Cam

I tried an RTP at the end of this season after 10 years riding a rear boot of some description, I wouldn't say it was a disaster but I had to drop back to 32mph to run a pass, I think if my skiing was more technically sound the transition would have been easier.

I am 180lbs and just got the 67.5" and it feels fine. My last 2 skis were a 67.5" A1 and a 68" Monza and I have ran 28 off at 34mph on both of them, I always seem to be at the top end of skis weight wise so have always opted for the bigger ski.

My wife started off on a 67" HO Triumph but everyone thought it was too big for her, I got her a 64" Fischer 01 blue and she loved it but I felt it was too small for her so found a 66" Fischer for her and she looked much better on the larger ski and ended up running the course on it within 2 months of getting it so I would say size makes a big difference.

Have never ran 32 off, got close a couple of years ago with a best of 5 buoys a few times, but now if I run 28 off I will usually only get 1 at 32. Back to basics next year, but I say that every year.

@estrom it has been tried, see the post below http://ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/3992/fin-settings-for-a-beginner

I have used 9 and 7 and no wing this year, I have run 28 off with 9 and 7 but never without a wing.

http://www.waterskiscotland.co.uk/ipcam/ipcam.jpg Planning to ski here today shame it is 26 degrees F, we are not soft in Scotland.

@stuartmwood thanks but you John A and Greg P were a few of the guys that told me you couldn't beat the buzz of 36mph, but then again there must be a reason why guys 26 years my junior opt to sky at 34, should really try to act my age.

Point taken, just bought an S2 so will probably stick at 34mph and work at getting into shorter line lengths.

Done, would love to ski there again.

I am just thinking about trying 36 to see the difference, my standard of skiing would probably not see me getting much farther than 22 off and I would probably be happy wth a couple of buoys at 28 off. If I do it I will most likely go into rec mode and raise the speed slowly from 34 to 36 rather than jumping straight into 36.

I got into skiing late and didn’t run my first pass of the slalom course until I was 34 years old and started shortening the line at 34 mph when I was in my 40s and managing a tournament best of 2 @ 32 off when in my 50s Now in my early 60s I have been toying with the idea of taking a couple of years out of tournaments to try skiing at 36mph and see what the difference is. Looking for advice from all you guys who have skied at 36 and dropped to 34 to see if it is a good idea or not, I do know a few people who say it is just not the same buzz skiing at 34 compared to 36. This might just end up one of my misguided whims. Cam

I know the feeling Ed, I am looking forward to retiring, only 4 years 2 months to go but for now I am going to work for 2 weeks and hope to come back fitter and stronger for the end of the season. Bad news about work is I can't get the BOS forum there so I miss my fix for 2 weeks, @horton has promised he will fix it for me.

I would be interested in buying it if you could ship it to the UK, what size is it?

I have always worked away from home since starting skiing usually on a 2 week on 2 week of rotation but for the past 11 years I have been lucky enough to be on a 2 on 3 off rotation, I still love the sport but this year more than others I have spent a lot of time unable to ski in my time off due to weather but phone home to find everyone has been skiing on glass. 2 years ago I was knocking on the door of running a -32 pass and would normally get 3 buoys but have only ran -28 5 times this year (4 last year) and 3 or 4 @ -28 is the norm. I do spend a lot of time in the gym and hanging off a handle when I am at work so I don't feel fitness or strength is a problem, just time on the water. @sunvalleylaw, I will be 61 in November and ski with friends older and better than me but both of them are retired and can ski any day of the week weather permitting. On a plus point I did gain 9 tournament buoys when I was 53. @Steven Haines, tried a CO X SL last week and liked it so am guessing the S2 will be a lot better and hoping I will be able to get a closeout S2 in the next couple of months. Wrote the 1st post this morning when I should have been skiing but it was too windy.

I have been struggling with my form the past couple of years, was thinking it is because I am getting older but when I looked at my ski log for last month I only had 12 sets due to weather and my work cycle, if I am lucky I will get 14 sets this month then the 2012 season will be over with very little to show for it.

@webbdawg99, this may be a silly question but are you measuring your fin length with the caliper tips or the caliper jaws? as 6.840" is measured with tips, I get 6.715" if I measure the length of my fin with the jaws.

Stock settings for this ski are Front binding 29.75" Length 6.840" tips Depth 2.508" DFT 0.770" I have stuck with these settings and binding at one hole back with no problems, my best on it is 5 buoys back from you.

Thanks, I am on a ship and the live feed didn't work well, you just made my night.

For sale on Ebay UK, guy has definitely got a sense of humour. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLOATATION-LIFE-BELTJET-SKIS-SPEED-BOATS-AEROBICS-/110888083508?pt=UK_SportingGoods_LifeJackets_PFDs_SM&hash=item19d171e034#ht_500wt_1203

On the start dock at a competition my friend spun round with his ski over his shoulder and caught me just above the eye with it, it floored me but I then went out and ran -22 for the 1st time in a competition and went on to get a 4 buoy PB. He offered to do it again before every comp but I declined.

May be wrong but the thick silver liner looks just like a standard liner that you get with a $25 pair of rollerblades, that is what came with my boot when I bought it 11 years ago and it worked fine, I then moved onto Intuition liners which I feel mould better than Reflex liners.

I get the same problem when I have been skiing in Spain and come back to Scotland, but it all comes back to normal after a few set without changing any settings, you probably didn't change any settings when you went to FL. ( I ski around the same level as you)

I am 175 and use 4.5 to 5, never had a pre release in the ten years I have been using the system, have seen people setting the tension too high and tearing a hamstring on their first crash.

Don't think you can complain about Andy competing in Big Dawg when you look at the Elite standings list from 2005 the year Andy retired, a lot of Big Dawg and Senior Worlds skiers in there and some ranked higher than him. http://www.iwsfranking.com/elite05/FinalStandings/2005EliteMenSlalom.htm