MrJones

I see people on BOS talking about skis that are the second or third tier in the manufactures' line up. My recommendation is that if you are planning on skiing the course and fall into the average skier weight range, get the top of the line ski! The most important thing is to quickly ski with someone who can give you some direction on technique and ski set up. This can be professional, or if you can somehow fall in with some experienced course skiers in your area. There are a couple of brands that currently have skies that skiers across the board seem to be able to hop on a ride. Some time looking through threads on BOS should lead you in the right direction. BTW.. Hang on to the old HP! My first slalom ski was a Connelly Short Line. Still have it somewhere in the shop.

You are going to let me have my traditional "Tournament set on teammalibu's ski" at the Labor Day record? ;)

Teammalibu did post about this 2-3 weeks ago.... When you need ski info, ck BOS.

I noticed my wife's and daughter's medals being really bad, but hated to bring it up here. I glad it was brought to the attention of the powers that be. I think medals are great! Fortunately our family has a few. Some are hanging on boards, under glass with pictures, or in a big silver trophy bowl. I actually think the tradition of having the national championship award being a medal is cool. It just needs to be one deserving of the work it takes to earn one.

I agree Keith. It's a mess. I really think the old age divisions, EP, etc., worked really well and would be much easier for everyone. When voicing this to the powers that be at Regionals I was told that I was backwards thinking. I think that if you're lost it's often good to backtrack to your last known good location and reset. As for Eric's take. It's really hard to have your cake and eat it too with age and ability based all in the same Nationals mix. (At least to the extent that it is now vs. when it was only age or Open)

How about this. If you accept money, you're a "Pro". If you don't you are not, even if you compete in a "pro" event. (Same as golf) This way if you are a guy/gal just into the bottom end of the open you can ski a pro event, but declare yourself as an amateur. Same for talented juniors who want to try some pro events. Only the top 1-3 places normally make more than their entry fee back anyway. Those top 3 skiers aren't the ones this is aimed at anyway... I understand that this doesn't go with language of the rule John quotes, but it seems like a simple fix.

We have already started planning out a family road trip to Kansas next year. I personally like it when we go to different parts of the country for Nats, although I wish they all skied like WPB!

That is great news. Good to see positive numbers!

Might be able to invite a few more drivers.

"If you can't beat Nate, Adam, or Freddy, you aren't the best. Get better!" ....Isn't that an argument to get rid of all divisions and have a best women's skier and a best men's skier? Wouldn't getting rid of level 9 make it a least a level playing field among an age cohort?

This is just a tip from experience on multi lake sites. We were at WPB one year where my wife was skiing on the main lake before I skied on the turnpike lake. I was sure my handle was good from summer records and regionals, but I checked in on her lake because it was close and I was there. It was close but clearly in tolerance. Well the next day I was about to ski on the other lake and for the heck of it threw my handle on the rope checker on that dock. It showed past the line long! Luckily it was not measured by the dock starter or I would not have been allowed to use it. I was confident that if it became an issue after the fact that an actual tape measure would show I was in tolerance and that the sharpie mark on the board was incorrect. Would still have been very annoying to have to borrow and handle on the dock at Nats...

That's for civilians... The show must go on!

Maybe breaking a hundred... maybe.

We discussed this at length at Regionals. I agree that MM needs to go away. It does dilute M3-5 which have traditionally been some of the most competitive and anticipated divisions at nationals. I agree that when Chuck was in M3 it was the most exciting division going and he absolutely dominated for a decade. Jeff Rodgers and I are the same age. It's tough luck, but you will for sure know where you stand. I do also agree with Chet's suggestion that we adopt the rule that you can continue to ski at a higher max speed by staying in a division after you would have otherwise aged out. I did all of my practice and tournament skiing, except for Regionals and Nationals, at 36 until I was past 40 years old. (It is still chick speed you know...)

It doesn't...

This is a related question. Do you need to re map every so often? Our boat almost never leaves our lake. It was mapped in '14 and I haven't worried about it since.

Among other toys I'd like to have post kids is a kit Cobra. Hate to say this but I'd have to put a GM small block in it. Not a Ford guy at all.

I would drive the Cobra to the lake every time. Regardless of the skiing I'd always leave with a smile!!

I've got to find that tape of the '87 Worlds with both of those guys skiing....

When mine was canted I did it by wallowing the holes in the boot a bit and just tightening it down. Never had a prob with it moving. Then , like OB said, I straightened it back out and it felt better.

John Swanson jumping..... I have a drawer full of VHS tapes with Hot Summer Nights as well as Worlds at Thorpe Park and WPB. Need to get all that stuff transferred one of these days.

Old school.... Carl Roberge Dave Benzel had an article years ago that had a bunch of "skier most likely too" stuff. Roberge was the "most likely to run 38 with six mistakes". (Insert 39 for modern comparison)

"What's the point of having a decent ski if you don't have good bindings...."

"Bend your knees" Developed a squat that I still fight daily. Everyone was trying to emulate Wade Cox as he was the new wonder kid when I started. Should have been looking at Lucky.

This may sound crazy, but when I used the Miami Nautique gloves I found them super slippery in some lakes, but fine in others. On another note. When Radar first started making handles years ago I loved 'em. Used a couple but when I ordered a new one I couldn't hang onto it. Made some call and found the compound had changed. I'm sure that's not the case with Masterline, but odd things happen.