ForrestGump

And I've heard that the flatter rocker on the RS1 is one reason it maintains speed and cross course angle so well. But then again, the only thing I know about rocker is that if granny rolls over my foot with hers, it hurts like a MOFO.

To me, the LXI's wake feels wider at 22. It feels like you go over this big hill. The 197 feels like it's the same height, but narrower. So at 22 to me, it feels harder, since the transition is steeper. Now, as to the feel with ZO. At the same settings, let's say C1, My thought is that the LXI feels really soft. The CC feels in the middle. And the TT197 feels like I've got my rope attached to the coupler on a Union Pacific locomotive. I skied behind Marcus Brown's 197 a month or so ago and that thing had a sweet pull on the old zo sw. So why the new one feels so strong I don't know. Same engine and trans as MB's. My only thought is that it's got to be propped different.

The two RS1's I have had required the least effort to go side to side of any ski I've ridden. Behind the boat, you think Damn, this things a rocket. My ski partner rides a Goode 9900 and he ran 38 on his 2nd set on the RS1. And that was on my 67" ski when he normally rides a 65.5(he's 155lbs soaking wet). For him at the time, he thought the RS1 carried too much speed off the ball and he was having a harder time adjusting to that coming off the Goode which slow'd down considerably more. Now he wants back on an RS1 or to try my Elite because he thinks the Goode isn't carrying enough speed for him at 34.

Yep, Dave. I watched your crash on that pass on July 4th and thought "That had to hurt."

That's pretty close to where I set mine up, within .001. I'm not sure I'm digging the new fin clamp. I gotta try a few fin adjustments. Just not used to not having set screws. Although even with the 3 screws full loose, there seems to be enough drag inside the slot to keep the fin from moving all over. We'll see.ÂÂ

Mine just arrived. Thank, JTH! You must be the # 1 in Elite sales by now! lol Even the box is awesome. That alone impressed me. Can't wait to try it out!

I agree, MS. The RS1 carries more speed from the apex to the hookup than any other ski I've been on. I'm hearing rumors that they're working on a new bevel profile for it that improves the turns even more while still carrying the speed, too. That said, I've got an Elite sitting here that I'm dying to try this week. Damn box is even top notch!

James, My thought is that changing the triumph for the regular Senate would have no benefit. Now changing from the triumph to the Senate C would be a definite upgrade.

Here are the stock numbers for that ski. You're pretty far off from that. Were it me, I'd reset the ski to the factory numbers and give it a go. That ski has a TON of testing over the years and those factory numbers are pretty good for most skiers.  lenght 6.93 tips depth 2.517 DFT .770 needle bindings 29.5 wing 7

Horton, What's your water temp in the summer? Just curious. We're up in the high 90s here.

Brent, something's not making sense here. I agree with decreasing wing angle doing much the same. When the water warms up, the ski rides deeper and you want to decreease tip pressure. But decreasing wing angle is the same as increasing DFT, ie moving the fin forward, not decreasing it. When you decrease DFT, you increase tip pressure just like when you increase wing angle you increase tip pressure.ÂÂ

Schnitz told me that you should increase the dft .001 for every 1 degree of water temp rise and decrease it .001 for every degree of drop. This is from a baseline where you know the ski works.

THAT'S my issue, Dave! I'm loading .22 Long Rifle and my barrels are chambered for 10 gauge! LMAO I talked to Jerry at our tournament and he said he has the prop that they used on last years 08 MC that he's going to try.

JTH, I do at the pull out. I get up on the front and lift my rear heal. Just something I've always done.

I've been on the RS1s for a little over a year too. What I really like, in addition to everything you mentioned, is that I can lift my rear heal if needed. I couldn't do that in the Animals or D3 bindings.

Now damnit, John..........why did you go ahead and have to throw that out there. I'm gonna hate myself for asking, but what sizes might you have. You are killing me!

Drill the ding out with a 1/4 drill bit. You want as much of the crushed and torn fibers and core out of there. For an epoxy, I would use marinetex. They make a very liquid epoxy that will run down into the fibers. I usually start the repair with that and then let it set so that it's just below the surface. Then use their quick setting epoxy on the surface, sand, and paint to match. If you have a West Marine store anywhere close you can get the marinetex epoxies from them. I was a paint and body guy by trade for a while and people are usually fairly amazed at how well you can repair a ski from a deep handle ding. Not to mention that you fix snow skis the same way. You'd be amazed at the damage you can repair on a snow ski. I wish I wouldn't have deleted the series of pictures yesterday that I had of the last repair I made on an RS1. The handle hit on the outside edge of the ski and crushed the edge. It had pushed the bottom layer and graphic about a 1/2 inch out. I drilled out the damaged area, clamped the ski edge to edge in a vise(using wood strips to protect the ski edges) to pull the side back into alignment, then filled as I mentioned above using marinetex.ÂÂ

p90x is awesome. It takes a LOT of committment, though. But if you follow it for 90 days you will be in the best shape of your life. Ive done the full program before. Now, I use the stretch, plyo and kempo routines weekly to keep limber for skiing.

Mark, D3 has their performance guarantee and will let you return a Z7 within 30 days and your only out a $75 demo fee.

Edmund, The 65SC has the same wetted surface area as a 66 RS1 or MPD. That said, I'd say you're on the right size.

The Schnitz slot fin really made the SC come alive for me. As I got into 32 and 35(albeit at a slow 34) I started experiencing a little too much tail slide on my offside. Schnitz's fin completely cured that. Haven't blown the tail out since putting it on.

One of my 2 ski partners has been beating himself senseless at 38 for the last year and a half on a 9800. Unless he's perfect, it won't turn his offside once he gets to 38. He ordered a Z7 and skied it for the first time Sunday. Says it's a keeper now as it turned 2 ball at 38 well enough for him to get to 4 for the first time since he got off the 9700 in late 07.

I believe I saw Rossi say to decrease depth as the water warms up, so the ski loosens up and/or doesn't stick as it rolls from edge to edge.

One of my friends is getting a Z7 next week, so I hope to compare the Z7 to the Senate C in the next few weeks.ÂÂ

Dave, I hope your back continues to get better. Mike Arora skied at Katy yesterday and said on C1, Chip's Mastercraft felt far stronger than the other boats.ÂÂ