ToddL

@skispray, Your Local Tournaments solution is almost exactly what our local club has been overlaying on top of USAWS scoring for over 20 years... We haven't added the minimum number of passes for the novice groups. However, we have mulligans for novice skiers. Once a skier skis the max speed pass, they graduate to Class C. All skier's scores (including Class C) are captured by the club in ability groupings. At the end of the season we award trophies for each ability group. Our novice rounds are not sent to USAWS as scored rounds because we use a single boat judge and mulligans. (We also used to use wider timing tolerances, but that is no longer a factor with current speed control technology.) I guess we could put officials in the towers and capture the "off the dock" score for these novice skiers and send those in as Class C, then give the mulligans and extra passes for those novice skiers... Things to consider - people's abilities change throughout the season... We'd need rules on when a skier's ability division can be changed and when it gets frozen for the remainder of the ski season. Also, at the beginning of the calendar ski season (early spring), most skiers have to work back up to their level from last year. So you'd need rules for establishing successive season's ability levels. Also, injuries happen, so we'd need an allowance for resetting a skier's ability level after an injury. In our club we have abilities levels established. Our club season is on a calendar year (not regionals to regionals). Thus, we freeze the skier's ability division at the next to last tournament for skiers who have skied 4 or more tournaments by that point, and we freeze everyone's level for the final tournament. Finally, I think Nationals qualification should be a combination of Regionals performance and season performance. I would hate for that top-seed skier to have an issue at a single tournament and thus be prevented from qualifying for Nationals.

FYI... we run our tournaments like this: Lake 1 ski order: Rd 1 Class C Novice Rd 1 Mini-Course Round Novice Rd 2 Rd 2 Class C Lake 2: Tricks Rd 1 Tricks Rd 2 Jump Rd 1 Jump Rd 2 Novice Skiers are there to see and mingle with Class C skiers. Novice/Mini rounds only have a boat judge. Tower judges grab lunch while this is going on...

I have been working on an article on this very topic. It's not yet ready for primetime, but I thought I'd share a few points... I firmly believe that 90% of any of the mearsurable growth in our sport is purely due to procreation. Competitive water skiers' kids are the top demographic of our "newcomers" to the competitive side of the sport. We all recognize the last names at the regional junior tournaments; it's a whos-who lineage of sorts. But what are you doing about this? Do you know why we are not attracting new skiers? What are the barriers to the growth of our sport? I see the areas of focus as: 1) Visibility - There are water skiiers who are on your local public lakes who don't even know that competitions or competitive sites exist in your area. How could you raise their awareness? Is there a ski shop still selling slalom skis in your town/city? What if each slalom sold came with a flier about your local competitions? Do you attempt to advertise the competitions with "free admission to spectators?" 2) Calm water - Slalom used to rule the public lakes. Slalom is usually the entryway into competition. Wake sports make the water unusable for slalom. How can you help slalom skiers find smooth water? 3) Learning opportunities - Where can a newbie get a lesson? How would he or she know that? 4) Access to courses - How can we attract new competitors if they can't have access to the course? What can your club/lake do to offer access at off hours or special newbie events? 5) Cost - Newbie's might run a pass, maybe two... so for my $60 fee I get 2 rounds of 2 passes? That's $15 per pass! What can your club do to offer appropriate tournament fees to your beginner competitors? Likewise, what about offering lake practice time coupons for your beginner competitors - reward the engaged newbies with opportunities to stay engaged. 6) Bureaucracy - Recently at a judge’s clinic, I hear someone say, “it’s called skiing, not judging!” That statement underscores the excessive rules of our sport. The Grass Roots and INT series have recognized that beginners and newbies do not need that level of rules. Just make it simple, fair and... 7) Lack of Fun - fun! It is a shame that we have to "make" our sport "fun." But for beginners, that's what we need to do. For so many beginners, the tournament may be their only time to ski on a course. Make the event such that they get ample ski time. Mulligan's, 1 free fall/miss, three rounds, practice runs before the rounds start, etc. Our local club has been doing "grass roots" since the early 80's. Every tournament has a Novice round and in the past several years, we've been doing mini-course rounds. We have trophies for the top skiers by age and skill group in these novice/mini rounds. We group all of our club members by ability levels (never ever run a pass to 38 off and above). We have a end of season awards party to brag on the top competitor for each ability bracket. We have fun. The biggest challenge we have is lake access for newbies. We have some options, but I want more. I just wish that just 1 person at each and every private ski lake would be allowed to offer lessons to local newbies as a way to grow the sport. For more information about our local club's rules, see: http://www.waterskiaustin.com/Competition/Rules/index.htm

Anyone skiing a 67" D3 RCX with a Slot fin? If so, what are you fin settings? Which wing do you use? How does this compare to the stock D3 fin/wing? I'm just interested in any impressions from others before considering a switch to this fin...

