dbski

I sell a custom wood bracket for my decorative skis. you can see it at my web site DBski.net. Cost is $40-50 depending on the wood. E-mail me at dbski2@comcast.net

Bought a new 03 Malibu Response LX in the spring of 04. Paid 23 on a list priceof 28. The worst part was my wife and I were sitting in the boat trying to make up our mind of a low ball opening offer which was 23 never thinking it would fly. To our surprize the salesman accepted it right away. I still wonder how low he would have gone!

Not only is he a great skier, but a heck of a nice guy. He was standing next to my booth watching the women ski and my wife and I struck up a conversation with him. We talked for probably about 20 minutes and not just about skiing. Needless to say we were really bummed when he bit it in the finals. We really wanted him to win my trophy ski. He made my wife's day when posed for a picture with her!

Hey ballers just got the trophy skis done for the Malibu, thought you guys would enjoy a look. They will be on display at my booth at the meet, stop by for some baller talk and check them out.

Being a skier with back problems for 30 years I've found the easiest way to start is using a rear toe and doing a jump start. If you can start close to shore, standing on your back leg and jumping up when the rope comes tight is the easiest method I've found on the back. When I do deep waters I always start dragging my rear foot, seems alot easier. I finally had back surgery a couple years ago and that was the final solution for me.

I've been using the bent US Gear handle for years. Being older it really seems much easier on the body. I also love the smooth ends versus knobs. When I pick up a straight handle with knobs now I can't imagine skiing with it!

I skied for years in a Sahara, loved it but the second one finally bit the dust. I replaced it with the Oneill Assault hybrid. I like it fine, the loose top is nice for wearing clothes under. I did have to send it back for repair of a torn ankle seal after only 1-1/2 seasons.

My vintage? I like the way that sounds, especially since my vintage is closing in on 59. This injury has violated my number one rule of skiing,don't hurt yourself. At this age the old body doesn't heal that fast and not skiing drives me nuts!

That is encouraging, although anything over 28 is a pipe dream for me! There has been one benefit, just got back from walking the dog and for the first time in years I was able to throw the tennis ball OVERHAND! Being a former pitcher it felt great.

About a month ago my right shoulder was giving me fits. With lots of stretching I was able to keep skiing but the pain persisted. Then I was hooking up after 5 ball and I felt and heard a loud pop from my shoulder, I tossed the rope but strangly there wasn't much pain. When I got in the boat my wife who is a PT looked at my arm and told me I had just torn my biceps tendon as the muscle was rolled up and creating what they call a "popeye bicep". I took about ten days off from skiing but there wasn't hardly any pain and I didn't feel like my arm was compromised at all. I've since skied a couple times and while I didn't push it everything felt fine. My wife says you have 2 biceps tendons and tearing one is not that serious. My question is has any one else experienced this and how has it been long term?

In addition to snow skiing up here in the frozen north, we ice boat. An ice boat is a sail boat set up with steel runners for the ice. What I love about it is that ice boating fills that need for speed like slaloming. 60mph laying on your back 6" above the ice makes waiting for the ice to melt a whole lot easier!

Bonnie Raitt

My O'Neill Assault hybrid drysuit has a 3" rip on one of the ankle seals. I'm still using it but I'm worried the rip will continue up the leg. I went to a local dive shop looking for a repair kit, he had nothing , suggested using "shoe goo" and a piece of neoprene. Anyone else have an idea on a repair. The suit is only a year old, really like it and would hate to have to shell out bucks for another one. Thanks

The photography is usually excellent, The instructional articles are good. My main concern is that it normally takes about 15 min. to read. How about some more in depth stories. Skier profiles, skiing history, company spotlights. It would be interesting to see how skis are designed and constructed.

My last two dogs were named Watson and Rosberg, our present dogs are Emerson and Nico. The cat is Mika, anybody see a trend?

Pat M. Thanks, the motor is a '59 Mark 35. Its a whopping 35 horsepower, man have times changed that was a good size motor back then. The boat is not restored, I built it two years ago. Go to Glen-L.com they have plans for about every kind of boat that you can imagine. Really cool company and it really isn't that hard to build their boats. Some basic woodworking tools and skills and you can start your own addiction of boat building!

There is nothing cooler than a wood runabout. I've skied behind a 66 Century with a Ford 427 in it, not the greatest wake but it didn't lack for power! Old wood boats can take alot of work to get back in the water. Check the bottom planks or plywwod and the frames for rot. If you can do the work yourself its not to bad but can be very expensive to have done. In addition to my decorative skis I also build boats, I show my latest build as a ski boat from the 50-60's complete with the required ski belt, one of my wood skis and copies of the Water Skier from the 50's.

Jumping is what will draw in the exposure to grow the sport. Last year at the Global no admission was charged and the majority of the crowd were there just to enjoy a regular day at the beach/park. While the slalom portion was going on the wallys were just playing in the water not paying much attention to the great action going on. When the jumping started it was a completely different scene. Everyone stopped what they were doing and were really enjoying the jumpers. Even little kids 3-4 years old were watching. I always say slalom is like golf, if you do it you love to watch it because you understand the incredible skill and effort it takes the pros to run 41. But the average joe has no idea what is going on and from the shore there is not much difference between 32 and 38. Standing in the water at the Global I tried to explain to a few people what was going on, they watched a few passes and then went on ignoring the action until the jumpers started. Earlier in this thread someone mentioned that the Global is done for 2012, does anyone know what's going on. What a bummer as the site was incredible, like an ampitheater designed for skiing!

Southern Michigan We're dying for ice here as in the winter we get our speed fix ICE BOATING. For those southerners a ice boat is a sail boat with runners. Lying on your back 6 inches above the ice reaching speeds of 55+ makes waiting for spring much more bearable. Search DN iceboats for more info.

Forgot to mention that I've reduced prices, can do a ski for around $300.

Kind of late for Christmas but check out my decorative skis at DBski.net for birthdays, trophys, indoor/outdoor home decor or other special occasions.