Gloersen

Finnegan Tip Horton, aka "Carbon"; preferably a CC of your better half! Congrats!

like @Purdueskier said, just use wind adjust, 50+/- ~ 0.5mph+/-

F/GR - A skier should be graduated from class F/GR once their score potential exceeds the Level 5 cut-off average; à la rule 3.06 C - any level skier. "C"s are substantially easier to organize here. I tend to prefer "C"s as 3-rounders are more common, it's a better use of the entire day spent; 3 shots to put up a score that may improve ranking. Despite those that may argue driver and judging deficiencies and possibly inflated scores; such is likely site dependent. Many clubs take pride in offering a premium venue. We've been fortunate here to have some very high-level skiers at our "C"s and some very impressive scores; our drivers & judges are found at “R”s, the course well-maintained and always surveyed in tight tolerance. International rankings/Open ratings/Records have no bearing on most skiers, albeit "R"s in central FL are great to attend once or twice per year to watch the pros and get some pearls of wisdom from top level skiers.

F/GR - A skier should be graduated from class F/GR once their score potential exceeds the Level 5 cut-off average; à la rule 3.06 C - any level skier. "C"s are substantially easier to organize here. I tend to prefer "C"s as 3-rounders are more common, it's a better use of the entire day spent; 3 shots to put up a score that may improve ranking. Despite those that may argue driver and judging deficiencies and possibly inflated scores; such is likely site dependent. Many clubs take pride in offering a premium venue. We've been fortunate here to have some very high-level skiers at our "C"s and some very impressive scores; our drivers & judges are found at “R”s, the course well-maintained and always surveyed in tight tolerance. International rankings/Open ratings/Records have no bearing on most skiers, albeit "R"s in central FL are great to attend once or twice per year to watch the pros and get some pearls of wisdom from top level skiers.

IMO with practice this format X will lead to improved TB scores. The ability to transition to 1B without having to let up or feel rushed could have a significant advantageous impact. Overall it’s an interesting concept and although I personally like it doubt it will move forward in this form beyond X status. But who knows? Insofar as running an "X" round at our tournaments at Victory, they are always 3-rounders and we don’t have enough time to run a 4th round "X" with 30+ skiers. Most of the skiers, especially the kids, are eager to take advantage of every round to have a shot at improving their ranking scores and would probably not like 1 of 3 rounds being format X. @jdarwin - If however the option for a skier existed to announce to the Chief Judge/Scorer in advance that they would prefer to run a particular round as “X”, I suspect we would have some do so to add to the data pool.

@waternut - no the foam pad does not interfere with the release if properly fitted and yes it prevents shin gouging; 1.) from personal experience. 2.) otherwise I would not have recommended so.

as @Shane indicated - it's the block on the boot digging into your shin. Find some high density foam about 1/4" thick (something similar to what lines a caliper box), cut it to size to fit over the back of the block and thoroughly epoxy there. Size and place properly so not to interfere with the Silvretta release. It will lessen the shin dings dramatically.

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Neil Pryde Impact vests use mesh dispersion. They do work (help diminish the impact) but the mesh will rub upon the inner/upper arms causing chaffing, unless you have handle control technique like D. Miller. e.g., Neil Pryde Impact Vest

@MS - He likely engineered & constructed that snow fort; perennial classic.

Ordered online 12.2.13 Slalom Pro V OCS Radius 1 Color: yellow Slalom Handle Width: Handle Width 12" Diameter: 1.000" Standard Dia. Add Carbon Ski Protector: Black Protector Received 12.24.13 fwiw; no complaints here.

Yes – well known training technique here at Victory. Patch the outside eye (i.e., leading eye – eye furthest from the boat, not trailing eye) rotate patch with free hand at each reach to contralateral eye at each buoy to keep leading eye blind. It helps to exhale each time with a rebel yell embellished with Arrrr!!!

Holy Mackerel!

Concur, there seems to be a continuing trend towards RTP use. Perhaps due to ski design evolving towards (as well as speed control systems) favoring greater balance upon the front foot; stomp and go skiing at each buoy passe. Tried it, but not patient enough to tolerate the learning curve. A compromise that can be used; modifying a Wiley by taking out the cross behind the Achilles of the wraps and attach them parallel to the heel. It allows very easy release and more heel freedom.

try Tim White inboardsolutions at gmail dot com

@mwetskier - fascinating...looks like the Reflex "Flow" Flow

Had a similar conversation with Brian at our October tournament - I’d placed BB’s in at Victory this summer. Our experienced skiers all appreciated the compressible aspect of the dome; some noting how they could be run over with the ski, yet stay in the pass. Others noted getting launched upon striking. IMO it depends on how the ski strikes them. Skiing an easy 13m pass, got cocky at 6BB ended up carving back in hard and early striking with the front of the ski just ahead of the FB. It was on a high edged carve, felt like hitting a brick, blew out the front Achilles. 8 days later, in a post-op splint, driving for my cohort, at 12m he had a huge 2BB, struck the BB on the inside , exploded out of his bindings, blew out his rear Achilles. Sure that’s anecdotal evidence but when the stitches came out, I replaced the BB’s and put back the Turnsofts; they are without doubt safer on our weighted buoy system here at Victory. When the BB’s were in place, we found their maintenance easy (no fowl issues) and floated them with the top of the cylinder about 1” below the waterline. However, the column of water held by the submerged cylindrical portion of the BB’s gives them much too much inertia so if struck below the water line from the inside (a lateral impact), that impact can be detrimental.

good observation @ShaneH. Also have considered that the aluminum heel block on older black cuff shell has less "friction" for release compared to the nylon heel block.

Yes! Resulted in my left Achilles rupture when I made the switch, kept the numerical setting the same but did not dry-land test. I suggest no longer than the middle hole on the brake strap, be consistent with the upper buckle setting, reasonably snug, and most importantly dry land test the Silvretta release point just like AM demos on his Youtube video. The numerical setting on my device is about a "1", the brackets are positioned appropriately, it never pre-releases and has released quite nicely about 5 times over the last 420 buoys this month with some tip stuffs out of the offside and 1 or 2 otf's. Anytime you try a different liner (thinner/thicker), dry land test the release a few times first as well. Good luck.

these are Goode (Intuition Liners) with the Reflex shell

1999 - daughter #2 1st deepwater slalom start, unaware of the 6' gator lurking 20' behind her while tightening the line...whew!

@bishop8950 - thanks for the edification.

finals link:

@bishop8950- does the 30/45/60 designation refer to amount of added tail rocker in 100th"s, i.e., RB45 = + .045"?

Yes Asher scored 0 gates @10.25m Very unfortunate CP did not make finals. What's the water temp there?