harddock

I just took my son to Orlando We used the air conditioner to dry everything before packing to come home!

Ski - It - Again would be where I would be looking. The out grow rate can be pretty quick and you can buy a better ski at a mid grade price. When you out grow you can sell it there as well.

My boy skied that tournament. We were in Orlando to ski @ Jack Travers and decided to enter for Saturday. Performance was ok for him considering no skiing since Sept and no practice. Never ran an 8 buoy course and they were very considerate of that with him. Meeting Kris was kind of a big deal for him as well.

@Jody_Seal Pm me pics and specs. I have a 98 EFI and we've been thinking of getting a newer boat

As the price of new boats climbs, so does the value of good clean older ones. Depending on your location (supply vs demand) you should not have to "give away" a Nautique or MasterCraft. They sure as hell don't give away new ones!

Got me & the boy baller T's & hoodie and got him a Swerve as well!

I have a road bike on a stand in my basement in front of a TV. I usually ride 3-4 days a week. Hop on and watch old TV show or the news and try to shift every couple minutes running the range of a couple in the granny gear, the whole mid range and a couple high speed sprints and then back through the sequence. It serves two purposes, Number 1 it allows me to keep from being bored at one continuous speed and 2 it gets my butt accustom to the saddle so in spring when back out side the shock and pain are not present. I some times run a fan so I get the wind in my face feeling. I have had two total knee replacements after ballooning up to 325. Walking diet and the bike have me now in the 280 range and dropping. I plan to ski again 2016! I have a pretty simple unit there are some that hook to a computer program simulating hills and valleys. Rollers if your a more serious biker. At least with a trainer you can separate and ride the bike. I would consider the rower as a great workout too.

I have no problem with AWSA - Personally like it better than USA Waterski. My kids ski in AWSA and INT League which I could never figure how that name could be associated with the sport. I'd buy a T shirt with any of those top 3 if only AWSA made them in 3x!

My first boat was a 1978 MasterCraft promo. Our local ski club held tournaments on the lake and I was all ready to get a Ski Nautique. I had the deposit check with me and when I went to give it to the owner he said "You want the trailer?" " That'll be another $800" That finished me off. $8,000 was my absolute limit. I went over to the Master Craft guys and inquired about purchasing one of their boats. Well after quick ride home to get a new check I had a deposit on a orange and sand stars & stripes. I had to wait 2 weeks for delivery because he couldn't sell it before the Nationals. $6,860 including trailer and new cover.

I skied early - mid 70's Long line until 6@36 then 15 off/36, 22/36, 28/36, and so on, Later in years you could skip75 and start @15off any speed. Rating system was different 3rd, 2nd, 1st class EP, Masters. and so on! Concave bottoms were in their child hood, as were non wooden skis. Laying out a slalom course was a day long adventure of swimming and measuring this way and that way until tolerances were met. Nothing was piped together, Ropes with markings were stretched out from gate to ball and cross measured to next gate to measure. Drivers used an analog speedo and a stop watch, ( which is why observer seats are 2 up) with mid course and end times so you didn't do a start at 28 finish at 40 to come out with a 34 mph time. The mid course time kept the speed almost consistent! Pull of a strong skier took some finesse on the throttle and steering. Ski Nautique, MasterCraft and Twin rig Hydrodines,were the top 3 until Supreme and American Skier came on the scene. BTW my first end of season promo boat purchase was a 1978 MasterCraft with trailer for $6,800 +$60 for a cover.

Thanks

i was putting my son on used high end skis and his performance was improving but very slowly. He is at an age of outgrowing quickly. I switched him to a Senate Alloy which must be better suited for his level. His performance this season in tournaments with hardly any course time improved. He went from a non full pass at 23/15 off through full pulls at 25, 28, and 30. I believe the ski is much more controllable for his level.

I would be a customer XXXL? Hoodie, and T's

Maybe not as prestigious but there is also the INT league. They have divisions in all age groups You can be 14 and be a novice up to advanced capped at 34.2 or expert open @ 36. They have jr expert, men both up to 34 and then older than 35 advanced, advanced open, open and super advanced open, super open, and pro determined by ages and working on15&22, or 28&32 or35 and shorter. You compete against people with similar ability and once you've achieved all you can in your division you bump up. Your ability dictates your division. Less intimidating, more competitive! Unfortunately they are only slalom waterski. Wake board, skate and surf are there other genre's offered.

Weyers handles and Knotty Girl Designs make show ski handles. All custom. Should be able to help with your trick needs.

I learned behind a small outboard and had to drag rear foot, My son has switched from RTP to double boot and loves it and is skiing much better. It is a personal thing.

me likey !

my daughter is a show skier. She skis slalom and swivel RFF but has to learn LFF for ballet. She has the skiing down but the standing dock starts are a different story.

Go high tech! Go electric!

You need to be patient. Kids learn at different levels. Some will figure it out quicker than others. Keep it fun. INT utilizes a mini course which can work wonders for getting them used to chasing buoys, then they work on full good side, mini off side and as they progress they get full passes on full course. This seemed to work for many.

+1 on Jet Blue with ski in a Sport tube. Make sure your lock is one that TSA can open.

Got one for me and one for my boy!

Figures it is a jet drive, but it must have a big block!

There is not much being done in USAWS to excite newcomers. Having kids that enjoy competition but are not superstars AWSA is somewhat intimidating to them. INT offers a much more entry level program and that is where you attract newcomers to the sport but they being a small organization are even less promoted. At a local INT slalom event there were less than 30 entrants total and in the under 14 less than 6. Wakeboarding has take over somewhat with the " cool factor" and both media and boat mfgs seem to cater to them. Just look at a ski mag, it has wakeboard sections and ads. Now look at a wakeboard mag. Nothing about skiing, no ads. My daughter is a show skier, She practices hard, is a talented skier but there is not much recognition for the show people, especially in the eastern part of the country. Teams do compete but it is a very expensive proposition to host a tournament and there is only one. Television used to include waterskiing but I can't remember the last time any events were televised. Olympics refuse to include the sport because of the mechanicals necessary to move the skier. Add this the rising cost of equipment and proper training especially if you live in a seasonal community and maybe we are lucky to have what we have!