Razorskier1

Skied Saturday and Sunday with 6balls. Was running my passes, but not like I want to run them. 6 balls says "change edges sooner -- you are still pulling off the second wake". I do that -- ah, magic. Why can't I remember to work before the first wake, and change edges at the second from one season to the next???

Let me know when/if you figure out the 2005 MCX.

Love my 05 197 TT with SG installed. $3k is a lot to put into a 6 year old boat with 900 hours on it before I even get to the ZO system. I think all of us with older MC's figure we will just wait it out until we have 2000 hours and then buckle down and upgrade the boat.

I'm with MS on this one . . . oops, there I go again, agreeing with MS. I like my odds of shortening the line better by improving technically more than by hanging more stuff on my ski.

There are plenty of us serious slalom skiers out there, even those of us who ski tournaments regularly, who just can't come up with the extra coin to upgrade to a ZO boat. I'll run my 05 MC 197 with DBW and SG for a long time before I pay up to get to a ZO boat.

Can't wait for Skiwatch this fall -- it will be fun to see you all (or y'all, in southern speak) again! Hopefully by then we will have had 3 or 4 nice ski days in Minnesota!

6balls, you mean 29.3 to 29.5.

I believe the point Jodi was making to me was that if you open your shoulders completely to the boat you lose outbound energy because your hips are no longer traveling in the direction of the ski (they open up to the boat too). Keeping your hips heading in the direction of the ski AND having completely open shoulders is an exercise my body can't do -- too much twist. However, keeping my hips square with the direction of the ski and allowing for modest opening of the shoulders (quartering to the direction of the ski) works really well, and I have found generates terrific outbound angle.

Agree with Ed and Shane. I have skied with Jodi on multiple occasions. His coaching focused on having my hips square to the direction of the ski. As for shoulder "openness" to the boat, the two extremes are the totally open (bad) and the totally closed (shoulders facing straight cross course, also bad). Jodi commented that where he really wanted me was hips square to the direction of the ski, and shoulders maybe quartering in that direction, neither completely open nor completely closed and away. For older skiers like me, getting there is a bit tough as the rotation required in the low and mid back to make this happen isn't that easy when you've ruptured disks and have others that are as thin as a credit card. That being said, I have found that the following Jodi's advice on position on the ski first had a dramatic effect on the efficiency of my skiing, and over time has resulted in a higher buoy count to boot.

I had been on the Razor for 3 rides before CC tournament and ran 4 @ 38 there. In early October I ran 38 twice at Ski Watch on the Razor. I absolutely love it.

I have loved skiing my Razor, but for me it requires a lighter form of skiing. I am strong enough that I can ski it aggressively, and it's awful fun to do it too! You can get sick angle out of a ball on either side of the boat, and end up so early for the next one that you could have a cup of tea waiting for it. However, this style of aggressive skiing is what I'm trying NOT to do. With the Razor, I find that if I just set my angle and then hold my position (never put on any additional load), then I get a rythm that is unmatched with other skis I have been on, and is essentially effortless. I can run pass after pass and never feel tired -- I quit because my driver gets irritated after about 15 passes! 6balls said something last night that made sense to me -- he said the Razor rewards good technique. I totally agree. Ski with a balanced position on the ski with light handle pressure and you will have a blast!

Not surprised. Great ski, quality workmanship, and a bargain compared to some others with what I believe will prove to be comparable performance characteristics.

Ham -- that is the most awesome ski boat I've every seen! Don't want to ski behind it, but it looks awesome!

13 inch Masterline. My arms are so big I can't get my hands close enough together to use a 12 inch :-)

I've not had much luck with those who complain. Tough to get them to understand our obsession with those 6 little orange balls! I did talk to my MC dealer and he said the factory says the 2011 TT uses the EU-certified mufflers. I haven't heard one, so don't know if it is any more quiet than my 2005 (which I think is quiet, except early in the morning!). I'd be interested in comments from any 2011 TT owners.

Thanks for all the comments. Will check on the EU-certified mufflers and the silent riders. That fresh air exhaust worries me. MS -- I have considered that! It does seem that the new SN 200 is meaningfully louder than the old 196.

I own 2005 Mastercraft 197 TT with the MCX engine. While the boat is relatively quiet, it could be quieter (I ski on a public lake early, and try not to p-off people). Last year I put new stock mufflers in just because I figured that the old ones, with 700 hours on them, were probably losing their efficacy. It did quiet it down a bit again. Nevertheless, I am looking for silent. Anyone got any suggestions other than buying a new Nautique!

I haven't skied without a wing in I can't remember how long. I love the way my Razor skis now, but might just pull it just to see what it feels like. No time like early season to play around a bit.

Great video of Seth. That's what I try to do -- the better I do that, the better my overall rythm throughout the course.

Drop ski on a return barefoot run -- ouch.

I love watching water skiing. Great way to learn.

Skis great. I have put up very good scores there. And the hosts are great!!!

Ruptured a disk about 5 years ago in August. Skied through early September before the pain in my back and right leg became unbearable. Saw a surgeon -- he wanted to operate -- cuz that's what surgeons do. Went to my physical therapist, who has worked on various injuries for me for over 10 years. Took a slow and measured approach to rehab with stretching and strengthening and retraining various core muscles. Prior to this injury I would have at least one severe back problem every year. Since the injury and with rehab and better skiing technique, I've had no injuries of the severity of those before the disc blew, and when I have had setbacks, I've been back in the water in a week with some additional rehab. Take your time, rehab right, stretch, strengthen, THEN come back to skiing slowly.

This weather sucks (MN)! However, as a guy who skis a public lake course I have mixed feelings about it. Yes, it is cold and windy, which sucks. The upshot is that cold and windy keeps everybody else off the lake, meaning I can ski whenever I'm man enough to go freeze my a** off!

My old Fisher was at 29.5 inches. That was where I started with the Razor, but I was getting too much tip in the water. Putting them at 29.3 turned out to be just about right.