lhoover

Our own Jason Staab, from the thriving metropolis and ski mecca of Hays, Kansas, won M3 at the Nationals, perhaps the most competitive division in our sport. In rather adverse conditions due to a previous evening of hard rain, Jason outlasted the 9 skiers that followed him, including Big Dawg champion Chad Scott. Congrats to all the BOS skiers at Nationals, and especially to Jason for bringing home the Gold Medal.

For all of us who remember the great Ken White, one of his favorites was "never ski alone".

KB, Know nothing of what you want but the best tecnical control (TC) man in the nation is right here in Houston. Elgin has been doing the TC thing around the world for decades and if you want, drop me an email and I'll give you his phone #. He is also the nicest guy West of the Mississippi and he is a treasure to have here in the SCR. khoover@wt.net

John, The Boy is the real deal! He skied lights out as KLP instructed him from their Acapulco meeting a couple of Winters ago. His lovely wife, Ann, and 3 great kids cheer him on in practice and in tourneys. P is a great reminder of how chasing balls in practice sets is NOT the way to advance. He runs the same pass methodically, say, 22off, working on technique and muscle memory. He tries to video most sets and keeps a log to review his progress. His humble beginnings of just a few years ago are paying dividends in spades. So pony up the jacket. It is well earned and deserved. Qualfying for his 1st Natls ought to earn him a cap, too. Agreed?

Joe, You did the right thing by letting my wife's sister's cousin's aunt's little orphan child, The J Man, ski in your tourney. It saved me the trouble of reserving the blacked out Lincoln to deliver on the threats. You weak-kneed skiers ever get some babes and some prize money in your p***ant sport, let me know. I might feign some interest at that point. Otherwise, keep the faith and have a good time--whatever that means to you slalom nerds. Peace, Tony Soprano

Jeff Greathouse When you turn into the gates of The Lakes of Cypress Hill, many thoughts cross your mind about this beautiful ski paradise. One of them has to be that if I lived at a place like this, even I could run 38off! Even I could qualify for Nationals! That’s what Jeff Greathouse was thinking in 1996 when he and his wife, Ernestine, bought a lot in NW Houston and moved into their house a year later. Jeff’s skiing background and goals were really no different from most tournament skiers. He skied his first tourney in 1989 at age 30, with a “ridiculous” desire to someday qualify for Regionals. He never even dreamed about going to Nationals as his practice sessions were becoming quite frustrating, skiing on public water. When a few of his friends moved to private lakes, he knew that was the ticket. He acknowledges that the combination of skiing with Chad Scott, a new technology in skis, speed control for boats, and protected waters got him to his first Nationals in 2000. And that Fall, he ran 38off for the first time in a tournament. Jeff continued to ski well for several years and lived the good life with Ernestine in their beautiful residence and ski site. But complacency set in and life changed in many ways after 2005. New changes at his job, less time on the water, blowing off exercise, after age 40 change of metabolism, and neglect of diet: all these contributed to his looking in the mirror one January day in 2008 at a near 240 lb., out of shape lump. He promised himself right then and there he was losing weight, and set a goal to run 38off again in a tournament. He had not done so in over 3 years. He lost more than fifty pounds over the next few months with a new diet, started incorporating a personal trainer with his off the water exercise, and ran 38off during the 2010 season at a local tournament in Houston. Though ranked only in the top 50 in Men’s 4, one would have a hard time finding a happier slalom skier in the nation. Determination and willpower can go a long way toward changing what we can change. Just ask Jeff Greathouse. PERSONAL Insurance Executive with Chubb Insurance Age 51 Wife Ernestine Lived at Cypress since 1997 First tourney: 1989 First Regional: 1990 First Nationals: 2000 Height & Weight: 6’ 1, 194 Peak weight: 238 in 2008, got down to 185 and would like to return to that for 2011 TRAINING Runs 2 to 3 sets per week in Summer Rarely runs down the rope; starts at 28off, 32off, runs 35off, then he repeats that pass several times Usually skis on Tuesday and Thursday, no ski on MWF Has incorporated running 35MPH in one of his sets Very rarely free skis Works out with weights on non-ski days, multiple reps, rarely to failure in the Summer Cardio every day M-F on a stationary bike or stair climber Rarely skis in the Winter but continues exercise regimen Trains with local legend (and all-around good guy) Mike Munn Has trained with some pros when they come to Houston DIET Started gaining weight after 2005 season and peaked at 238 in 2008 Started counting calories with no more than 2500 per day Reduced fat foods from 50% of diet to 20% Avoids caffeine and alcohol, drinks lots of water Pre-tourney day has a big protein meal in the evening On tourney day has a light breakfast of eggs, turkey bacon, and corn tortilla Skis, then snacks on yogurt, or power bar, or fruit Skis, then lunches on a protein shake and/or power bar Water only all day long (well, a celebratory margarita, perhaps, at day’s end) SKI Goode WideRide, 64 in. DC LH

Shane, skied with Munn at TerraMare this morn and he is smoother than a baby's butt. He no longer cranks that 2-4 and credits a ton of it to the Nano. He is swearing by it and can't get over how it performs compared to the (9900?) mid which he loves. Same binders, fin, setup, everything the same except on a Nano. He sounded just like his phone conversation on the Goode website.

Mcski, the world awaits your insight and I have the pseudonym to allow the internal secrets, codes, numbers, and mistresses to be made known throughout the skiing world:   mcwikkileakskiFreak   The world is now your oyster. Proceed wisely, my friend, but with much haste.

Very good news, Shane. Hope all of the Big 3 weather these last few down years with some capital and some great boats for the future. Love them all. Mcski, what's up with figures that are confidential? Just interested to hear of production numbers and retail sales across the nation. Is that top secret?

Can anyone give us some hard specs on how the Big 3 are doing after such a disastrous 2009 and 2010? Shane, you might have some inside scoop as your ski partner retails 2 of the 3. How are their sales? How were the Winter Boat Shows? Will all 3 survive the next few years as we were thinking even 1, if not 2, might go under. ThanksÂ

Guys, that lake is owned by John and Sue Wimberley who moved there from Kingwood. Pat Deegan designed it and finished it about 3 years ago, but there was already a small lake there and very few trees had to be removed. It is gorgeous, spring fed, pink sand lined, all natural. Do not know how it reacts to prevailing wind as it lays NWxSE; however, it does sit in a little of a bowl and has great trees. John is a big 'footer and I think it is pushing 3,000 ft, Shane. Note N turn island is closer to the surveyed, anchored course, yet out of the way for a straight 'foot run. John is not overly friendly, Shane, and my advice is DO NOT approach without notification. See me for his numbers or call me sometime and we'll go out there. After notification!Â

T-UP, if you are out of options, we are about 75 mi due N at a private site. Straight up 45 through downtown, then 10 min E at The Woodlands. Probably take you less than 1.5 hrs, depending on traffic. Let me know.

Back during the early 70s when gas shortages brought the country to its knees, CC spent a tubload of money for R&D on diesel engines in their SN boats. They were never pleased with the result and I don't remember exactly the problems, but they dropped the whole program. Has anyone heard of LPG propulsion in the states? News to me. Anyway, nothing we can do about price and to think that higher prices would keep us from chasing that next buoy---ain't gonna happen.