rfa

@gavski, yes the speed is a given and the "trusted"/accurate parameter in ZO. The beeps represent traveled pre-set distances (standard course dimensions!) based on boat speed.

@gavski, I believe I understand your point. Since it is possible to get a fixed signal to identify/locate the course, why rely on a GPS signal that may drift over time? Fair enough. However, as @BRY explained, ZO is a speed control system. It will pull you at the set speed anytime it is ON, whether in the course or free skiing. "The timings are based on a known distance...all useless if the position info is junk..."... No. The timings are based on a known speed.

Well, I was one of the lucky ones who got to shake Mike's hand just after his 1@39...not sure I use "ridiculous" to describe that run...it was...well, awesome! Or to agree with @Than_Bogan how about ridiculously awesome?

My take on "skiing with a sprained finger", after seeing @PatM "provide a demonstration" this weekend, is that one can ski awesome with that condition...haha. Well done Pat!

@Chef23 , let me fix the last sentence in your post for you..."fortunately, I am only 52..."

@Horton Haha, thanks. If you liked the 66" better, I suspect you'd recommend a 65" for me at 140...correct?

same question as @skibrain ...also, sorry to be personal, but what's your weight?

Maybe I am just naive or do not understand the "politics" in waterskiing (if any). But with all due respect to all, I struggle to understand how it is possible to continue to speculate about this, without any officials, lake owners and skiers setting the record straight (unless they have and I missed it). Using @Horton post above, we're still speculating...either an unintentional long rope type scenario, or a nefarious one. In either case, it seems inconceivable to me that no official explanation has been received. Even the lower level tournaments I attend, have videos for boat path, gates, etc. They measure my handle, the boat ropes, etc. Supposedly this is a world class site...is it even possible it's not surveyed? Seems to me that those things could be checked pretty easily. The Dr. Michael's scenario does not make any sense for comparison here. This is not a sport that moves millions of $s...I have a hard time believing officials, lake owners, professional skiers would conspire to sully their reputations... I sincerely hope I am not just naive...

Sorry @Bdecker, would have answered yes a few years ago when i replaced an aging portable with a new one...it is long gone now. Good luck

Congrats @"Pat M"! Best wishes with the new 200.

@Jmoski, yes the 196 spent several years at Quinsigamond, until @vtjc took her away last week. She belonged to a good friend of mine, who docked it at my house. Great boat. Will miss her. Good luck @vtjc

Key question is how many more feet or inches, did the Camaro give you? Ha.

@Than, having had dinner this weekend with said "3-event skier", I confirm her intent to try the pole vault...excellent recruiting job!

Below is a post I made in another discussion ("where does speed come from") that applies here. I had just spent 3 days with Adam Caldwell at Trophy lakes and shared my thoughts I am not nearly a good enough skier to contribute to this discussion in terms of knowledge or advice. My engineering background does help me understand the physics and technical parts of this topic. Even so, I agree it is sometimes difficult to grasp all the concepts when described in writing without visual aids. Well, this week, I had the privilege to spend 3 days with @adamhcaldwell at Trophy Lakes. You can tell just by how well he's able to describe his concepts in writing, how much he knows this "stuff". But 3 days of drawing diagrams, showing videos, discussing the physics with 3-D visuals, watching him ski (practicing what he preaches...), seeing some of his ski/fin technology development, etc. was a real treat. If I can only put in practice some of what I learned... Thank you @adamhcaldwell So, @cragginshred my first advice is yes, if you can, go ski with Adam. His 9-point advice above will come into focus. I know that I will not be able to incorporate all I learned and understood into my skiing. BUT, I also know that my gates will be better than ever before because I understood it, saw it done (Adam skied everyday when i was there) and was able to focus and FEEL it myself. His point #6 may make you think you'll miss the gates (if your current approach is anything like mine). No worries, it works! One more thing...if you go, "order" warmer weather, than I did, haha...

@MuskokaKy, I have known @DRail for a long time, skied many times with him mostly in NY, also in MA...good guy! Tell him Rui said so...as far as who ships or pays first, that's between the two of you. Good luck.

@Than, fortunately for you, you can get pole vault and slalom advice from the same person...@adamhcaldwell. When I was in SC, he referenced pole vaulting several times, both in terms of his background, but also with relation to skiing....good stuff...HNY to you and don't get hurt...

I am not nearly a good enough skier to contribute to this discussion in terms of knowledge or advice. My engineering background does help me understand the physics and technical parts of this topic. Even so, I agree it is sometimes difficult to grasp all the concepts when described in writing without visual aids. Well, this week, I had the privilege to spend 3 days with @adamhcaldwell at Trophy Lakes. You can tell just by how well he's able to describe his concepts in writing, how much he knows this "stuff". But 3 days of drawing diagrams, showing videos, discussing the physics with 3-D visuals, watching him ski (practicing what he preaches...), seeing some of his ski/fin technology development, etc. was a real treat. If I can only put in practice some of what I learned... Thank you @adamhcaldwell

@ral, as promised I was able to locate the instructions I used when I replaced the GPS pucks several years ago. Obviously, if the culprit is elsewhere, no need to replace them. Hope this helps. Good luck!

From a previous post in 2015... "I replaced the two pucks on my '08LXi this summer. Called ZO tech support and after he told me the cost of the new pucks AND without my prompt, told me i should find the same puck for less money elsewhere. Gave me the part # Garmin GPS18x-5Hz. At the time the cheapest I found was at www.gpscity.com...$139.95. Installed them and ZO system worked immediately." I recall it was reasonably straightforward to install...may have some instructions in my computer...will check tomorrow

Sending the very best wishes your way

@pregom this is Rui. I understand you were travelling out of the country after we met at Oakham this summer and we never connected. Nothing has changed here since we talked... we can try to re-connect given the same uncertainties that our public site presents. I recall we were trying for a weekday morning set at some point. Text me if you still have my #, or PM. Hope you are well.

Confusing photo...are the rollers from the boat? they're still at the mini-course buoy and boat already out of the pic. how close are the children to the turn bouy? But back to your question...I'm assuming it's a floating course. If the turn buoy arm is bent then this is "not ok". Another possible explanation is that the turn buoy and gate are aligned, BUT one of the gate buoys is loose and just floating freely. This is a common symptom when buoy lines are not the same length. Hopefully, for the sake of the skiers, this was the issue and the turn buoy was in the right place.

Awesome! Best news of the day my friend!

Congrats @AdamCord !!! @lpskier, how did Adam look compared to when we saw him ski in NY? By the way, I "heard" @lpskier also skied very well! Congrats as well!

Well done my friend @Chef23 ! Great news!