Wolfeie

Fridays are hit and miss. Sometimes two or three of us get there in the early afternoon. It depends on work schedule, weather etc...

All I know is the boat is more than broken in. The lake #3 skiers at Ski West next door lost count on how many passes were run behind it Saturday and Sunday. Every time we looked over the boat was running.

First of all I don't compete even at local tournaments, I just love to spend the weekend on the water skiing as many sets over the 2-3 days that I can. But I have witnessed several Nationals held at our site, both USA Waterski and INT. This is probably the first subject John & I have ever agreed on. Declining numbers, and picking sites without the best conditions should be some sort of clue. I realize the Nationals is the carrott on the end of the stick for many. The Nationals should not be a goal to just qualify for, it should be a reward for the top skiers in our nation. Under John's format it would also make regionals more important. When Ski West held the nationals several times, the sponsors (booths) did not make or break our budget, in fact it is a very small dollar amount compared to skier fees and practice rides. By compressing the schedule you will have less cost, need less officials, hotels etc...The ski and boat companies will be there if there are 600 hard core skiers or 250 of the best skiers and spectators. INT seems to have it dialed in with 250-350 skiers and two pulls plus a final round for the best. To pay in some cases thousands of dollars so your kid can take one ride will make this sport even it more elite than it already is.

It was purchased a long time ago, I will get the name of it this Friday when I am up at the lake

At Ski West we have a gas tank/pump that has a control panel with 30 separate counters. Each counter has its own key which the owner has. At the end of the month someone just reads each counter and we get billed. They usually add a few cents per gallon to cover costs.

Had planned to go this year then they moved the date back from June to August, probably to not conflict with the big music festible which is in June. My daughter goes to school outside Milwaukee and was planning a visit, to watch the open,& play in a coed ice hockey tournament.

I have a 2011 5.7 openbow which was a former promo boat. Boat is going 34 mph 95% of the time in Bako, which is pretty much sea level. Pulled another owner yesterday whom has the 6.0 closed bow. Only difference was the rpms were lower at 34 mph. Actually my boat tracks better because the 6.0 engine is lighter and with the closed bow (also lighter) it seems the 6.0 is riding a little higher on the water. I don't know what the dollar difference is between the two, but the 5.7 has done all that I need for a slalom boat.

Congrats Steve, boat looks well cared for and super clean. With you and Donnie getting 196's we don't have enough Natique docks on lake#3. The only one left with a "backwards propeller" is Andy. We had a even mix of right hand and left hand for our four docks, now it is 7 to 1

Try and find a baller coin (coins) on ebay and take them up to Horton's lake in Bako.

A lot of the fumbling are skiers trying to pull up the little button (tab) on the small plastic piece that holds the elastic laces in place.... with gloves on. Sometimes you have to undo the top part of the lace so that there is no side pressure which holds the tab down. I like to take my feet out of the RS1 bindings with the liners still inside the shell so I don't have to mess with inserting them back inside the shell. If we took off one glove first, it would probably be faster without any fumbling.

I own a 2011 200 5.7 open bow which was a former promo boat. There is NO bump at -28. Everyone at our lake that has skied behind it has said nothing but great comments about the wakes.

First two sets of 2014 yesterday and feeling it today. Only ran 4 passes per set at 28 off. Very warm for Bakersfield in February, Water 58, Air 72-74. Supposed to be nice again next weekend.

You don't have to be Canadian. A year or so ago I got up and played an early morning pick-up hockey game, went to NHL Kings afternoon game, headed up to Bako to get a few sets in, and ended with a ECHL Condors minor league night game....The Californian way

Several farmers nearby have holding ponds and they gladly accept free water. All the lakes that have dug recently have run a pipeline to the holding ponds and rented a pump and pumped out the water.

I may have seen your course in the back of Burro Bay in the mid-90's. Water is so low now all thoses small coves to ski in are probably gone.

Lake Mead is a National Park managed by Feds. I am sure there are no courses. One time many years ago a guy put up a portable course until the park rangers made him take it out of the water.

I also have a 2011 SN200 and have the same problem with ZO. Our course was surveyed for Nationals so I don't think that is the problem. I spoke this weekend (at INT's) with a Natique guy and he says that this is quite common. My difference is only a few feet. Does not seem to effect skiing so may try remapping latter.

I bought a 2011 200 promo in 2012 with 112 hours. Saved lots of cash and could not be happier with boat. Looked brand new, was serviced, transferable warranty....no down side. Boat now has 262 hours without any problems.

A bunch of us at Ski West had a chance to jump on the Vapor this weekend thanks to Radar team skier Parker. Everyone really liked the ski, I only had one set on standard setting but could see the ski really flys across the wake and gets you early to the ball especially to your offside turn. Like many at first, the ski was a little hard to turn on the offside. But I can see potential and I am thinking of purchasing one.

I also got to drive the new MC this weekend in Bako. The boat was brought in for the INT's this week and is not the final product. It handled nicely in th course but needs two hands to get around the turn Islands. I agree it is a big boat, I have had a 197 and now have a 200, this boat seems big. There is still work to be done on this boat, but wake looked great at 34 mph. Boat looks great, I would have like to have the drivers seat a little higher.

Use a hair dryer to heat up sticker and soften the glue and it should pull off. The trick is to not over heat the sticker. You can also use the old style razor blade to help take off the sticker.

Had one back in the day. This boat was known for the best slalom wake, and probably still has a great wake compared to todays boats. Probably carburated Merc engine which can be hard to start on cold days. Boat looks like it was cared after. I owned three Tige's in the past and can't say anything bad about them.

Most of the owners at Ski West Village where the INT's are being held are weekenders (there Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.) The INT's start on Thursday so most owners will be away especially since we don't have access to the lakes until that Sunday after INT's.

We pound 8-10 sets a weekend, eight plus months a year and go through 3-4 sets per season. The cargo bungee had same stretch and was with-in a couple of hundreths of an inch in size.

I searched many stores for replacement bungee. Ended up going to Harbor Freight Tools, bought a cargo net that was about same size and cut it up. Bungee for life for under $10.