PT Mike

Skied my first tourney in 98, went out @ 26mph 15 off, missed, took my mulligan and got 3 @30 mph fist pumping all the way back to the dock. Lots of free skiing w/ no coaching for quite a few years. Took down the green loop twice last year in the same tourney(men 4). It's been a long road here on Long Island. Lets just say I'll just keep chippin' away @ the blue loop!

Last Tuesday, Lake Diane, FL Just busting your horns OB!

2008 Fantasy Camp. My buddies are always reminding me that my life is one big fantasy.

Mike Cantamessa 48 yrs old, Long Island,NY Boro Supervisor for NYC Dept. of Transportation I ski on a tidal flat behind Jones Beach and @ Twin Lakes in Monroe, NY Took down the green loop twice last year @ the same tournament!! Goal for next year is to get more consistent @ 32

@otisg Thanks, but I'm pretty sure I want the poly mainline setup.

Not my quirk but a ski buddies and this is no BS. Once he's on the platform, in his ski and ready to go he stands there and drains his bladder! He doesn't drop his shorts either, just stands there and pee's. I told him he should really talk to someone about this.

I told Than he looked like Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters with the goatee. He just looked at me kind of funny. Does anyone else see it or should I tone down my scotch intake?

Thanks for the input. I must have had a brain fart, but I forgot all about Ed. Bought a bunch of orange buoys from him last spring, super nice guy and a big contributor on this site. I'm going to give Ed a call.

I'm looking into a portable course. I have absolutely no experience with portable courses as we have a permanent course we use during the season on Long Island but our course time is limited by the tide. Would like to be able to throw down a portable course mid day when it's warmer to extend the season. Course will be removed at the end of the day. Has anything really changed over the years? Do the older systems all have telescoping arms that snap into place? I see an Insta Slalom for sale in CT on skiitagain for $700 only a hour and a half drive for me. I'll be using it in salt water but only a handful of times a year and only on a daily basis. I was thinking that the poly mainline would be easier to handle. BTW i don't have the time to build one. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

Like @JackQ said, and it doesn't burn if you take some up the nose but you might hurl if you take enough in your stomach!!

What @skibug said. The kevlar glove liners are super cheap on all the industrial sites, Grainger,MSC, McMasterCarr etc. Since I started with the kevlar liners I haven't had an issue since.

48 year old Men 4 skier 5'11" Medium frame. Got pretty hardcore last fall with a cardio workout and personal trainer. Went from 200lbs. down to 180. I'm in the best shape now since I was 25. Buoy count hasn't improved...yet. I try to ski 2-3 times per week and sometimes double down on the weekends. Work out is down to one hour with the PT plus 1/2 hour cardio tues. & thur. eves. With skiing in full swing it's hard to get a night off. I know most guys ease off the gym during ski season but with the results i got I'm having a hard time letting it go. Thoughts?

I'm running masterline LG gloves w/ liners and a 1.030 masterline handle. When you find what works for you buy an extra setup. This way your always ready.

Do some drills and free ski... A lot. Kind of eases you into it. Helps eliminates the potential yard sale/injury

@ home, on the phone, after dinner & drinking!!!

@GAJ0004 I always considered myself a Mastercraft guy; still have my 96 PS 190 but have you skied or driven the late model SN196? I made 4 trips to FL. This winter & finally spent some time driving & skiing the 196. It's quite the slalom tug & you can probably get in one under 30K

Hey Than, are you skiing Johns R tourney in July? He doesn't like long haired freaks, on your face or your head. He's been trying.to get rid of me since I showed up 8 years ago!

I ski @ Twin Lakes, about 65 miles north of NYC but my home site is the Mack Daddy. Long Islands South Shore right behind Jones Beach.

I'm pretty sure you have to be in tournament mode to get the timer w/ PP SG

Back I the day I was taking a footin' lesson @ Ron Scarpas; as we idled out their was a pretty big gator getting some sun on an abandoned dock. As I expressed my concern Ron said that I had a better chance of getting attacked by a deer back in NY than getting attacked by a gator in FL!

Now that this thread is almost done I would like to add my 0.02 I tangle with the green loop here & there & what my buddy preaches to me is your 32 gate is the same as your 28 gate is the same as your 22 gate and so on. It works for me, the only thing I change @ the shorter rope is my intensity behind the boat. I agree that "soft" is not a good term.

@ east tx skier if that pic was black & white it would pass for the 50's 60's era!

@OB, no offense but all my injuries over the years have been at tourneys, it's the only place I really let it hang out. Practice is practice. I'm quick to stop/ throw the handle when things go wrong but @ tourneys I'm shooting for a PB.

I used to ski double hi wraps & switched to Fogmans because of a problematic rear ankle. I love the the Fogmans, but as @9400 said stuff the tip and your in trouble. Tweaked my front ankle (the good one) last year pretty good in such a fall. 2 years of PT & a special brace & rear ankle is almost 100%. Now the front ankle, which I've wrecked numerous times is almost done. seriously thinking about the front Reflex w/ the Wileys RTP. There is no 100% safe boot/binding system keep doing your homework and make a decision based on your gut feeling and skiing style. Good luck!

@jefflyman I'm about to start my second season on Fogmans due to some serious rear ankle issues. A whole winter of PT and the clamping effect of the Fogmans had me skiing pretty close to pain free. Terrance was awesome to work with & I found the transition to hardshells to be no problem. My only concern is the low cuff design of the Fogmans. I'm also anticipating the review of the stealth boots.