Women's Trick Finals up soon...

I'm good! Close your browser and restart.

It seems that the Internet service at the site had changed thus, the bandwidth was the issue. Today, they have a different path to the internet on the site. It seems to be streaming very well. I do like the fall-back "plan B" of audio only when bandwidth and connection issues are present!

@Horton, You may need a sub 35 off tester... I can help with that! Ship the skis to me after @dsmart.

Overhead Video... I think one of these folks could do it! http://copterkidsllc.com/2010/12/aerial-demo-reel/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmDADFsjpF4&feature=related

Austin, TX Boat Show is this week - weekend. I know we'll see a Malibu LXI and a SN200. Beyond that, who knows... http://www.austinboatshow.com http://www.austinboatshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/CDS-Directional-Floor-Plan.jpg

at 3:10...  nice....!

My name is Todd Leach. I started water skiing at 13 when my dad brought home some wooden combos from a garage sale. We skied behind a 55HP Johnson (yea, me and my Johnson…) on an old fishing boat with no steering wheel – only a stick. Within a year, I was up on slalom.  By the time I was 16, we’d upgraded our boat to one with a steering wheel (yea!), and I had convinced my dad to let me and two friends take the boat to the local public lake (Lake Georgetown) every weekday during the summer while he was at work.  That was the best: dawn patrol every M-F, ski until about 11 am, pick up girls at the lake’s swim beach, home by 2pm, nap, then out on the town for the night, rinse and repeat.  I had seen slalom competition on ESPN and had a subscription to Water Ski magazine, so I knew about competition; but with no internet back then, I didn’t even know there where two competition sites within 30 miles. The summer after my freshman year in college, a girl at the home town told me about a ski lake in the middle of the corn fields just 20 minutes from my parent’s house where you could pay about $12 and get a lesson on the slalom course. I met Jody Hooten, the son of the family who owned the site, who taught me to, “sink in with the knees on the turns, and lean behind the boat.â€Â Later that summer, I entered my first tournament in the Novice (now called Fun) division. I was hooked. That next spring, my new girlfriend (who later became my wife) and I discovered the University of Texas Water Ski Team.  We both tried out and made the team.  As typical with collegiate skiing, we learned all three disciplines: slalom, trick, and jump. I never excelled with jump, but enjoyed and pursued slalom and trick.  Not surprising, one of the team members was the son of the private lake owner who gave me that first lesson.  Back then, the rules were different and only the top two ski teams when to nationals, and there was no division 2.  With ULL and ULM in our SCR division, UT never got to experience nationals. We seemed to always come in 3rd place, but barely beating out A&M.   After graduating from UT, I pursued a masters degree at SWT (now called Texas State). Again, back then the rules were that graduate students could not compete, not even on “B†team. Still, I paid dues, drove, and coached the SWT Ski Team so as to stay active with the sport.  Many people know that college ski teams are the best and most affordable way to have access to competition skiing and expensive inboard ski boats.   It also worked out well, in that all of my classes were in the evenings, so I could be at the lake most days. During that time, the rules changed to allow a 3rd team to go to nationals if last year’s winner came from you region.  With ULL and ULM, SCR region almost always got to take a 3rd team to nationals after this rule change.  Also during my time with SWT, they beat out my alma mater, UT and placed 3rd at regionals – earning them a trip to nationals. While getting started in my career and getting married to my college girlfriend, I kept active in local competitions via our local club. I started and still host/author the local competition club’s web site: http://www.waterskiaustin.com. Also, about this time, the lake owner’s son was heading off to medical school and could no longer keep the ski school lessons going.  I picked up that service and have been known as “Coach Leach†ever since (like 13 years). I’ve taught hundreds from 3 to 78 how to ski or advance their skills to the next level.  The ski school has been a hit and is really keeping the sport alive in our area. Funny story - one year, I got a call from a lady whom I thought was a mom asking about how the lessons worked. She had a lot of questions, but I was happy to tell her about the ski school. In a few weeks, the school was all of the sudden over-whelmed with kids from a nearby town. It turns out that the caller was a volunteer reporter for one of those free ad-based magazines that you see in the waiting rooms of local businesses all over town.  Every stay-at-home mom was loading up the mini-van full of the neighborhood kids and bringing them to ski school for them to learn how to ski!  I wish I could have cloned myself and expanded that summer. Today, I have a son who is 9 years old. He loves sports (basketball, flag football, baseball, karate) and music (piano, guitar, choir). He started skiing at 3 and is now on slalom and just now running the full course. He comes out to ski school every week and swims/fishes/skis and rides in the boat during many lessons – especially when other kids are learning.  Last year, he started wanting to coach, too. So I let him talk to the skier at the end of the next pass. To my amazement, he said, “Adam – that was a very good pass. I really liked how you kept you chest up and proud. Now, let’s do that again, but this time let’s bring your hips forward, too.â€Â   Wow. Positive reinforcement, describing the correct position, and clearly explaining the action desired – signature coaching at 8 years old.   I guess soon, he’ll be running the ski school… So, by now you can tell, I like to tell stories.  I guess it’s time to get to the typical bio stuff… I’m 41 (damn, I don’t feel that old) and live in Round Rock, TX.  I currently ski at Frameswitch Ski Lakes behind a 06’ Malibu LXi, recently updated ECM and Zero Off. My tournament best is 5 at -28/34MPH.  Practice PB is 2 at -32.   I ski on a 67†D3 RCX with Strada sequence plate and boots.  I trick on 43†D3 custom and my best score is 1280 which I have done repeatedly. (Man, I need to learn more tricks…)  This year, I was on path for a break out PB season, when I took a stupid fall in August while practicing tricking resulting in a partial tear of my rotator cuff (no surgery, though).  It still hurts when I reach behind my back (wise-crack PT guy says, “then don’t do thatâ€). I hope to get this resolved over the off season and come back strong in 2011. I love coaching.  If I could win the lottery and never have to worry about money, I’d coach skiing every day for the rest of my life. I am genuinely invested in each skier’s progress, and it shows in my patience and commitment. I don’t have all of the titles to back it up, but I do have a knack for figuring out what words will “click†for the students.  Recently, I got one of the best complements from a good friend (I think his best is a couple at -38 off) who has skied most of his life, but is struggling with new skis and new styles.  We had met up on his way through town for a bite and were talking shop.  (I’m sure the other patrons were wondering as I demonstrated some of the motions.)  After a quick chat about counter rotation and handle-control, he looked up at me and said, “you just solidified in less than 5 minutes what at least four $100/set coaches haven’t been able to explain to me in the past two years.â€Â Full disclosure – I was just sharing my interpretation of what I’ve learned on here (handle control, center of mass, light on the line, elbows into vest, etc.). I guess I just put it in the right words for him... Thanks to all who participate in BOS and to Horton for keeping this site alive so that we can share ideas and successes!

