WBLskier

Can anyone provide some tips on the cheapest/safest way to either check a ski on a flight or ship a ski? I am heading to Florida in a couple months and would like to get some skiing in, but I am not willing to pay $175 per way to check the ski. I am thinking of maybe shipping it, but I am not sure if that makes sense. Does anyone have any advice?

I am Doug Wolgamot (age 32). I began skiing at age 5 and started in the course at age 11. I competed (only at the state level) from about age 15 to 21. I ski with a group of about 18 guys on a 2500 acre public lake we live on ranging in age from 20 to 75. I have been skiing with many of them for the last twenty years. We move a portable course around to different locations about every two weeks, depending on the forecasted wind direction. For a large lake we get pretty good water, but we have to start at 6:30 am to get it. We have about 10 boats among the guys in the group, mine is a 98 Malibu Echelon. My personal best in practice is 4 ½ @ 35 off 36mph and 3 ½ @38 off 34mph. My best score in a tournament was a couple at 32 off, I think (it was a long time ago). Our boats don’t have speed control, so obviously that will have a big impact on how I ski once one of us ponies up to buy it. We are in Minnesota, so our season is pretty short by most standards. We start the day the ice comes out and end a day or two before it freezes. No one owns a drysuit. Many of the retired guys ski 5-6 days per week for the entire season. My 5 year old daughter started skiing two years ago and is really coming along…getting some buoys on two skis, and I am pretty sure will be slaloming pretty well by this summer. She has no fear and asked to learn to barefoot at 4 years old (and actually figured it out on the boom after crashing over and over and over). Last summer she asked me when she can start to ski tournaments, so I expect I will be getting back into tournaments along with her this summer. I guess we’ll see.

What year is it? Is it still for sale?

Thanks--I'm with you on letting them do what is fun and slalom when they want to. She is pushing much faster than I would have thought to push her. She asked to barefoot on the boom when she was 4 and actually gets prett close. Falls at 24 or so mph without a fuss.

Oh--a couple other thoughts. Let them float around by the dock with the skis on for 10 minutes some day and let them get used to controlling the skis. Also, it really helped to tell my daughter to keep her body upright in the water (not on her back) to help her control her skis. I didn't use any weights and she has no problem at all controlling them now.

My just turned 5 year old is behind the boat on two untied and ready to slalom. She also started when she was 3 but really didn't get into it this year. This is what we did that worked great. She has progressed really fast this summer and has not gotten frustrated along the way. This is probably what others are saying but I haven't read them all. (1) Skis hooked together but rope not hooked to it--on boom (2) same but on short rope; practice getting a number of times (with someone in the water helping them get the skis pointed in the right direction. (3) Same but with no help in the water. (4) Long line with someone helping her get started from shallow water. (5) same but with very little help (6) same with no help (7) boom with skis not hooked together; then immediately to short rope same with a little help controlling skis; then with no help holding skis; then practice turns on short line (8) long line with someone helping get started (enforce knees bent with arms around knees to help keep skis from shooting apart when boat starts) (9) long line with no help; then in and out of wake (10) slalom on boom (this is where we are currently at); Oh and we have the big wide trainers, which seem to make it much easier. We started last year with some older narrower ones and the new ones are worth every penny. Seems like a lot but we just do it a little different every time we go out and she learns something new every time. We' ve had very little frustration and going like this she has had success every time, which seems to keep her coming back; She will have skied 5 days this week. Good luck.

Kelvin, Do you know if the existing bindings can be moved forward or does the ski need to be modified somehow to do so? Thanks everyone for the tips.

I found some O'Brien Jr. Vortex combo skis that look like a similar concept. Have you had experience with someone slaloming on the Junior Amigos (vs. just learning to get up). Can it be turned okay for learning to cut? Thank you.

My just turned five year old daughter is ready to learn how to slalom and I'm looking for some advice. She skis well on two skis in and out of the wake and has no trouble getting up, etc. She has slalomed on the boom without trouble. When we've tried the short line only briefly the ski tends to shoot to one side or the other when the boat starts going. I've seen others get kids up behind the boat on one ski rather than dropping a ski by starting the kid in both boots, holding them up a bit and helping the ski go straight from shallow water while the boat gets going. I'm thinking about running her off a fairly short line off our high fly initially and trying this method. Any thoughts on what the best method is to aid in her success? Any suggestions on what size ski she should be learning on? How about once she gets the hang of it. All the pictures of girls 1 skiers seem to be on pretty big skis, but it is hard to tell since they tend to be so little themselves. She is about 42 inches and 42 lbs. She just asked me how soon she can start skiing tournaments, so I want to help her get on a slalom ASAP. Thanks

I know there have been other posts on here and elsewhere on this topic, but I can't seem to find them now. I am curious if there is any way to mimi ZO. I used to compete in tournaments quite a few years ago. I'd like to get back into them sometime in the next couple of years. Most of our boats don't have speed control and none have ZO. I'm afraid I'm in for a rude awakening when I try to run behind a boat with ZO. Is there any way to prepare? I am a 34mph skier. Would it help to train at 35mph or would this just throw off my timing? Any other thoughts? Thanks.

