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Safety and liability are inextricably linked - thats why NASCAR made the improvements after Dale Earnhardt's accident. I am appalled that up to now there has been no background checking of drivers - the only more relevant thing [and far more onerous and expensive] wrt driver impairment to do is set up the equivalent of "flight rules" and random testing. We should figure out a way to test/train/disqualify on our own for safety issues so that insurance costs go down - that would be a benefit to our sport.

@ShaneH -- Not Bob - but you can bet there will be more training when the underwriters require it. @Dusty -- Heirs are not parties to waivers. You are correct record checks and training will be recurring, disqualifying events will be determined by underwriters. The relevant thing is that tournament participants pay money to ski in sanctioned tournaments, not the fact that volunteers conduct the tournaments. Yes the "medicine" the underwriters are mandating is bitter but it is the current reality and is going to be part of the cost we pay. I for one am happy that we are still able to play.

AWSA has at least secondary liability for the actions of its drivers or coaches . . . Heck I can't even take my son to a Boy Scout outing without having background checks and training. Background checks and training will be a fact of life for USAWS or a smaller sanctioning organization (e.g. AWSA spin off). They are not doing it because it pleases them - they are doing it because thats what it takes to exist as a sanctioning body these days.

There is a club boat at SMRR?

Would go up a size as a beginner [or even not a beginner].

A couple of observations: 1) I have yet to see a video where a pro is on their turning edge prior to the end of the white water after the second wake - even Seth at 34/15, and; 2) I have yet to see a beginer hold 400#s of rope tension on their turning edge [see the WC videos of Winter/Brown]. Heck, I haven't seen a beginer who can hold direction under 600#s of rope tension on their accellerating edge at hook up, or 400#s on their accellerating edge through the wakes like Terry/Marcus do when the ease up after hook up.

Think the issue would be the jump after the crash "where I fractured my wrist, dislocated my shoulder and gashed my head with my ski". . . not toe tricks in a cast the next day.

This was the best I was able to find for a temp dam. About 3K for a 20 ft x 6ft tall opening IIRC. http://www.hydrologicalsolutions.com/wipp/home

@chef23 I was pretty much in bed on pain meds prior to surgery - so instant relief meant I could walk a few feet without passing out after surgery. Didn't need pain meds at all after two weeks and actually cut down right after surgery - but if you need them take them. I had surgery in November and started back up in March - when the water warmed up in TX. Good Luck - do your PT and I found that just walking was most helpful.

@ Chef23 Same surgery 5 years ago, my damage may have been a little more extensive, ruptured disk and bone fragments in the nerve. Instant relief after surgery for the leg pain, on pain meds until the staples were out, 6 weeks of moving slowly. Rode jumpers at 3 months out.

Sounds like your prop may have been reworked to a lower pitch. We did it in the old days when we went to higher elevation lakes to allow enough RPM to yank us out.

@chef23 - how did she get to ski in Regionals (2010 girl was level 4 @ the end of the ski year and had a lower average before Regionals)? @ral "ski" is singular

@clemsondave Probably mistaken identity on my part - I looked up a Western Region skier who skied in 2010 Nationals under similar circustances with what looked to be the same type of setup.

Her scores appear to be for two skis. At Nationals she was said to be the youngest competitor ever, could be unfair to a child skiing at Nationals at a day or two older but without the "apparatus". Don't know how she qualified for Regionals with a Level 3 ranking average.

@Than - I believe I was thinking about it in the "physics" [F=MA] sense, trying to minimize differences in velocity, both acceleration and deceleration. Less angle behind the boat or a higher speed turn would result in less force/acceleration.

Than -- Is minimizing accelleration model friendly?

Accomodations for beginning skiers [opening passes etc.] should not be granted for ranking list tournaments - run a Class F in conjunction with the Class C - its a better place for beginners and doesn't compromise legitimately earned scores.

Re-read Bruce Butterfield's post . . .. Two ski slalom is fine for tournaments Rhoni Barton did it at Nationals.

Cory, Herman, Storm, and Joel [Wing], have all coached my son, and all used a rope release.

Not going to be in Milwaukee, but I am really excited that Charles got back into -41. Really impressive given he is running a business and is by definition working 24x7. His support of SCR JD (2 full scholarships to Bennetts and I'm sure more we don't know about) goes above and beyond! Ski well . . .

School starts mid-August here in Texas.

How would a RTP help the with the turn? I like the RTP for a different reason - Reflex shell can be used for both trick and slalom.

You may want to work on the second half of the trick separately - wrap in TF - it will give you better control over the whole trick. Concentrate on a strong pull from your rope leg in the regular back position advancing on the boat. Beastly hard trick that opens up a bunch of possibilities - good luck!

Thanks all for your responses - yes he was a competent skier prior to layoff I will talk him about his goals. One more quick question, has the Senate changed shape since the 2009 model, and if so would the change impact someone trying to get up to max speed? Thanks Ed

My son wants to start skiing again after 5 years. He has grown to 235 pounds in the interim, and I don't believe the skis we have at the boat house have enough surface area -- especially for starting the course at 28 to 30 MPH. I was thinking a 69" Senate. Any better choices out there? Thanks Ed