bxroads

As kona suggested, fit is a personal thing and the only way to know which is the better fit for you is to try both the Masterlines and the Vice. I normally wear large gloves and the medium Masterlines did not fit snug enough for my tastes. The large Vice fit just as I like a glove to fit. If you're like me and do not have the luxury of a retail location nearby that carries the gloves and you must order them, I would suggest to order the Vice in the size that you normally wear and the Masterline in both the size you normally wear and one size smaller. Keep the glove that fits you the best and return the others.

Wow! Skied at 26 this afternoon. My first thought was "darn this is slow", my next thought was "If 26 feels so much slower than 30 I'll never make 34". Angie (my wife) was pulling me and no one else was in the boat so there's no vidoe. It took me at least six passes to get use to the slower speed then it started coming around. All I did was shadow balls but I got three pretty easy without trying. Whats odd is that the last time I skied at 28 it wore me out physically. This time at 26 was totally opposite. It was late afternoon and I only had time for one set. I skied 19 passes and felt fine, very little fatigue and not winded at all when I got back in the boat. I swear I could do it again now. Hope to get video tomorrow. Man this is fun!

Bruce, I'm a big Francis Chan and Mark Driscoll fan. I watch and listen to their stuff all the time. Its finally getting through to me. At 38 I'm just learning to ski and growing closer to God. Life is good! My testimony is anything but boring, its never to late!

For personal reasons, I just left a very stressful job which carried a lot of responsibility. I gave up a lot of money to take a less stressful, less demanding, and less time consuming job. The wife actually encouraged it and I couldn't be happier. Its amazing how our priorities can get out of control. Sure we've had to cut back but I'm as happy now as I've ever been and my 10 year old and 7 year old have their dad back (actually I should say they finally get a dad, I haven't been around much)! And I'm actually getting to ski! Read the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. If you are a Christian the book can't help but make you want even less.

Jody, fyi, the video is from Chad's lake. Neat place.

.....and yes, you are correct, patience is not one of my virtues.

It did sink in (all except that "get out of the course" part). Remember the biggest problem I had that day was straight, stiff, front leg. He got me past that. You know me, I just like to get different perspectives and maybe one MIGHT click for me. Lots of good stuff posted. I like visuals and related well to Robert's youtube videos. Can't wait to ski again! Is Scott coming this weekend? Saturday we are having a bunch of teenagers over at our lake (church youth group) so I'm out for Saturday, but maybe I can manage Sunday? I love skiing with you guys, and at Cory's too. Fun stuff!

I just watched Robert Marking's youtube training videos. Good stuff! Going outside to try it now.

Thanks for all the info! I'm going to slow it down and try to get more video this weekend, keeping everything else in mind too.

In case someone else would like to see it, here's Horton's article http://www.ballofspray.com/component/content/article/35-ballofspray-water-ski-news/54-basic-relaxed-position

Laz, sounds good. I'll give it a shot.

Richarddoane, trying a larger ski is a good idea. I've actually got a 69" Synchro that would float me at 10 mph I think. That thing is huge. I haven't skied on it in a while. I'll bust it out this weekend and give it a shot. Thanks!

Jody is going to get me for looking across course, and bending my arms, and not getting my hips up, or as he likes to say, PUSH the handle down and push the hips up. Quit pulling! It so simple, I dont know why I cant get it. At the start of the year I kept straightening my front leg. At least thats improved.

28 mph is a lot of work at my weight.

I just uploaded to youtube but it has been saying "This video is currently being processed" for about 10 minutes now. I've never uploaded to youtube so I don't know if this is normal.

9400, you nailed me without even watching the video. Thanks for the articles. MS, you aren't the only one to tell me to get out of the course. Guess I'm just stubborn. I have good intentions but always end up on the course. jwr, its the factory fin setting with the wing removed. The Stradas are mounted with the individual plates set to the center.

At the age of 38, I just seriously started slalom skiing at the end of last year. Jody Seal got me into it about three years ago (thanks man!) but I was fat and out of shape and developed tendinitis in my forearms/elbow/shoulders so bad I could hardly even dress myself. The first two years I skied less than 8 sets total which included learning how to get up on a ski so you can't really even count them. I had to lay off until the end of the 2010 season. By then I had got into better shape and my tendinitis was all but gone thanks to stretching, push ups, and a gyro ball so at the end of the season I started skiing again, probably skied a total of 10 - 15 sets last year. I held up well this time and was pumped for the 2011 season. I've still not skied enough (not convenient) this year but I'm trying, with a total of about 15 sets (average 8 passes per set) so far this year. Bottom line is that I've not skied much but feel healthy and ready. All that said, I feel SO discouraged, as if I'm never going to make the course. I'm 5'8", 195 lbs and skiing a 67" Theory with Strada boots at 30 mph. I know there are many, many things I need to work on but what I am frustrated with most is getting the tip of the ski down. I feel like no matter how much weight I get on the front foot the tip is to high, from the glide out all the way through the course (shadowing balls). Any suggestions? I'll try to post a video shortly. I've never uploaded a digital video so I hope I can figure it out. Thanks in advance.

I agree with your sizing assessment. I normally wear larges. The medium Masterlines fit me better than the larges. I literally couldnt even get the medium Vice on my hand. The large Vice fit perfectly snug, as I like it.

I've all three. I like the Vice best without question but it all depends on how you like the fit. The Masterline has larger, more roomy fingers, they feel to loose for my taste. The Vice and Goode fit about the same, a much more snug fit, but the Goodes do not have the velcro strap across the top of the hand, they only have the strap around the wrist and for some reason I can't keep it from coming loose. For me, its the Vice by a landslide.

How do you get the water so blue

I'm a new skier and love the Radar system. The Theory/Strada boots is what I'm on now but have a Senate C in waiting. Doubt I'll ever need more but then there's the Strada. I love their Vice clinchers as well. I've talked to Eddie a few times and he's been more than helpful. Radar will get my dollars as long as they keep it up.

jthomas, you can find closeouts of previous year model skis for smoking deals, though they're probably all gone. As you mentioned, the ski did change in 2011 but you wont be disappointed with the earlier design, as that is the ski everybody raves about. Try H2oz and Performance Ski. As for the Strada boots, expect to pay retail. Check this Theory out on ebay. You're not going to find anything cheaper for sure. Though I'd do as you suggested, spend $100 more and get a 2011. http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-Radar-Theory-Water-Ski-NEW-Factory-Blem-67-/150465367190?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23086f4c96#ht_500wt_1156

38 and just start skiing. I'm about 30 years late but at least I'm here!

Ed, I'll give you $100 for it (grin)

Note to self, look for a smoking deal on an old MPD