I set my ski up and got out on it yesterday. I’m a donkey when it comes to fin tuning, but I followed the Denali recommendations for my speed and rope length and got close. My dft wound up 2/1000” longer than advised. The only other hiccup I encountered was my carbon sequence plate didn’t work with the rear holes. I’m not sure why, but whatever. I just moved my Radars over to dual plates and called it good enough for the likes of me.
My first pass started with an unnerving twitch and search as I was spinning into the course. I pulled out for the gates and the ski seemed to want to remain on the cutting edge. I glided just like Adam Caldwell and turned into the gates. Upon crossing the wake I began second guessing my fin set up, went flat and that bugger started bucking, darting, shutting down, and searching all at once! I made three buoys at my opener (ahem... 15@32mph) and then stood up freaking and waited for the pass to end. More than a little puckered.
As I sank into the water I was wishing I had brought my Evo with me. I wasn’t too keen on getting back on this monster and risk injury, but Justin said his C65 did that too and it likes to be on edge at all times. So I risked it and took another pass. This time I went from edge to edge like my life depended on it because it kinda’ did. And whamm-o! Instant gratification. I kept it there for the rest of the set, it was all I could do not to chop on my last pass.
The next set I was cold and hungry but stoked like only surviving a near death experience can stoke you. I pulled out for the gates. This time the ski rose up much better and I ran the opener easy breazy. Ran up the rope to 28 and had a great start but came off the handle at 4 (off side), nicked the buoy and skied inside 5. About 4 buoys shy of my pb - on a ski I was still very unsure of and intimidated by.
Going flat after the wakes is one my m.o.’s, so this ski is sure to cure me of that like an East German gymnastics coach. In the end I had never had so much fun skiing in my life. Hopefully it will all sort itself out into better form and eventually more passes.
Thanks Adams’!