Paint one whole wall with whiteboard or chalkboard paint.   Then, put on it a true-scale slalom course 55's to 55's.   They can discuss technique or coordinates, etc. by drawing paths on it, or just have fun describing passes with it...

It's all about Position during the Lean, Edge Change, and Turning...   Seems like there's a lot of articles and discussion on Leaning and Turning.   How about an in depth discussion on edge changes? When to do the edge change at 30 MPH, -15?  Same question at 34 MPH, -28?  again at -35? How fast to edge change?  (at 30 MPH -15, 34 MPH -28, -35) Weight balance (front foot/back foot) during the edge change? Why? Any body position adjustments during the edge change?  why? Push the ski out in front during the edge change? why? Handle control - your take on this with regards to during the edge change? Bad angle / weak lean... now does the skier have to change the way they edge change to salvage the pass? Locked into mega lean / extreme lean... now does the skier have to change the way they edge change to salvage the pass? How critical is the edge change?  Respond to this: "skier's turns suck..." maybe the root cause is the edge change before it? Respond to this: "skier's leans suck..." maybe the root cause is the edge change before the turn preceding the lean?I think you get the idea...Â

So, I am just now reading this thread...   I have AS (Ankylosing Spondilitis) - or arthritis of the spine.  It was diagnosed in my late teens. It started off as deep hip pain that was related to unspecific movement (movement from any single static position to a diff static position). SI joints were the root cause. Severe inflammation and eventual fusion.  Thankfully, drug treatment has been sufficiently effective to avoid the "bambo" spine level of fusion.  I took all sorts of NSAIDs, but about 5 years ago I started on Embrel (1/wk self injections).  Before the pain was manageable, but always there.  Now, the pain is gone. Embrel stops the chemical triggers of inflammation way up stream... so much so that future calcification and fusion are completely prevented.  Once the pain went away, I started realizing that my limited range of motion wasn't just guarding and inflammation. Today, I have limited range of motion by about 10-20% of normal in all directions, but no fusion in my lumbar or thoracic spine.  However, my cervical spine's facet joints have arthritically fused in several locations (C2-3, C4-5, and C6-7).  I can turn my head 45 degrees to each side, barely look up, and tilt about 40 degrees.  I can look down fully. There's no pain. Rather, when I turn or tilt my head, it just stops sooner than normal.   My doc said, stop skiing.  I said no.  I ski with a Scarpa Bull Collar to further support my neck and minimize moving beyond my limited rang of motion, and I throw the handle often.  I love skiing and still aspire to one day get past 35 off (currently struggling in the deep 28 off range).  I ski smart, safe, and live to ski another day.   For you guys with SI joint pain, ask your doc about AS. If I could have started on Embrel sooner, I may have never had the cervical fusion.  Â

