Wolfeie

We have to pay our rink $275 per hour to get ice like that, but it comes with boards, glass lights and probably a little warmer.

15-20 years ago when you went to the LA Boat Show there were plenty of waterski specific boats to choose from; Mastercraft, Natique, Supra, Tige, Malibu, Brendella etc...I had actually purchased 2 ski boats during the boat shows with the special boat show savings. The last time I went to the LA Boat Show about 4-5 years ago I could not find one single DD ski boat displayed. The LA Boat Show shrunk in size when economic times were not so good, and now it is at the Pomona fairgrounds. instead of the LA Convention Center. As far as the 197 goes, I had a 2004 X7/197. The wake was comparable to the current 196. It was a great boat, only thing could not put ZO in it to upgrade at a decent cost. So I looked at a 2008-2009 promo 197 at a neighboring lake. It was a totally different boat with the Ignor? (I forget the name) engine Mastercraft was now using since they bought the engine company. this engine was much heavier and it showed in the wake even at 34mph @32 off. Thats when I bought my current 2011 SN200 promo.

I fractured my ankle and tore several ligaments skiing in early June and had surgery the end of June. Skied the course for the first time since the injury this weekend, it was a long 4 months and a lot of boat driving. Backed off to 32 mph (28 off) and used a less aggressive ski with a ankle taped with duct tape. I purchased the MOB binding system for my Vapor boots for when I return to my Vapor Pro Build and 34 mph skiing next spring. I know my injury was not as bad as yours, but I play ice hockey with two players that had pretty bad spiral fractures like yours and they are both back on the ice after about a year. We also had one of our lake members suffer a injury like yours skiing and she is back skiing, tricking and jumping after a year. So there is hope...hang in there. If there is any silver lining winter is coming. I sat out most of the summer.

Like you (were) Roger I am on the Vapor boots (formerly RS1) and tended to tighten them down too much especially with the lower boa system on the current models. Last June 8th I was running 35 off @ 34 mph and still don't know what happened but ski tip must have dug in and my body twisted but my ankle did not. I am LFF and suffered torn ligaments and fracture on left ankle. Had surgery June 27th and had 6 weeks of non weight bearing, followed by two months of PT. Ankle is getting stronger started playing ice hockey again, biking and riding a wakeboard without bindings. I ordered the MOB binding system to use with my Vapor boots. Was going to try and ski last weekend against my Dr's, PT's and wife wishes. I put on the ski this weekend but ankle is still too swollen and had some discomfort in the Vapor boot with pressure on my two screws they put in. Hoping to try again in a couple of weeks. In my 62 years on this earth certainly my worst injury. Everyone told me it would be January (2019) before I was at full speed, but working hard to prove them wrong.

In June I fractured my ankle and tore some ligaments while attempting a 35 off @ 34 mph. I was on a Vapor Pro with the Vapor boots which probably were too tight. Too this day don't know what happened....people on the shoreline said the fall did not look that bad. Seriously looking at the MOB system when I return to skiing. This season may be toast, lucky I had a early start and plenty of sets up to June. Nice to see feedback from a MOB user. Certainly would love to hear more skiers experiences with the MOB system, both releasing and general feelings when skiing.

I don't think your wake crossing were that bad. Have seen a lot worse from skiers still struggling to run 34-15. I did notice your grabbing the handle way too quick on your onside turns 2-4-6 and not finishing the turn before you hook up. You actually turn better on your offside. The other things I noticed is a couple of shoulder dips where you started your turn with your shoulders/head, especially on onside. The last was your pull out for gate, it seems you can get wider and try to keep slack out. Your doing good, just takes time and a lot of sets.

If it is a kill switch problem, won't the engine still turn but just not fire? Would check the neutral switch.

I watch Alex jump every weekend, he is usually very consistent. Can't remember the last time I saw him fall going off the ramp.

Our complex has three lakes and 37 owners and their families. Lake one where all the homes are located uses a North to South rotation going down the shoreline. If you want to be part of that rotation you put your flag up at your dock. You get 6-8 slalom passes or 15 minutes for tubing, wake boarding etc. It runs pretty smooth. The other two lakes have common area docks which has room for eight boats per lake. First come first serve same number of passes or 15 minutes. When your done you just go to the back of the rotation. Nobody has complained about getting enough sets, often a lake will sit idle during the day.

