TWB

I'm certain it's not too big.

I went from my drysuit to my Blacktec last week and was having trouble taking deep breaths when I dropped at the ends. I thought it was my new vest, but it was the suit.

I have to say, I really like my full Blacktec. It's incredibly warm for how thin it is. I know it's supposed to be tight, but mine is ridiculously tight. I'm 5'11'' and 175lbs. and always wear larges, but I'm thinking an XL Blacktec would fit me better. It's so tight, I think it's going to burst. Any thoughts?

In the past I used a Valeo back belt, now I make sure my core is strong before ski season begins. When I switched to a Reflex front boot, my back couldn't take hundreds of deep water starts per season with both feet in. I use a RTP now and drag a foot when getting up. It's much easier on the back. Three years ago, I blew a disc in my back that ended my season. When it blew, the fluid impinged on my sciatic nerve causing numbness in my foot and a condition called foot drop. Core strength is the key. These things have worked for me.

I use them, and it works for me. Running the mid loops has helped me be more consistent at the next shorter loop.

A group of five skiers pay $2500/yr. Includes boat payment and private site lease. Does not include gas or occasional maintenance on docks, the boat lift, or the slalom course.

I'm on a Mapple 6.0. I wanted to try a Vapor all year, but never did. Now that the T series is out, I want to try those first.

Ordered my 2mm BlackTec this morning and it was shipped before noon. Thank you @waterskigirl. I'll be ordering a shorty and a top in the spring.

@Horton..........."Off side do you think you have enough front for pressure way before the ball?" Because of this comment, I ran one of my easiest 32's of the year. It went out the window at 35, but that's my hardest pass. I always say, I need a good preturn if I'm going to have a good turn, but your way of saying it made sense to me.

We put the course in today. It's 53 degrees in S.E. Michigan. We hope to ski this weekend for the first time.

I've never used the bandit. In fact, I'll probably get one, but I can say that I've strained my forearm doing pull-ups trying to get back in shape. I wouldn't even attempt to ski without using a brace right now. They make a huge difference in the amount of strain on my forearm during workouts and during skiing.

A ski that I can comfortably stand on the front of at the apex of the turn, especially on the off side.

@jhughes I don't think it's been mentioned in this thread. If it has, I apologize. Masterline makes a training rope with intermediate loops. I've been using one for two seasons now. Cutting the rope to my harder passes is a mental issue for me, but when I use the intermediate loop, I tell myself it's only 2 ft., or whatever the case may be. Using the intermediate loops this year has given me the sight picture of where the ball is at the shorter line lengths. I used to think I was running late at the shorter lengths (I probably am), and I would go into scramble mode. I know now that I'm not as late as I think I am, it's just the visual ques are different. This has helped me to be patient and avoid going into scramble mode as the ball is going by. Watch video of good skiers and how they backside the ball at the longer lengths and look how far down course they are at the completion of the turn at shorter rope lengths.

Yes I have, and yes I do. It's just easier that way.

My fuel pump (I think the low pressure, but can't remember) was seized and cause a fuse to burn.

I've been using a Reflex front for the last 5 sets. I'm thinking about going back to my old bindings for the same reasons, plus the deep water starts are taking a toll on my old back and arms. It's almost as hard to go back as it is to get used to the Reflex.

@jhughes Yes, she does raise the handle a little to initiate the turn in. That allows her to bring her hip forward. I skied with a hall of fame skier this summer, and his advice to every skier that day was to reach higher at the ball. I think the same thing applies to the gate turn in. The problem is what you do with the handle after that. Watch were Regina tucks the handle when she brings it in. On most of those passes your timing at one ball is not that bad, in fact, I think it's pretty good. Like you said it's something you need to mentally overcome. You know 28 is a difficult pass, so, like @lb said you are trying to hard at the ball. Focus that effort behind the boat and stay calm at the ball. Instead of trying to rotate your shoulders and upper body to initiate the turn, try initiating the turn from the ankles up, and slide your inside hip around the ball. He also made a good point about the preturn. You're not finishing the turn in good position because you're not in a good position in your preturn. I can almost always trust that I'll hook-up to the handle after the ball in a good position if I'm able to get myself in proper position in the preturn. Then, when you get to the ball just drop your hip, the ski turns itself and comes under the rope and you won't have to reach for it. Look a Regina in her preturn, especially her onside. In the preturn and at the ball, her body position is like an airfoil. She's already put herself in a position to accelerate before she's at the ball.

I switched from an A2 to an S2 because I thought it was more forgiving. I'm on an A3 now and think it's even more forgiving than the S2. Never skied on a quest, but have had several D3's. I liked all of them except the Fusion.

I started the summer at 172# and weigh closer to 180# now. The 66" is still working well for me.

97 Nautique (TSC1 Hull) has one of the best slalom wakes ever.

@Horton Okay, I guess I'm not good at reading between the lines.

@scotchipman Like @Horton said in another thread, if you read between the lines, you know what ski he likes best. Last year reading between the lines told me it was between the Nano One and the Prophecy. It was hard to tell. This year, I'm fairly confident the A3 edged out the Prophecy, but he really liked them both. In fact, before the A3 review was finished, my impression was he liked the Prophecy in 2012 and even more in 2013 so much that I had to try one for myself (I was riding a 2013 A3 at the time). Now I'm really looking forward to the review of the ski in that Radar box in his living room he posted the other day. Disclaimer: I'm just reading between the lines and could be wrong.

If you have an H.O. binding, set it next to the Reflex when it's mounted. The HO will line-up with the middle hole at 29.5. I'm using an Attack with and A3.

@ShaneH good point about the bent rear leg.

Thanks for the tips guys. I do spend most of my time at longer line lenths by the way. I just don't have video of it.