Bill Gladding

Try doing it in the morning after you have had a cup of joe and read the news. I type and think pretty well at that time of day. It's after the second glass of Sangria in the evening that the vision blurs and the fingers start to swell;)

I wouldn't even go outside if I had to wear that many clothes never mind drive a ski boat! I don't want to live anywhere it is warmer in my refrigerator than it is outside...

Another way to get good at tournaments is go get coaching at different sites. You will gain confidence in a less intimidating setting and if you go to a few different places you will find that where you are really doesn't matter that much. Use other skiers and professional coaches just go somewhere else to do it!

The pullout is interesting. Looks like he is maintaining the same posture as he uses the rest of the pass and it puts a little more pressure on the ski than it supports at the slow initial speed plus it looks like he is starting just inside the wake where the ski runs slightly uphill. I thought the -41 went better when he didn't do so much on the onside (2,4,6) but increased the work he did out of the offside. It was like he flipped a switch because the second attempt looked very relaxed.

Thanks for the comments recently about the Radar Strada binding. I wasn't sure I would fit in the large size but when I checked my cycling shoes they were 46.5 and large Strada bindings were 46 so I went ahead and ordered a front left foot. I got it with the single plate and installed it in place of the Wiley keeping the rear Wiley high wrap for now. The binding fits fine. The binding fit the ski (MPD) although it is all the way back as is the rear Wiley. This is very near stock so I am fine with that. The binding allows rotation so I was able to turn it the way I wanted. I was using washers under the front Wiley to help the offside but being able to rotate the front binding seems to have elminiated that need with the Strada. I noticed very little difference in switching to the Strada. I have been gradually tightening the laces a little more each set but as of now don't have any plans to put anywhere near the 35 lbs. of maximum tension the instuctions said could be used. So far it feels really good and comfortable. The only thing I would call a glitch is the plate has hard plastic on the bottom that is relieved where the fastener holes are on the sides of the plate. When I initially installed it the aluminum bent down on the edges significantly which I did not care for. Since I am the washer guy I pulled a few out and installed them between the plate and the top of the ski and took care of that! We still have a couple of weeks of skiing and as the water cools I am sure my foot will be warmer in the Strada. Maybe the new set-up will help me get these 35s in the bag...

Cycling! I started spinning in January '08, bought a Specialized Allez in the Fall of '08 and ride a couple of days a week in addition to running and some gym work outs. There are numerous groups in Jacksonville, Florida that ride anywhere from 18 to 25 mph. When you start out just hang onto the back until you get the hang of it and as you progress work your way up and take your turn pulling. Very satisfying work outs with friends cooperating to maintain a good pace.ÂÂ

I haven't been but I know it is located in or very near Clermont Florida. I believe Matt rides Radar products. I have been thinking of giving him a try he is only a couple of hours from where I live in Florida.

I think TW and Tuney have it right. Sounds like your ski muscles are more flexible allowing the other muscles in your shoulders and chest that are tighter to roll your shoulders forward. I think dumbbell flies,, push-ups, dips, pec cable machine and any thing else that will put a stretch on the front half of your upper body will help restore your shape. I spend a little time in the gym during the season and usually do supersets starting with a benching exercise and pull-ups. I alternate my grips on the pull-ups and usually do four sets. Yesterday I did 20 minutes on the stair climber, leg extensions and curls, inclined bench and pull-ups four sets of each then four sets of Arnold curls/military press. That is about it for lifting weights while skiing as far as quantities of sets go although I will change the exercises.  In addition, I try to run and cycle each a couple of times a week for cardio. I haven't settled on my offseason routine yet but I am sure it will be the addition of some more gym time each work-out starting on the rowing machine and ramping up my running for some road races and weight control.

I'll go for the ice floe send-off just make sure to give me a tumbler, ice pick and a good supply of Anejo...ÂÂ

You are not hunched you just have piles of muscle on your shoulders and back. You need to work on some muscles in the front to balance it all out!

I lived in the lower Keys (Marathon and south) from 1979 to 1987 so I did the "Duval Crawl" a few times. If you want to check out the local flavors pay a visit during Fantasy Fest. It is some kind of Carnival...