Most private sites like ours only allow one boat in use at a time, no matter if it is for skiing, jumping, tubing or wake boarding. There probably has been less injuries tubing than the other water activities even though some of the tube drivers can be pretty wild. But tubing is mostly done by younger members and guest who can take that punishment. All owners and guest sign water sports liability releases. We have put restrictions on how many tubes behind a boat and how many tubers you can pull.

Have you greased the rudder lately? That is usually the first step you take before tearing into other problems. The steering will feel sloppy if your low on grease. Zirc is usually mounted on Port side of boat near rear access cover. It mounted on a cross beam. I have my 200 serviced once a year in spring and usually have to add a little grease in the fall.

Was supposed to be in Mammoth this week but not motivated with the current snow conditions. Supposed to be in mid seventies in Bako again this weekend. May be time to start start the waterski season

Ball of Spray HQ and lake will be taken over by wake surf boats this year.

I too remember 50 years ago heading down to the Santa Monica Civic Center to see Warren's ski movies which he moderated personally. I can still remember his iconic voice and humor in my head. My father knew him and skied with him in the early days of skiing at Mammoth.

As far as Bako goes, that's why a majority of us live in really nice communities in the L.A. and Orange County areas and go to Bako on weekends to ski. You can't beat Bako for skiing, no winds (or hurricanes), reasonable size bugs, fairly low humidity and storms, great sunsets and over 9 months of skiing with no dry suits. One of our owners jokes how he leaves Malibu to come to Bako on weekends. Normally 90 minute drive all highway.

I have seen the new fin when I wondered over to Ball of Spray headquarters from my lake last Saturday....but my lips (and fingers) are sealed

I agree no exercises can replace skiing, but I found doing pull-ups daily and putting a handle on a heavy object and simulating pulls helps a lot in the spring.

Sounds like two different problems. One of the owners at our lakes had a Moomba and it was a very difficult boat to balance when driving a slalom skier. It took different amounts of weighted bags depending on passenger weight. I hated driving that boat and was glad when he sold it. The water sounds like to shaft seal/packing. You can usually just lift the engine cover and see the drip

I saw Horton's back door open all day while skiing lake three at Ski West Village. I wish I got to the skis before Dirt did?

Congrats to Alex Gaharan from Ski West for his Western Regional scores and overall title for boys 3. Its been a pleasure to see his amazing progress and dedication this year.

@ColeGiacopuzzi So when is the Ski West demo day for the new Radar for all of the lake three Radar skiers? Just when I thought my 2017 Vapor would be around for awhile Radar does it to me again. I have had every year Vapor since 2013! Don't tell Charly's wife a new ski in coming.

We had the same problem at Ski West last spring into early summer. Combo of mild winter and our dye injector was broken. You will never win doing it by hand, we were pulling weeds our every weekend. We ended up hiring a harvester then closing lakes down for a few days and dumping chemicals in. We added black dye to our blue dye. Seemed to work, so far we are weed free this year, but it was a costly to remove the weeds.

I did not know @Rico could hold his breath that long

Speaking as a water skier and a snow skier I don't know of one time riding a chair lift that I hear a fellow skier (including snow skiers that compete) comment about needing more racers! I would estimate that about the same percentage of snow skiers compete (race) compared to the percentage of water skiers that compete.....very very low. As Jennifer commented snow skiing has made a come back compared to snow boarding. I would estimate at Mammoth Mountain well over half of the people on the mountain are on skis. A majority of the racers are kids that LIVE in mountain areas and compete for local teams and schools. Whats my point...I am tired of the belly aching about competing. In our 12+ private lake area of Arvin probably less than 5% of the owners (families) compete. Yet skiing as a recreational sport is alive and well. Were buying promo boats, buying the latest ski, gloves etc.. Why would I want to leave my lake, which ski's incredible, I have a beautiful SN200, and many friends to ski with. I compete against the myself and buoys every time I put on the ski.

To coin a famous movie line "build it and they will come" In California, land and water are very expensive. Try finding a municipality with land, water and money close to a good size population.