "waiting" for the skier. I really do not know and am seeking learned opinions. I skied C1 from the first year ZO came out till now and liked it. This is the first year ever where it just did not feel right to me anymore so, I am trying to better understand it. Hmm...

@adamhcaldwell Given your last post above, why would the skier not want the energy from the boat as soon as possible or at the widest point? i.e. "C" setting on ZO? Thanks

You have really good athletic ability. In seeking advice, be careful. Even amongst prof. coaches there are many diff. opinions on how to do things. Most particularly the gate. You will chase your tail forever if you do not pick some things that seem, from your athletic perspective, to work for you. If you have a chance to get some prof coaching in person or video, see if you can get them to help you devise and craft YOUR plan for the gates. After you do that, stick with it and perfect and make it feel natural, unrushed and confident. Thereafter, people will continually try to change it; ignore them. This is not to say that you should become close minded but, recognize early on that this is a very individual sport. One example: Very successful skier A coaches everyone to pull out and turn in one boat length before the greens/gate. Very successful skier B advocates going down the lake before turning in until you start to panic and then go some more. Set up a zero buoy and don't turn in until past that. You cannot reconcile these approaches; you have to choose something. I could go on.... straight legs/bent legs etc. Watch Terry Winter, Robert Pigozzi and Jeff Rodgers on youtube. Read all the posts about skiing with your legs straight and compare that to the Winter video. Try to ski one pass with your legs as straight as Rodgers. You get the point.

Thanks @Stevie Boy. That answers the question for sure.

@scotchipman Ha. I'll have to read that when I'm "fresh". I opened it and my eyes glazed..

Somewhat related: I watched a lot of the last Big Dawg Final. I think we can take many of the "you have to do _____" statements and flush em. Wow is this an individual sport. So much variation. For example, I have liked the one handed gate from the first time I tried it. Had coaches strongly advise me to use two hands so, in deference, I skied a two handed gate. Just went back to my one hander this year; where have ye been old friend.

If that is right @scotchipman, you have 22 extra feet into one ball than into any other buoy. The flow point overhead looks like the crossing is more up course than the half way point between guides after one ball; by quite a bit to my eyes. However, to your point, I personally feel like there is more space into one and I don't think it is helping me. Had a very good skier tell me that before my turn in, I should go down course till I start to panic and then go so more. Left hand gate ball. Been coached the opposite too. About 89' from gate to one ball boat guides. I'm trying to choose my own gate instead of emulating somebody else's.

Thanks @Andre. Was planning to watch it; just did. Question answered. Just trying to think some about my gates and starting the rhythm into the course. Is the center line at the gates close to the distance of the center line for the crossings as we move down course. From that video, yep, looks like it.

Understanding that each line length may yield a different crossing point, where does the skier cross the center line relative to the 135' between boat guides. For example, how many feet down course of the one ball boat guides does the skier cross the center line headed to two ball? Maybe assume that the skier is at 35off. Is it more or less than 89' ?

Death to the categorical imperatives...

67" c-65 with CG fin and S wing. RFF Only 10 sets on ski. Like new. Only $1199. https://bit.ly/2Li24np

Well, @horton just moved up to no. 1 Clearly, it can be done...just not by me...yet. Horton should stay on that Denali till he runs 39.

Since I am in a long running slump, I've been experimenting with things trying to find a way out. I just don't see any 55k skiers change edges at centerline. Just watched Regina's WR video. Not centerline. While it does make sense that IF you had enough speed, one could do this, I sure as hell cannot figure out how to get that speed before the CL. Ain't from lack of trying and studying. I have ridden in the boat watching a lot of kids ski at 55k and I do see them accelerate off the ball such that they could, and some do, have a much earlier edge change. The heaviest one is 115lb and down from there. The lighter the better it seems. Please show me video of someone who weighs 185 lbs at 55k changing edges at the CL so I can try to understand what the ____ they are doing :)

Truly a special athlete.

Share. I know I'm merely being a master of the obvious but, you can't ski by yourself. Years ago I was in a club where nearly every member had their own boat under one of those tent type carports. Could only run one at a time on the lake. I think the boats are good values. A family could literally run an inboard for 20 years if they maintained it. The fun to $ ratio is pretty good imo. @Ilivetoski get a ski buddy to go in on that $21.5 Carbon Pro. If properly maintained, 1500 hours ain't nothing.