boarditup

I think we, the USAWS and AWSA, need to take a hard look at the procedures and qualifications for officials in context of current culture - both waterskier and American, overall. The goals of what the tournaments are for and what the officials part of the events need to be examined, as well. There is a lot of good history out there - and it should not be thrown out. Other parts are irrelevant in today's culture and with today's technology. For example, the number of dedicated 3-event boats was small in the 70's and 80's, they are much more available now - and so are drivers that know how to pilot them through a course in a basic, safe manner. First Aid/CPR classes and qualifications were rare 30-years ago, and much more prevalent today. So much of the rules are based on one-off or rare incidents. That makes bad rules. Other rules are for the very upper level performers that very few skiers will ever achieve. Cheaters will always get discovered. Unsafe actions can be quashed immediately. Lets restructure the way we get things done for the future. Tournament and events should be safe fun. period.

Dave, I agree. As a former USCG member, I've had hours of training that eclipse what USAWS calls for. I just completed the clinic for this year, and the dated material is at least 20-years behind what is now taught by any of the major organizations (Red Cross, NSC, AHA, etc.). The in-the-water skills with a backboard is useful and should be encouraged. The rest of the training could be handled on-line easily. If you are seeking to be a Safety Coordinator, you are likely already a participant in a few events and know what the expectations are.

No AWSA or USA Waterski bashing, please. Let's have a constructive discussion on what should be the updates or changes to the rules regarding officials for events under USA Waterski or AWSA. Here are mine to start: 1. There is no reason why Safety Coordinators should need 3-events signed off to be able to function independently. 2. Scorers main skill is mastering the scoring program. Reduce the number of tournaments required. 3. Have reduced officials events still count for Regionals and Nationals qualifications. 4. Let F level events serve to qualify drivers for C level events. Experience driving is what matters - not wiping down the boat. My goal is to get as many people involved in hosting events and tournaments as quickly as possible. While there will be mistakes made, the benefit greatly outweighs the downside in terms of sport growth.

In case you did not know, Eddie Roberts, on the board here is the chief designer for Radar and a great guy to work with. Buying remotely and selling to a remote customer, as I am also a dealer, but not for Radar, is always difficult and one bad shipment wipes out all your profit margin and ends up costing the dealer money. Be patient - both are for-profit businesses.

I don't think fragmenting the organization will produce positive results. For example, I ski in 3-event tournaments, show ski, and wakeboard. There are quite a few people like me that cross over many boundaries. I do agree that we need to take a hard look at how we are organized and the rules that apply to our sport. Much of what we have in place is based on a historical tightening based on bad experiences (cheating, injuries, death, etc.) that are not a normal event or risk that we face. Many times it would not matter what rule was in place - there was a tragic mistake or a deliberate act that would have occurred regardless of the regulations. We now are stifled by the burden of excess labor requirements and a qualification process that exceeds the time to earn an on-line MBA degree. As a safety professional, I struggle with this daily. It is very easy to create a new rule or regulation to "criminalize" what bad event just happened. It is a lot harder to provide the leadership and training necessary to bolster the individuals and the entire culture. There are no quick fixes. Everything will be a process that requires judgement.

I called - participants, audience, and sponsors were the first three questions out of their mouths. If they cannot sell ads to the current sponsors to make money, they won't put their money into it.

Slalom boat manufacturers live and die by reputation and resale values. If they put out junk - the next several years will not sell - regardless of the price. If they sell a model with a significantly reduced price tag, the used models then become less valuable - ticking off the current owners and eliminating a significant portion of their market. So, they have to keep prices at or above the previous year's levels. If they don't, they have just shot themselves in the foot. There is a large hidden cost in a boat - the cost of air permit compliance. You pay for it when the styrene is made. You pay for it when the hull and deck are laid-up. The cost of regulatory compliance is ever increasing - and the cost of the resin is rising higher than inflation. I assume, but do not know, that gel coat, vinyl, and other products that use VOC's and especially benzene are more expensive every year. Let's not forget about the cost of compliance with the new air regulations on motors - every new motor is paying for that R&D and testing. It is just expensive to stay in business today. If there were a significant, long-term market play for an older, smaller, lighter boat with a current motor and ZO, it would be on the showroom floor in a year. For the future, we are looking at boats that are family-friendly and wife-approved - comfortable and stylish. I believe that is a good thing for the long-term market in both new and used boats.

Lots nearby in West Michigan. I'd have to ask the farmer a couple of miles away if he would open his operation to you. My town has the factory that supplies Domino's Pizzia with cheese.

I have 2,150 long, no islands, and that is perfect. Course record is 5@41 off. Lots of PBs from more mortal skiers, as well. Depth is 12' for slalom lakes. You still will get weeds in the shallow slopes, but the depth really helps both weeds and the skiers. No tail blow-outs.

At my site, there are two rounds for the INT - maybe Wide Ride as well. Also, Friday is a fun day for practice, so you can come out and ski really cheap. But then we have a multi-lake setup.

