greghayes

Here's another good one - https://www.michaelhayesjewelers.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

@HighAltitude - a good way to train your drivers is to have them pay attention to engine RPM. It should always be slightly below your straight line RPM around your island. How much below depends on your specific boat and setup. Experiment a little and I think you'll get a more enjoyable pull and your drivers will thank you.

@Ed_Johnson - I tried to get a pull about 4 years ago at this site. Lots of Suyderhoud memorabilia on the ski shop walls and some vintage Nautiques. But they were pulling tubes and parasails. About 6 years ago I took a free slalom ride on the river in Kauai, but the course was gone. I'd love to know of any active sites on the Hawaiian islands - I believe that the Oahu ski club still exists out in the harbor.

For the 6L engine at sea level - Acme 515 is the way to go. This is based on the last 4 seasons with this setup. And this is the same prop that is being used on the new Malibu 6L boats coming from the factory.

@LoopSki - whoa - what marina is that picture from? I've never seen that much driftwood in many, many years on that lake.

I've always had better luck with a fatter handle - 1.04 or greater - less blistering, etc. My tween/teen kids even like my handles. FWIW.

Definitely get the wedge plate - since that can't be added later. The next owner can decide whether they want the wedge and/or tower. Why take the upfront risk/depreciation on something that won't be used by the club?

@OB1 - I am running a 2012 Txi with the wedge up. No complaints/difference without it. Have fun with the kids!

Some smart manufacturer will come up with a ski subscription service. Trade in your ski for the latest model every 18 months for a mere $100 per month fee. Ski tuning included. @Than_Bogan - was I reading too much between the lines or is this what you might have been alluding to?

@CParrish43 is a "Ricky" the Florida version of a west coast "Wally"?

@horton - I anecdotally agree from personal experience, but why do you think that may be the case?

I always knew duct tape was a solution to almost any problem. Thanks for the idea.

This has my vote for best thread of 2016. @Horton, the envelope please... "and the award goes to @adamhcaldwell." I just had to replace my snow ski boots and my boot-fitter put a heel lift in to compensate for my lack of dorsiflexion. This triggered a thought about my COM in waterskiing and after reading this entire thread, I am going to try some heel lifts in my Reflex front boot ASAP. Rather than making slight fin adjustments, I can move my COM forward a few inches with a simple heel lift! Any suggestions on good heel lifts that anyone has had good luck with? I am thinking that the water will break down the cork ones too quickly.

The Far West course was my first access to a legitimate slalom course. While I won't make it this weekend, I donated to the cause. Have a great time all. Thanks to @Horton for promoting and I'd encourage anyone who believes in open water slalom access to donate - this is one of a dying breed... Keep the dream alive guys!

I like that orange ski-doc. Simple and effective.

+1 on Basta. Great design - they seem to be popular in CA. I know a guy in Bako who installs them - maybe he would travel, if you can't find a NoCal connection.

Great read - after trying to apply the measurement techniques, it seems to me that this guy really had the right idea - Link Too bad it seems to be discontinued.

Bond and waterskiing go way back - here's the latest incarnation (courtesy of Heineken). My personal favorite moment is the cheeky Hervé Villechaize cameo at 0:15 - he was an authentic henchman in "The Man with the Golden Gun." https://youtu.be/pA4tnWPvy6g

I'd reiterate what the wise @Cayman2 wrote. "don't take the ski, don't whine about every lake you drive past, and go all in on family vaca." I recently considered taking skis on a recent visit to Oahu and decided that burning a day, bumming a couple of rides, but being on someone else's schedule (despite one of kids being fully into it) wasn't worth the overall cost to the family vacation experience. We ended up creating some other great Hawaiian memories and spending time with old friends. I'll make up my slalom passes at home later this summer.

Thanks for your Flow Point series, especially the latest episode (S2 EP4) - Bullards Gnar. Having grown up skiing on sites like Bullards Bar, Lake Shasta, Lake Nacimiento and the Sacramento Delta, this latest episode captured a quintessentially Californian experience of being on the water in the summer. Your series is evocative, aspirational and narrative in the spirit of the great Warren Miller. @MarcusBrown - you've captured the spirit of the west coast - keep the fire burning bright! http://www.ballofspray.com/video/82-pro-skiers-video/2394-bullards-gnar-flowpoint-tv-s2-e4

Does this have inserts for binding plates, like the N1? It's not obvious from the Goode marketing.

Strangely, I voted for the 1999 Nautique, although I sold my '97 with the same hull and now ski behind the '12 TXi. If there were an easier ZO conversion for those old boats, that would be the best value.

I hate to hijack this interesting thread - but it is so esoteric and poignant a reference that I can't resist. @bbirlew - you are right on that Mille Bourne is a great summer memory and still a great game from that era. I bought a couple of vintage decks on ebay to share with my family and it is a favorite already. @than_bogan, I also don't recognize those cards as part of the original game. Whether they are or not, great reference and prompt for this community! Roullez. On the actual topic of this thread - promo boats are the way to go.

You are asking the right question @horton. Keep pressing until the bureaucrats take notice. My 2 cents is that exposure is an end, not a means. ESPN doesn't exist to provide exposure - it harvests popularity and sells that audience to advertisers. It is on us to make the sport relevant and popular and the TV exposure will follow.