You could head to Margaritaville with a pair of those. They don't look like any pop top is going to give them trouble!/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif

Good comments Horton! I agree with your comments particularly the "drop the line" comment. When you think about it a tight line means the boat is going away from you. When you change directions for the gate or any buoy the object is to cross the course as efficiently as possible. If the line is tight (has load) it means you are falling behind and will have to gain speed to catch up. Keeping the line loose turning in for the gates means you have maintained your speed which you can add to in order to maintain a good line across the course resulting in more time and space out the other side and a slower feeling pass. It is a much better feeling than loading the handle and pushing on the ski as you turn in for the gates resulting in a decelaration and then hanging on even tighter trying to catch up resulting in a very fast and sometimes narrow approach to the next buoy. One thing that seems to help me with that is to measure out the energy I put into my pullout. It really doesn't take much to travel about the 1/3 width of the course to the buoy line where you turn in from. You need just enough to get out wide with release from the boat so you can make your direction change. You want a loose handle not slack.

I got mine at west marine but they were a little longer than the size I needed. I ended up using some washers under the machine screw heads as well as between the binding and ski. The washers I used were the aluminum type that come with Animal and other bindings. They look like finish washers. I was able to stack two washers using the same screws that came with the bindings. When I stacked four washers I needed longer screws. Two washers made a noticeable difference.

I have run mine that way but usually with a little less length and the other settings stock. If you are running stock settings and want to try something else cant (not rotate) your front binding a little. Add a couple of fender washers between the binding and ski top on the arch side of your front foot. This will cause the edge of the ski to ride a little deeper and bite better in the preturn on your offside. I am LFF with Wileys and currently have four washers at each mounting screw. If you are using bindings with separate plates it is easy to do.

You may be reaching for the handle. Keep your outside elbow pinned on your vest and essentially ski your hand to the handle. Doing that might help you avoid overturning.  I tried my friends 67 Elite for a couple of sets and really liked it a lot. My previous ski was a red and blue 67 sixam so it felt very familiar to me. The first few passes were a little sketchy but once I figured out the ski new where to go it became a lot easier. When I relaxed and was quiet on the ski it did everthing I was trying to force it to only better with less effort!

I have been using an AG for nearly the whole season this year. I don't recall the last time I missed the handle because of it. It is no longer a factor. I sometimes grab the little rubber band in the middle but it just liking get spray faced in the turns and any of the other little things that happen when you slalom. You just adjust to it and keep on going. One nice benefit is mine mounts off-center of the bridle a little so that when it drags behind the boat after a fall it doesn't twirl the main line. In the last three years I have seen two guys get their arms through the handle and another get his ski in it all at our site. Skiing is a lot of fun but it's not for money. If you have a bad arm through the handle fall you may end up parting with your fun and your money.

You will be able to rotate your bindings and move them from one side of the ski to the other if you want to all on the single plate. I would imagine you could use orthotics too inside the bindings or liners. I am considering the same set-up but need to try some on since I wear between size 13 and 14 shoe. I hear they run a little small in size and only go up to size 12:( Maybe some one on here with larger feet could comment on whether they fit well or how to make them do so with different liners or such?

M4=Mens Sore! (it even rhymes if you say it out loud), Been there for a few years now:(

Were you and the Radar enjoying a cigarette? Don't let the golf clubs find out...

I skiied a PB practice behind an 03 196 with PP classic. My regular ride is an 08 Malibu Response RLXi and I have gotten close to my PB behind it. Did OK at regionals and Nats last year behing the Malibu with SG. In my book they are interchangeable. At our lake the Malibu is better to drive because all of our turns are to the right which fits right in with the Malibu's prop rotation. Strictly skiing I vote 196. Best all around (family, ski, drive and value) Malibu.

I used a thin Schnitz wing on a 69" 6AM but didn't like the same set-up on a 67.5" 6AM. I am a little heavy on the back foot so the smaller ski worked better with the extra drag from a regular wing. I thing if you are balanced well on the ski and want to reduce your work load it is worth a try or give the thinner wing a try first to see how it goes. If it feels better try the speed fin/wing.