Mechanically what happens is the foam core separates from the exterior layers. The flex numbers drop dramatically. It is usually a very gradual process, and may not be felt as you adapt to it. Only when you get on a stiffer ski do you really notice it. If the ski has any water infiltration, or is heated in the sun, you may experience a sudden loss or even a breakage. Personally, I've had one ski go bad after it was left in the sun for a week.

Live on private water ski lake Live on private all-sports lake Live on public water Access to private water ski lake Access to private all-sports lake Access to public water Sponge off anyone who will tolerate me

From the grow the sport discussion - What is the waterskiing lifestyle? I am on a tournament lake system (www.placidwaters.com, shameless plug), but have a MasterCraft X-2 wakeboard boat. I have to borrow a ski boat to ski the course. My kids prefer to surf. They load up the boat with a bunch of friends, crank the tunes, and blow through a tank of gas surfing and laughing. I spend a lot of time surfing with them - it is a lot of fun, and I physically will be able to do it well into advanced age. I prefer to slalom, but family and my limited time with my teenagers comes first. Your story?

I don't know if the Global is done or not. I was the site of the first two Global's (www.placidwaters.com). It takes a lot to put on one of these events and we don't generate that much of an audience. I cannot say for certain, but I don't think the economic impact of the 2011 Global met expectations, due to the demographics of the crowd. We do need more people to expand the sport - so many are dropping out due to a number of reasons; age being foremost and lifestyle changes being secondary. It is hard to maintain the skiing lifestyle - and few want to commit to it and buy a place on a private lake designed for skiing, buy a 3-event boat, train the requisite amount of time, and match your family's social circle with the sport. It is expensive and has costs beyond cash. Then throw in the elite nature of the sport, the arcane rules, the labor heavy judging requirements, and the hazing rituals, and it is hard to get new people passionate while overcoming the structural issues. That does not mean all is lost - there are some real bright spots in our sport- the INT, EZ-Slalom, Nate Smith, Freddy Kreuger, wide slalom skis, wakeboarding, etc. Some are great stories, some are accessibility, some are just fun. In the end, we have to present a compelling activity that is fun for the entire family, social group, and community. We are not after spectators who buy tickets, we are after participants who bring along others. I believe that is the only way to grow our sport. If we don't grow, we will die out.

Global is the way to go. They are the only company that insures for competition use on a personal policy.

You are fine on run-out. About 20% of the time reconditioned props vibrate. Even though they may spec out, the differences in metal tension make on blade vibrate differently than the others - just enough harmonic that everything vibrates. .001 will change as the temperature changes. Don't sweat it. Let me know what Acme you need. I may have it on the shelf.

Faster....too slow to step off!

I thought it was coming up short and leaving the buoy wet - a ball of spray - rather than the center point of the turn. My bad - both ways..... What the site means is a great source of community and information. Great group of skiers out here.

Perfectly stacked body position at the finish of of the turn....

Hmmm....American Skier, Dyne, MB, Calibria, Gekko, Standard - none could make it in the tow boat market. Some had great features, skied well, etc. Very few are looking for a 20-year boat, the buyers want resale value. Families want cushions, quiet drive trains, and the ability to cruise. Skiers want something they are familiar with at another site or at a tournament. I don't think the annual volume of a private lake specific boat would be more than 10-20 units. Personally, I would stick with MasterCrafts even at half-price.

Horton has a great "basic relaxed position" instructional somewhere on this site. I don't recommend that a person look at the adaptions of a great athlete at the very edge of the performance envelope for a general guide on how to ski. Those athlete will come up with tweaks that work for them in a particular situation that will not apply to other athletes and other situations. Jodi Fischer makes a great point on this during his coaching sessions - master the fundamentals and ingrain them before moving on to advanced technique at the very short line lengths. Most of that technique is the result of experience and sheer athleticism.

The difference is the quality of the neoprene (there are several grades), quality of the fabric covering, if any, the cut of the suit, the quality of the thread, and the type of stitching. For keeping warm, the suit must fit skin-tight and still allow for full range of motion. Look for "Super Stretch" neoprene and flat-lock stitching for most waterski uses. Then, go for best fit. For best warmth, you don't want a fabric covering on the chest. The fabric retains water that evaporates and cools at high speeds. Treat with 303 a few times a year and hang up on a thick, bulky hangar to dry. Woolite to clean.

Scaffolding. Build one more section high. Add tent bows and tent material to top for shade and liquid sunshine. Ladder is built-in, plank the entire floor, add another plank in front for a table, folding chairs and you are done. Lots of used stuff floating around with the economy tanked. Much less expensive than fabrication. Easy to set up and take down - minutes.

Scaffolding. Build one more section high. Add tent bows and tent material to top for shade and liquid sunshine. Ladder is built-in, plank the entire floor, add another plank in front for a table, folding chairs and you are done. Lots of used stuff floating around with the economy tanked. Much less expensive than fabrication. Easy to set up and take down - minutes.

I had a PT student who worked out with me for a while, he gave me a few exercises for the back and core, along with my normal routine, that has almost eliminated back issues. The key was building up balanced core strength and back erector muscles. It does not take long, about 30-45 minutes 4-5 days per week. Essentially, stay in good, overall physical condition, eat right and keep lean, and consult an expert once or twice a year for an evaluation.