jhughes

Those boats are 20+ years old. The engines they have are based on pretty common car engines. Worrying too much about the engine on a boat that old is a common mistake, I’d worry a lot more about upholstery condition, trailer condition, gelcoat condition. A trailer is 5 grand plus delivery (watch for rotted out box frame old carpet stepped Ram-Lins on Nautiques), an interior is many thousands and gel can be expensive to redo too, yet you’ll see a lot of folks overlooking that stuff. So to me it’s wholistic overall condition inside and out. I don’t like seeing crappy replacement interiors either but you may come across some of that stuff out there with boats of that age. In that age range specifically I personally like Nautique and Malibu offerings. Not a fan of the Mastercrafts from that timeframe for a variety of reasons.

It's going to be much more about your approach to improving at what is a very difficult and counterintuitive sport over time vs. "tips and tricks". Lots of folks, myself included, have wasted a lot of time just bouncing around from tip to tip, coach to coach, and shiny object to shiny object which equates to pissing in the wind and getting nowhere over time. A consistent framework of what you're going to try to do and why, with a consistent feedback loop going to help you get where you want to go. Assuming, as well, you know where you want to go.

Just reach out to D3.

The "safety check" seemed to be sold as some strategic "letting up" to make a certain score to make a cut vs. just going all out, which I don't buy. I was definitely chuckling when a skier was like obviously doing everything to make a turn in any shape any position and Wade would be like "oh a little safety check at 2" as if they were strategically being less aggressive to "only" make a certain score as they hurtled around the ball in an insane frenzy at 41.

I did the 22/32mph opener for a couple years. At some point I thought to just stay at 34mph and open at 15. IMO it's the same "difficulty" but keeps boat speed (AKA a lot of the "physics" of the playing field) a constant. As 28 has been falling consistently and a few 32s as well I just open at 22/34 now and have dropped 15. But, the path to that opener was making the decision to have boat speed be consistent and drop that weird 32mph/22 pass.

We're going to drink every time we hear Cox call something a "safety check". I think they are just skiing, Wade, ha ha!

Agreed, totally awesome.

Revising my earlier 2018 comment on this thread: Been skiing the T-Factor all season and it's the best binding I've ever used hands down. Took 1 pass or so to get used to it from the Leverage and I've skied better this season than ever. Probably has a thing or two to do with technique, I don't know why I had trouble on this binding 2 years ago. @SlalomSteve I don't know about a T-factor "conversion" using parts like that, I'd just get the whole thing vs. futz with that stuff. Assembling these bindings is a PITA.

By casual observation I haven't seen any high-level 34mph skier, man or woman, that rides a Senate of any build as their main ski over choosing a Vapor or other more traditional width ski. And Radar has a pretty good foothold in the midwest so I see a LOT of Senates around. Very popular sub-34mph ski or folks just cutting the line. People love it. I know I didn't see every podium shot from Nationals and Regionals but I don't recall seeing a Senate on any 34mph podiums. Could have missed one Again just observations, no judgement on the ski.

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I've seen the side loading surfboard racks work on bikes to get around at tournaments, like this: Side Rack

At the end of the day a choke isn't really needed on a ski boat. Lots of folks just max them out and unplug them to effectively disable them. Two pumps on the throttle and it should start even with no choke.

Totally stock everything for me. I was running the CG Classic fin for a little while this summer but reverted to the stock fin to work on onside technique and am slamming both sides now nicely. If someone wants to add some major margin for error onside the CG Classic seems to work well with the EVO and ARC in that capacity. I’m talking about the “S” versions of both skis. Again I’m focused on investing in me this summer but I thought I’d mention that fin, it’s pretty sweet.

@liquid d, you're wrong. Niche print publishing is absolutely a thing. As a watch guy I've seen Hodinkee.com start as digital then now release a premium print magazine alongside the website. The print magazine is $32 per issue. In waterskiing there's a huge opportunity for beautiful photography and layouts, it's absolutely ripe for print. I don't know what happened at Bonnier but not pivoting the Waterski mag business model was a mistake and/or there was no appetite for such a revenue stream at such a big publisher. It'll be a very nice little annuity for whoever is bold enough to execute on this. The advertising base is small but the subscription revenue opportunity is where the money is on this sort of thing. Any advertising then becomes gravy. Advertising revenue is a PITA to depend on for any business.

What was the last year of operation?

I think the first time I ran -28 was fall of 2014. 2015 was a great season, ran a ton of 28 that season. Since then it's been one summer after another of basically pissing in the wind with my progress. Trying tons of new skis, fins, boots, settings, just kinda spinning my wheels and getting nowhere for 5 seasons, looking for quick fixes everywhere. For the 2020 season I added a ton of direction, mindset, and discipline (thanks @scoke ) to my previously fairly whimsical skiing approach. Results are showing. I have run 32 (34.2mph, ZO, etc.) the last 3 sets I've been out and the last two were right up the rope into 35 off the dock! 'Bout time! Let the fun begin.

Sweet. Awesome effort, love it. My only request would be make it either a print publication soon or a nice responsive design website soon instead if not. The digimag format is a rough user experience (always has been). Maybe get some subscription pre-commitments to fund the first few print issues?

@MichaelGoodman agh, whoops.

Wait the hub/drum shown is 6 bolt and the trailer wheel shows 5 bolts. What’s going on here? I do have that exact six bolt drum pre packed with grease and bearings in my garage, for an old trailer I no longer have. Always kept a loaded spare.

The hub most likely does not need to be replaced. You need a replacement bearing and race set. Maybe a grease cap if that's gone too. The races are a press fit in and out. Any trailer shop will swap the races out for you if you can't do it yourself. They can be blasted out in about 5 seconds with an air chisel if you're handy or tapped out for a long, arduous time manually with a drift and hammer. The bearings and races are super-duper standard stuff that most auto parts stores and certainly any trailer part store would have in stock, you can bring them in. You'll also need an inner double lip seal which will come with any kit you get most likely. And from now on check your bearings regularly. Check for heat at any gas station stop and give them a spin to check for spin/wobble annually.

@Skoot1123 lean, not pull. There is no pull, there is only lean.

How about that 39 by Regina! Unbelievable.

19 days with no beer. I'm down 9lbs and skiing better than ever, FWIW.

Another vote here for lacrosse ball. Hug yourself to open up the scapula and get that lacrosse ball right in there. You can use a wall or for the full effect lie on your back on the floor with your legs up on a couch or something so that your whole back is relaxed. Another thing I’ve been using are these Lure performance cupping cups. They are made of a soft plastic and you basically squeeze them and suction them on to your back right in that spot. A dab of massage cream really helps them get a good seal. Game changer, really helps loosen up those tissues.

15 was engine forward.