DN / GMC, The area of the curve under the line (skier's force pulling speed down) has to equal the area of the curve above the line (the throttle force pulling the speed up) so that they cancel each other out with ideal speed between any two buoys. Â Â This is an absolute with ZO since it must provide ideal times at each buoy. The goals are simple: 1) Ski with as minimal skier force to minimize the amount of reaction the throttle has to use to compensate. 2) Attempt to best match your force curve with the right letter/number combination so as to further reduce the area of both curves. Thus... A) If you hit the boat hard out of the buoy, you want the throttle to react sooner and harder so that the net impact of your pull is neutral to the overall boat speed. Â Â B) If you are soft and pull long out of the buoy, then you want the throttle to react lighter and later so that the net impact of your pull is neutral to the overall boat speed. Â Â Consider how your pull style changes from starting pass to final pass and why your letter/number setting might need to change, too. Regards, Todd

lakeaustinskier - skills for itermediate skiers - this should be a new topic... But since you asked... 1) Body Position, body position, body position, body position - that's 4, right?  Seriously, the proper stance while riding, edging, crossing the wake is key.  2) Next is smooth, fluid, progressive actions. No jerky movements. Initiation of a lean motion across the wake should start from an excellent stance with an initial edge that is subtle and easy and the lean and edge should smoothly and fluidly increase in balance with the load from the boat. 3) Edge change should not involve stance adjustments - stay stacked and balanced through the edge change.  4) Carve the turns with the full ski via pressure under both feet (no rear-leg pushing).  Let the ski do the turn - the skier's job is the wake crossing.  5) Finally, handle control should be developed as early as possible.  Yeah, that's about it...  But it all starts with body position, body position, body position.Â

http://www.ballofspray.com/images/stories/AndyBin.JPG Does this picture bother anyone else?  I just look at it and think - why? Those skis could be donated to wakeboarders everywhere to lure them from the darkside.   Heck, I need a few good benches on my deck...  Why the waste!!!???!!   Andy - PM me and we'll work out a distribution channel for discarded skis...

I teach a lot of people (teens and adults) how to slalom ski.  A question that often stumps me is, "What ski do you think I should buy?" The typical skier is one who aspires to eventually run the course, but has yet to get around a buoy.  This skier is able to cross the wakes in one lean motion, but the body position is still developing as is the skier's confidence.  The skier is truly a beginner in terms of course skiing, but could be considered intermediate in terms of free skiing. Often these skiers are not going to drop down $300+ on a new intermediate ski.  So, I am often wanting to recommend a used ski. What do you guys think?  What makes/models of skis in that 1-3 year's old range would make excellent skis to begin to learn the course? Also, if you have a recommendation for a new model maybe over $300 that really is worth mentioning because it is really all that for beginners, then that is cool, too. Or, if you have a recommendation for an older model that still stands the test of time, share it, too. Regards, ToddL

I've always heard that the front foot's ankle bone should be at the center point of the length of the trick ski. -T

Has anyone considered this mount for a ski? http://www.amazon.com/Delkin-Devices-DDMOUNT-MINI-Knuckle-Suction/dp/B002K8Q0EU

Is it time for a review oof the prior survey?    http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1138 Even though the survey did not find a correlation between skier level (line length) and letter, I do think the theory has merit. Â

http://www.theproskitour.com/images/stories/momen.jpg from the proskitour web site.

Our boat just got ZO installed.  So, we are all scrambling to become familiar with it. I'd like to put together a quick ref card with some basics.   Below is what I have.   What would you add/remove?    ZERO OFF QUICK REFERENCE NOTES 1.      On start-up,system is in Recreational mode. 2.      Tap Select button until the Event ishighlighted. 3.      Tap Up or Down buttons to scroll to select the desiredEvent. 4.      With desired event displayed, HOLD the Selectbutton for 2 secs to go directly to tournament mode. ·        ScreenPages: Tap Select button until ◊ ishighlighted. Tap Up or Down buttons toscroll to Recreational, Tournament, or Timing screens ·        While in Tournament mode, HOLD the Select buttonfor 2 secs to bring up the Timing Recapscreen. ·        Main Menu(Rec Mode, Settings, Courses, Skier Profiles): HOLD On/Off Menu button.

Strada! Keep the laces looser than you think counted to.