Cam

We are going out for a couple of sets this afternoon and I will try to get her on a more forgiving ski for the 2nd set and see how it goes. We have a handle set up in the garage and when she leans on it her position looks OK, nothing like her on the water position, but I will definitely try the tug of war thing with her and yes I think she could do with some strength training. As for coaching I am just taking an interest at the end of the season (I know the pitfalls after trying to teach her to drive a car many years ago), but she normally skis with the other coaches and her friend at our ski site, my on the water input is probably about 10% but I do try to talk about it off the water, would probably help if she was more of a ski geek like me. We had planned to do a lot of free skiing this summer but that fell through due to the reliability of the boat at the club we were going to do some extra skiing at, but they are getting a newer boat for next season so fingers crossed we can get more quality water time next year.

Believe it or not we have been trying to work on all of the above especially hips up and weight on the front foot and the bindings are all the way forward. She did ski well at ski school in Spain in June and consistently ran 5 buoys without the gates, but expected to do the same when she got home and got frustrated when she couldn't and she lost her confidence which we have been slowly building back up. I know she doesn't want to down grade her ski but I also know that if I hadn't moved to a top end ski when I was running the course at 26mph I would have improved a lot quicker and not be left with a lot of bad habits. Thanks for the input Cam

At the start of the season I was sure my wife would be running the course this year but now the season is almost over she doesn't seem to be any further on. We got a good deal on a 64" Blue Fisher (she is 5'1" 115 lbs), I thought it would be too advanced for her but she tried it and seemed to ski better on it than her 67" HO Triumph. I watched her from the boat last week and thought that the ski could be holding her back as sometimes it turned too fast and then she would just flatten it off and loose all her angle. I don't know if I should try to detune the ski or try to get her back onto a more forgiving ski whhich she is not keen on doing, obviously we will still be working on her basics. I have put this video on You Tube any advice would be appreciated Cam

How to focus for a tournament, as soon as I pull out for the gates my game plan goes out the window.

Nicole skiing in a Scottish competition this year

3 Sisters is a recreational area in Wigan, England. Stuart Lillis who owns a farm there dug out his own lake and started a ski club there around 5 years ago. History below. The site of the Three Sisters Recreation Area on the east side of Ashton-in-Makerfield was previously the Garswood Hall Colliery which closed in 1958. The legacy of the colliery included three huge slag heaps, known locally as the 'Three Sisters'. http://www.friendsof3sisters.org.uk/

What about us foreigners? we are starting to feel left out of things.

Keep up the good work, this has been the best site for quality content throughout the winter.

Steven, I use a gyro called Powerball, it helps the pain when off the water but it still comes back when I ski. I posted on this before and JTH said he was going to buy one but never got any feedback. www.powerballs.com

Marco, where do you get the neoprene straps? I have only see ones that are not suitable for water and are very large. Cam

I have them all, but the 1st Edged in Water is the one I watch most.

I swap between a Monza and an A1 for winter and summer skiing with no problems just swap over the bindings, but I plan to use my Monza as a 2nd ski at a different lake this year so will need an extra set of bindings.  Cam

Might have NOS, but doesn't have go faster stripes.

I will be around Loch Lomond that weekend, drop me a mail closer to the time to see what the weather forecast is. Back on topic again I will be sinking their course for the winter then. Cam

Swerveit, good for Lynz I am glad she is getting a real job at last. Ali, we ski at Dunfermline http://www.waterskiscotland.co.uk maybe see you there some day.

Swerveit, I guess that would have been Lynsey she was tough, I remember when she was about 10 years old she would trick for 5 miles across Loch Lomond to our club have 2 slalom sets and then trick back before lunch.

We will be skiing through the winter again this year in Scotland, only thing that will stop us is ice. Going to give the course a miss for for the next 6 months and try to improve my technique. Cam

http://www.3eventstore.com/Reflex%20Hardshell%20User%20Manual.pdf The above pdf gives you the correct release settings for your weight and it recomends a setting between 4 & 6. I am 180lbs and have mine set at 5, I have used this setting for six years with no problems but I do test it every couple of months. A friend of mine at 190lbs set his at 8 and tore his hamstring on his 1st crash.

Boody, I contacted my local dealer (UK) and also HO customer service by email from the contact info on their web site. I thought that my skiing had went downhill as the water warmed up but as soon as I got my new ski everything came back together and it felt like my 1st A1 had in April, making me think that the ski had definitely changed in some way and the result was the colouring, roughness and drop in performance.

Thanks, I wondered why I was walking odd all afternoon..

I have had skier's elbows on and off for 6 years, but the past 3 months have been the worst with inner pain on my left elbow and inner and outer pain on the right. I dug out my Powerball and have been using it for a week now and my elbows have vastly improved, I couldn't believe how quickly it worked, the pain had eased after the 1st couple of times I used it. www.powerballs.com

Can't beat HO for customer service, my new A1 is on it's way.

Thanks, will try my luck with my dealer tomorrow.

Water has cooled down again and the ski just doesn't feel the way it did when I bought it.

I am a cold water skier and our water got up to 22C 3 weeks ago and my skiing slumped ( could have been me skiing too much ) but checked the fin settings and they were stock, it just doesn't feel like the ski I bought 2 months ago and just wondering if the blemishes on the bottom have anything to do with it.