I am at the exact same point and having the exact same problem. Last year on my old ski I ran 35 a handful of times at 34mph (in practice). Great advice. Thanks all. I can't wait to try it out this weekend.

hi all--any ideas on what to use for a mount for a go pro for slaloming? Are people rigging up their own or using one that can be purchased? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Would someone please post Rinni's numbers for the 66 Strada?

I am skiing 34mph (no speed control) and into 32 off right now. I was running 32 off very consistently at the end of last year with my old ski. I am finding myself on the back of the ski at the end of the turn and into the first wake. bindings and fin are at stock settings. thanks.

I am skiing on a 66 inch Radar Strada. I find myself back on the ski more often than on my old ski. I have never been one to adjust my fin, but I am wondering if I should try an adjustment or stick it out and work through my technique to get more ski in the water? If an adjustment is in order, any suggestions on where to start given my issue? Thanks.

Hi all--I have a quick question on the stuffing box. Mine was re-packed by my mechanic. As far as I can tell it is not leaking much (if at all). I have felt the brass nut after running for a while and it does not seem warm to the touch. Does anyone think there is a reason to re-adjust it at this point to make sure it is dripping sufficiently or would it be hot if there were a problem? I'd appreciate any thoughts. Also, I am getting some water in the bottom of my boat, which requires probably 20 seconds of bilge operation for every hour I run the boat. I fear it may be an HDS leak (it is a 98 malibu echelon). I have seen others bypass this system entirely with custom fiberglass work. I think the dealer re-glasses the box itself. Any thoughts on how to identify the problem or thoughts on the best way to address that issue? Thanks all.

Thanks. Well said. The worst day on the water is better than the best day in the office. I expect this to take some time. I love the idea of this being easier on my body. I can see some of that already in the few times I've tried it.

Ed--thanks. How long did it take you until you were able to reach your PB skiing new style that you had done old style?

Hi all, I am on a new ski and trying to learn how to ski efficiently. I find that I can't seem to just turn the switch and ski my old way and I definitely can't seem to pick up all of the new things I need to be doing right away. I am wondering where I should start as far as speed and length to work on the new style most effectively. At my best I ski a few buoys at 38 off 34 mph skiing "old school". I hardly ever ski longer than 28 off because it seems so long, but maybe I should be. I am 5'9" 160 lbs and I am on a 66 inch radar strada. Any thoughts? I realize this will take years to really get, but I'm not sure I'm ready to go back to ground zero all summer to try to learn it. Next question--Does anyone have thoughts on what the five most important things are to work on when learning to ski efficiently? I feel like I can only focus on one thing at a time, and maybe if I could ski the same way I have been, but incorporate and master one new thing a time I won't get so frustrated trying to figure out what I am doing. Thanks.

Thanks all. I've read both of those many times; I think it is just going to take some time to be able to apply those concepts and break 25 year old skiing habits. Back at it soon I hope.

Hi all--I am trying to work on learning how to ski efficiently. I am also working out being on a new ski, which is taking a little time. I have always skied the old school way of slowing down at the buoy and making a sharp turn. I have been able to avoid a lot of slack at the buoy this way by hitting the brakes on my approach to th buoy. I am now trying to maintain my speed at the buoy. So far, I have been getting a lot of slack due to my speed. Any thoughts on what to work on to lessen this problem? Maybe I am still turning too sharply?

I am hoping for a little advice from others on this. I have a 98 Malibu echelon. The seal for the drive shaft was leaking a bit, so I had my mechanic come out and put in new packing rope. He couldn't get all three pieces out (2 of the three he got out). He put two new ones in and sealed it back up (so there are really probably 4 in there now rather than 3). It does not leak at all anymore. I thought it needs to drip a little in order to lubricate it. He said it would be fine and it would drip sufficiently in time. I am wondering if I need to watch to ensure that it will actually drip every few minutes and if not loosen up the brass nut a bit. I'd prefer to do nothing, but I don't want to cause any damage. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Where can one find the dry land videos mentioned in this post? Thanks in advance.

Thanks all. The ski season can be short here so we try to stretch it from ice out to ice in. No dry suit puts a lot of emphasis on not falling, which is not generally the best thing to do to improve, so I should probably pick one up. Still fun though, and we always have the lake to ourselves this time of year.

Hi all, So I took my first ride on my new Radar Strada 66 inch the other night. I am in Minnesota and we went a few days after the ice went out with only a shorty spring suit. Water temp was probably 35 degrees. Needless to say I skied pretty conservatively. I have been skiing on a 65 inch HO VTR from 1994. I felt very clumsy on the new ski (not surprising as first run in 5 months, new ski, cold water). I have always skied the old style of slowing down at the buoy, sharp turn, high rope load, etc., with pretty good success (into 38 off at 34). I am going to be trying to learn to ski efficiently this summer. My question is this. Has the technology on the skis changed such that skiing "efficiently" is really a necessity on these skis? Don't get me wrong, I expect it to take some time for me to get comfortable on the new ski, but I am hoping that my struggles were not from having the wrong size ski (i.e. moving from 65 inch to 66 inch). I am 5'9" and 160 lbs and I ski primarily at 34mph, sometimes 36, but less and less often. Any advice on how to settle into this new ski as fast as possible? Should I expect to be able to ski my old style on this new ski until I get used to the ski before trying to work on new technique? Any help would be greatly appreciated.