GAJ0004

I don't think it is the qualification format that is the problem. The competitive end of the sport itself is just becoming more expensive which can explain lack of participation. Finding a place to practice, and all the equipment needed are all barriers to entry into the sport. $50,000 or more for a boat, access to a lake, plus the cost of the competition grade equipment. The only rule I disagree with is Regionals participation is mandatory. If you are a level 8 or 9 that should automatically get you in. Let's face it the sport is getting more expensive, and travel is not cheap either. If you are level 9 then that should automatically bump you up to open division or masters men for the next ski year. Getting access to lake property is expensive, and to train at a level to make it to nationals you need a private site. Lake Latonka has about 700 homes on it and it is a private lake, but there is still only a small window of time to practice because of traffic. I skied in 3 Regionals. I never expected to make it that far. I would like to make it to nationals before I get out of men 4. I have a lot of work to do..

slowly and carefully. Make sure to burp the air out of the suit before skiing. Make sure all the seals are spread out and flat against your skin. Hold them open until you get your hands or feet all the way through. I have an eagle sports baggy drysuit now. I had a Sahara with the zipper across the back. If I had to get out of it I would tie a piece of rope to the zipper, and then tie it to a tree and move my upper body in the direction to pull on the rope to unzip. Just use a simple overhand knot, that way you can untie it with one hand.

1994 Ski Nautique 1750 hours.

I am not even close to getting on the list. I am currently not qualified to ski in Men 4 at the 2015 regionals. Can't make the trip anyway since I will be working..

I think Nate will get to ball 4 or 5 at 43 before his career is over provided he stays healthy.

I have great respect for jumpers.. I never took it up myself because of the risk of injury. I took up barefooting instead..

The boats of today don't have much of a wake. I can see the boat companies making them softer and making the boats faster. Eliminating the wake completely is not necessary.

My next vehicle will be a Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Edge, or Jeep Cherokee..

I have a Pontiac G6. I fold half of the back seat down, or it fits against the passenger side door in the front seat. I do that when I have my dog with me.

I have a shore station vertical which we have had since 1985. Overall it has been a very reliable lift. In 2002 my dad and I did a complete overhaul. We replaced all the cables and pulleys, and we replaced the drum inside the winch increasing it's capacity from 2600 to 3500 pounds. If you order a Shore Station make sure you order all the cables to be stainless steel. It will work perfectly for you if it is in 3 1/2 to 5 feet deep water. The legs can be adjusted longer or shorter like landing gear for leveling. If the bottom where it will be is very muddy or has a lot of silt I recommend bolting 2x10 planks to the feet like skis. It will make it easier to get it out in the fall. The winch cable will need to be replaced on average every 5 years. If the winch or the lifting cables need replaced you can change them by removing the winch tube from the lift without having to take the hoist out of the water. The hoist will have to be removed from the water to change the leveling cables, that is the only con. We don't have a canopy, to I am able to get it in and out of the water by myself with a 4x4 timber used as a crowbar to push it, however now we have a 3500 pound winch to pull it out. I highly recommend the Hewitt roll-a-docks also. They are expensive, but you will never have to get another dock again as long as you take them out before the lake freezes. The Shore Station lift is hard to crank up by hand for most people, so the cantilever is easier and you won't need to spend the money on a motor.

I would have liked to go to the Diablo Shores Pro-Am if they have a couple of rounds for Men 4 in slalom and tricks. If it was possible I would like to meet everyone on here.

I have a fin firkin. It fits over the ski on the outside of a soft case if you put it on backwards. If I were traveling I would get a slightly bigger case so the fin firkin will fit inside and wrap the rest of the ski in extra padding in the case. My trick ski ends up getting wrapped inside my life jacket and wetsuit shorts.

I think it depends on your body type. I am finding if I eat any of the wrong things it goes right to my waist. I had my body fat tested the trainer told me I was at the low end of the nominal range. For my body type I have to do more high intensity cardio, but I also have to do some strength training to prevent injury and reduce soreness. I am doing both Insanity and P90X in the off season.

I am doing P90x and Insanity at the same time. The plan is to alternate between the two every other day, and then when I get through P90X, then drop it and just do Insanity. I am in my 4th week and I have already noticed my clothes are beginning to feel loose. I am following the Insanity nutrition guide. I think Insanity is the better workout for my body type which is why I am utilizing it more than P90x.. I am finding both programs have what you need for water skiing.

It has been a good boat. No downtime except for the day when the alternator had to be replaced. I think that was at 900 hours. My uncle rebuilt it, so now we have a spare alternator if it happens again.

I gained some weight over last winter and I lost a half a pass on my average. I am doing Insanity and P90x this winter, but leaning more toward the Insanity workout since I am trying to trim down. It takes my 5 to 10 minutes longer to complete the Insanity workouts than the video runs. I push pause to recover, and to complete the reps on the stuff I can't keep up with. I had a frustrating tournament season. I only got into 35 off once, and I fell on just about every trick pass in every tournament I entered. Some old articles by Sammy Duvall always said you want to be as lightweight as possible, but as strong as possible. Speaking from experience I agree. The new software for Zero Off is not as kind to bigger skiers. I ski behind a 2008 MC with Zero Off, and do about the same as on my boat with PPSG. Got behind the new one, and could not ski a buoy to save my life. It was always on 2 or 3 ball at 32off the ski would just come around and stop dead in its tracks. I could not figure out what I was doing wrong all summer.

No skiing until April for me.. I may be done with tournaments for good. They are changing the vacation policy at work, so I may lose 5 days after 2015. I won't get enough water time to be competitive in Men 4.. It will be 6 months of p90x and Insanity workouts.. I don't know what they are going to announce.. If It turns out the same, then I will resume tournaments this year after the Midwest Regionals cut off date to make a run for 2016. Even if I were qualified for 2015 I will not be able to make the trip because of work.

@bbirlew. I have never seen another boat from that vintage with the same colors. So, it is the exact same colors as mine? I would never thought I would see one. I have seen them with the red and blue stripes reversed.

Forgot this site was designed for use on Google Chrome which is why it did not upload before.

Attempting to upload a pic..

My 94 Nautique has 1750 hours on it. Only four mechanical repairs over the years. 1 muffler, 2 steering cables, and one alternator. In 20 seasons it only had 3 hours of downtime. It was the day the alternator went out. It took longer to go to the marina to get the part than actually install it. Detailed monthly, and taken in to a marina for service every 400 hours. Oil changed every 50, tranny fluid changed every 100 hours. It is on its third battery. With the condition it is in I would have no problem selling it. I just would not get much money for it. Once I get some of the upholstery redone it will be in near mint condition.

I like to drive manually once in while. It is an art form in itself. When I free ski I go 36MPH.