JackQ

Engine Master is on Motor Trend Chanel (formally Velocity) season 6, episode 2. Maybe on line as well. @UWSkier, engine was Port injected, it is highly unlikely direct injection would be any different as it provide a more accurate control of the air fuel mixture.

They tried different advances for each fuel and were somewhat surprised that 29 degrees was optimal for all. Then did not observe any detonation on any fuel/runs. Boosted engines is a completely different scenario as cylinder pressure are much higher and detonation the enemy.

I watched the new episode of "Engine Masters" last night where they tested a LS 6.2 liter engine with 12.5 compression ratio with various octane fuels. They even tweaked the ECM's advance curve to determine what advance produced the best power for each fuel, which in all cases was 29 degrees: 87 Octane 539.4 HP, Torque 498.9 91 Octane 539.6 HP, Torque 501.1 110 Octane 539.9 HP, Torque 499.1 116 Octane 541.3 HP, Torque 497.4 The delta of 0.2HP and 2.2 ft/lbs between 87 and 91 octane fuel is insignificant, and they determined that the different results between all the runs were insignificant, as the difference between multiple runs on the same fuel varied just as much. For those who believe that you ski better on higher octane fuel, I continue to suggest that it is a placebo effect or just random. Similar on how I seem to ski better when the Orange portion of my handle bridle is on top vice the blue portion. Fire away!

Each successive shorting should be in smaller increments, something like: 13, 12, 11.25, 10.75, 10.5, 10.3 as the difficulty between passes becomes essentially exponential. The outlier of today, is the same shortening between 11.25 and 10.75, as there is between 10.75 and 10.25. Seems that their are a lot of opinions both ways on this question/issue, most from those who have never skied any of these passes. “A test is worth a thousand opinions” I suggest that this would be a good “demonstration tournament” for next year and see how the pros and spectators accept it. Even Formula One is trying new things to test the acceptance from their teams and audience. @klindy ?

Don’t believe the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution including the Bill of rights: has any relevance or jurisdiction of your rights to water ski or the governing body (USAWS) rules. If they decided within their governance structure that all skier need to wear purple bennies when skiing to remain a member they can.

We did get a crappy web site! But was a detriment not a benefit.

Dont know many top completive skier that haven’t had a tossed ski or two. In the past was not always on video.

In the words of Ronald Reagan, “ We can disagree without being disagreeable”. All to short of supply in recent times in many if not all venues.

I pull them tight every time I put the ski on. I replace the bungees, with same diameter every 3 months or so as they lose elasticity. I just bought 10 feet of them and has lasted for a few years.

I have always held the handle the “wrong way” as it is the same way I hold a bat. About 8 years ago, I switched as many recommended. I skied that way an entire season, didn’t help nor hurt. And the end of the year, I tried one pass, the old wrong way and kept ever since. I do not feel it has hurt my skiing one iota.

Better skier or better competitor, to me not necessarily the same. But if Andy was brought up with today's skis and equipment he would be even a better skier than he was.

The decision in 1905 from the Supreme Court was in reference to the mandate for smallpox vaccination. Fortunately for us, the mandate and compliance of our forefathers eradicated the disease.

@dthate, you need to do your homework. This question was settled by the Supreme court in 1905. Justice John Marshall Harlan Harlan, “upon the principle of self-defense, of paramount necessity, a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members.” Sort of like having laws against drunk driving, If you drive drunk you are much more likely to kill your self, but you put me at risk as well

Don’t see the 1/4 buoy rule as the culprit, the same error would likely resulted in a 1/2 buoy be given in error. The rule isn’t the issue the ability to make split second decision on a fast moving skier for a close call will always have opportunity for error. If you want to rally a ferment for change, change the gate rule back where hitting the gate on inside or outside is good only a miss is a miss.

It isn’t just the number (at boat guides) but how you get there, the driver needs to lead the dance (Lee Mershan speak) for the skier. You could get good number but have a bad pull, the bread crumbs is the best indicator. However, if a drive can get +5 at each buoy and attempts to do for all skier, more power to him. No matter what, as in all things in life some are going to be better than others.

@lpskier, I am with you. Florida Federation should be a separate thread, but I am more perturbed that they changed the “ski year” and the amount without notice. Major foul! Should have been, we are changing to price for next year on 1 Jan, then the year will start in for 2023 after the 2022 Nationals. For the folks that ski one or two tournaments a year this is just another disincentive.. Poorly executed at best,

@Horton that is a good thing, but on at least one occasion a ski did not float. In College my roommate; Guy Haggard bought a Apex ski (The one John Macleay set open record, 1st 38 off) on, screwed in his maha binders and skied. On the 2nd pass he fell and the ski sunk. We never could find it in the 25ft deep, murky, gator filled lake Micanopy, but we tried for hours. That was a major loss to a poor college student.

Agree with @Bruce_Butterfield with the additional “roll back” for both: 1. Having handle at boat guide line for full buoy, remove the has to have tight line, back to where you could just let the boat pull the handle out of your hands when you cross the line. I understand what they were trying to do, but the result is more dangerous than what they were attempting to correct. 2. 2. If you hit the entrance gate inside, outside, or anything between you are good, miss it entirely and you lose the gate. Much easier to call, especially for skiers at 41 or 43 where the tip of the ski can be outside the ball, but by the time the skier binder passes the gate it is inside. You need super slow motion replay to tell for sure. if the rule is you hit any part of the gate you are good, would be easy to score and for spectators to understand. Too many want to make the sport more complicated and obtuse, simpler is better.

I have been on double binders since late 1980s, I tried to transition to RTP and skied OK, but never consistently ran my hardest pass. I could tell that have my center of mass forward on my on side, could help over time. But after 4 months time I tried DB for one set, immediately felt more comfortable and ran my hardest pass that I could not with the RTP, and immediately sold the RTP. If I was younger or was willing to spend an entire season, maybe. But this old dog could not revive the old trick of the RTP

@Horton, We differ on philosophies. I adhere to what Andy Mapple told me to do, make all your passes the same as much as possible. Use the same cues for pull outs, etc, etc. Even so at least 28 gives you a warm up, get a feel for the lineups, winds etc. Different strokes for different folks. If 28 bothers you just start at 32, you need to have at least two starting passes to be able to react to the conditions, anyway.

My personal opinion: the 200 was a better skiing and driving boat. The new boat does not have a defined curl at the wakes(where I start my pull outs) just turbulence, distracting at a minimum. The wakes are more disruptive for lighter/smaller/ skier and/or don’t hold edge/ stack behind the boat. Additionally the hookup off the buoy at 38 and shorter seems to have a small delay and abruptness. Either I have adapted or a change with the 20/21 boats feel much better where I don’t really care what boat is pulling me.

I am with Bruce, My better performances are on my 5th pass. Most skiers start way too short/fast. Your 1st 2 passes should automatic, warming up, gaging your pullouts, head/tail, building a rhythm. You never miss unless you hit a duck or have 20kt tailwind at Nats. Your third pass should be your “should run pass” about 95% probability for me, the 4th pass the one you hope to run but frequently don’t, 5th is the pass you dream about, and likely only get a few buoys on your best day.

Jesus, hasn't ZBS made it hard confusing enough! Just man up and run 28 if 32,35,38 doesn't feel comfortable enough.

@GregHind it does not affect the timing, it only effects the throttle.

The conditions on Tuesday (Mens 7) were less than ideal. But, pay your money and take your chances. In my case, I feel I screwed up and my performance should have been better regardless of the conditions. Would I liked less than 20mph winds yes, but no complaints other than I sucked. Bad conditions are the great equalizer and test of will and determination.