HO 410

I'll drop some old Scouts and rock climbing knowledge: hopefully it makes sense. The method you described will tie a square knot. Like a bowline, it is not self tightening. If you pass the handle through loop at the end of the handle, you will tie a lark's head (I seem to remember it also being called a round hitch). It is a self tightening and not desirable in this application. If you would like some pictures, I'll see what I can work out.

Yep, you got it.

I though I saw that hook north of the mainline loop. Apparently I didn't look very closely. It makes sense, but it seems a little redundant unless the handle is tied backward.

I've seen that hook before but have no clue what it's for. I know the first few times I switched out handles I inadvertently tied them handle through rope, rope through handle. They were all hard to remove, and one of them took some hammering. As long as I've remembered to go rope through handle, handle through rope it has been easy to remove.

What's up with the mailbox in the driver seat?

Definitely not a weird question. Ideal storage is a cool place out of direct sunlight. It's not about the ski being made out of carbon fiber, it's about the heat breaking down the resin. That would be an issue with any ski, it's just that the pain of loosing an RS-1 would be more acute than loosing an old CDX. I always used to keep a pair of climbing shoes in my car and the summer heat in my car/oven melted the glue and the soles pealed about 3/4 of the way off the last.

Skibug: I know Centurion used to put the adhesive graphics on before shooting the gelcoat: I haven't seen one in years, I don't know if they still do. While I prefer the relief that some of the graphics give, I'll take flat, two dimensions any day if that means I never have to explain why a once proud boat has become a Nastercraft or a MalibI

The Strada/RS-1 does not make its support through pressure. If you get into them for the first time expecting to feel the security of tight buckles or a snug overlay, you are going to be weirded out a bit. They are a very different option than most any other boot available. From the ankle-bone down, the shell is pretty snug: there is a lace over the toe box to put a little extra pressure on the forefoot. For me, pulling the upper cuff tighter does not make the boot feel or perform better, it make the boot feel claustrophobic. Because the release is a cuff, I liken it to a gate, that is elastic, you can work your heel up and down while sitting in the water, but your cannot wiggle your foot site to side. It is miles away from being sloppy. The Radar and FM execution is very different, and if you prefer the feel of the E-series then it is doubtful that you would like the Radars at all.

I'll echo Roger. The RS-1 is pretty simple, but it works very well when it is allowed to. My experience has been very positive. For me, the liner and shell fit very tight, so tight laces don't really change how the boot skis (at least that is what I feel). What is very good is that you can very easily test how hard it is to come out on dry land. There is also a style of FM and two Obrien models that use a similar style release. I think it is one of the better options that is currently available.

They've got me working on a mac today, I can't embed anything. I'll correct this as soon as I can get onto a Windows machine again. I am definitely thinking of the first year of the Monza. Most skis were black, but there were a few short runs that had a blue or red tint in the clear coat layers over the carbon top-sheet. SImilar to this ski posted at ski-it-again: http://www.ski-it-again.com/photos/sia09155img0.jpg

2005 Monza with the red clear coat. If I can track down a picture that shows the depth of that finish, I'll get it posted. It's so simple, just like the Elite, with that Syndicate logo near the front boot. No paint, just translucent coloring over the carbon layers. With enough light, it just pops.

There has been some discussion that putting an orthotic in the liner will stiffen the sole enough that it would become too hard for the heel to lift and out in a fall. One of the aspects that is great about the RS-1 style of boot is that changes to the release parameters are easily tested. If the liner is stiffened too much for your taste, I'm sure some generic velcro or hot glue would be enough to hold the orthotic in the shell.

This morning was just a glance and go. +/- $120 for a vest is already a bit rich for my blood. However, $30 for customizing the cut and layering of the neoprene sounds like a screaming deal to me. $50 for customized rubber and graphics, on a vest that is already darn near custom? If you will already go $120, that really sounds like a pretty reasonable deal. However $75 for one of those H20s closeouts might tempt me enough when I get the itch to spend some money.

www.eaglewetsuits.com

 

Depending on what you want, customizing the vest is going to run between $25 and $50 over the base cost of the vest.

I have not had a chance to get into an Eagle vest yet, but I have tried a Gooru (someone that has been in both can help connect the dots). The Gooru definitely floats low, but it is not very different from any other competition vest. You need to pay a little bit of attention to your breathing cadence. If you exhale deeply on the downward bob, you are pumping your legs on the swing and you will probably put your mouth and nose underwater.

We are missing the number one rule of being a water skier.

Thou shalt look good whilst on the water.

 

I think I have to trust the mob rule on this one. If there was a significant advantage to wearing neoprene shorts or a speedo, you would see almost no skiers wearing a normal swimsuit. Under that assumption, I would expect the biggest way boardshorts effect skiing is if you are aware of how they fit or how they move during a pass. If your shorts distract you, find something different.

The short answer is no, I'm not drastically changing my hobbies (especially old hobbies) for the girlfriend. I've seen/experienced this issue go three basic directions, not always over skiing, but similar circumstances.

1. You are spending time at the lake, specifically to avoid the wife/girlfriend. This has proved to be the most difficult situation to solve.

2. You are spending time at the lake and she feels left out. It does not need to be the case that she's interested in participating, she just wants to be there. This is pretty simple, take the ski out of the passenger seat and bring her along.

3. She resents every moment you spend away from her and everything you do that she does not like. Major indentity issues. Hangups like that are best left for someone that is equally neurotic. 

 

hmm, I though they would have a more eclectic collection of wetsuit products.

Looks like shopping.google.com has a few options other than what's at Bart's.

Check a local dive shop or maybe an online store like leisurepro

Well look at that.

 

http://hosports.com/product/306584/31054/_/EXO_Pro_Front_Cuff

I was really surprised to find out that HO is building their own release. Don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it definitely shows that HO wasn't messing around with the Exo. Like all, I'll be very interested in taking a close look. But personally, I'll need to see something just shy of magic to get off RS-1's.

Or possibly a boat-trader listing. If the price lines up with what it really is and not what the seller says it is, I wouldn't run out to reform the angry mob. I've seen this all the time with ski boots and slalom ski where a 2004 can be listed as a 2008. I know that it's pretty rare to see the correct HO Monza advertised with the correct year. Advertising a 2002 boat as a 2009 is pretty shady though.

That sounds like a question for the Athletic Department of the school you want to try to ski for.

 

Generally, you have to be enrolled at the school you are going to compete for. There could possibly

be some kind of workaround where you take a 1 hour course so that you are technically a student, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Odd are is that you have to be a full time student.

Sorry about the hijack.

It is very good to hear that the healing is progressing.

When I was a new driver, I was able to preview the curriculum through the high school, but attended a private program. While the private program does cost more money than the school program, the accompanying reduction in insurance premiums was well worth the cost of the program. There was also much more behind the wheel time, without trying to perform for Mom or Dad.

 

 

The scared safe approach does have some merit, but there is one thing that drivers ed missed. Driving is inherently complex and requires a high degree of attention and focus to do it safely and conscientiously. I couldn't quite put words to this until the last year or two when I had the distinct pleasure of being the inbetween-ager, at the ski club that got coerced to do a little "how does my teen drive when I'm not in the car" spying. It is not so much that there are a lot of bad drivers out there. It is that there are a lot of drivers that are on autopilot, or are distracted by tech, that do not have a very clear picture of what is happening around their car.

 

My one tip was, always expand your awareness of what is around you and drive accordingly. The point I proved was that it actually slows you down to race the lights, there is no reason to be in a hurry. The kid was by no means reckless, but with those two point I saw a pretty significant change in his approach behind the wheel.