akale15

@Bruce_Butterfield and that I have. @Wish also suggested the same thing...so I now have adjusted my search to looking for '97-'01 with the GT40. I am finding a good number available that fit this criteria so I feel confident I will find something when I am ready to purchase here in the next month or so.

@harddock I sent you a PM the other day after seeing a pic of your boat on another post. Im in W KY (or will be next month, currently in middle TN).

don't be stealing my possible purchases @walleye haha....I too am also looking for a 1997-2001 nautique and will be ready to buy come late may/early june. @harddock great looking boat! let me know when you are ready to sell @rodltg2 also a great looking boat but CA is a little far for me

Looking for a some suggestions when buying a first boat. Looking for a mid 90's Nautique w/ PP and hoping to stay around $10-$12k range. I am not in any huge rush and probably will be holding out until at least the end of this season (unless I can find a good buy this summer.) Hull condition and mechanical issues are my two biggest concerns. Interior issues I can live with and to a point can be tolerated and/or replaced over time. A lot of boats in my price range are 1000+ hours. Many are very well maintained and seem like a great buy. The thought of buying a boat with over 1000 hours doesn't at all worry me....but should it? You figure a lot of those hours are idle hours anyway and I would say the boat owner who uses a boat this much is maintaining/checking belts, hoses, ect on a regular basis....more so than an older boat with minimal use and low hours. So I guess, how many hours is too many hours? What other flags or items should I look out for?

was just at the boat show in Louisville this past weekend....no ski boats there either by any of the big 3. asked a guy from malibu if they took a response to any show...im not even sure they know they make anything other than a wakeboarding caliber boat

What would be some good workouts with a kettle ball? Training is not a strong point of mine...primarily a rec-sports guy with minimal trips to the gym so I have limited experience.

If you can have one piece of exercise equipment in your home to help train for the upcoming ski season what would it be? My wife and I stay fairly active skiing, swimming and biking in the summer but now during these winter months we are looking for an alternative knowing we need to do something to stay in shape as well as trying to keep cost down. Cardio and core seem to be my biggest weak points when the season begins and I want to try and stay on top of that this winter. We have been thinking about a rowing machine...figured it offers both cardio, core/back as well as some leg/arm strength. Any thoughts/suggestions?

@JeffSurdej I am no way nearly involved in tournament skiing like some on here but have a great interest in seeing what can come out of this as a lot of these points you are making are the exact reason I have not continued to ski tournaments since my collegiate days. But none the less here are some of my thoughts... Limiting it to states vs states would be a great start. Now maybe not every state is going to have enough participates to put together a team (in which you could combine) but then you could supplement that with states who could put together 2 or 3 solid teams in each state and break them as N, S or E, W....im guessing FL would be a good example of this. However I don't think you would want to stop there because you still cut out a good number of skiers by limiting it to just a single team or few teams per state....obvious more clubs than states but the question would be how many clubs are actually willing to participate....maybe set it up so that each club (or combine clubs with lower numbers in that region) skis in local tourneys similar to the collegiate format.

15

@MattP great idea! I was thinking the same thing on how you would implement this concept at other levels reading through the Collegiate skiing post. Obviously this would take a lot of preparations and planning but I see a lot of benefit in it. Combining this idea along with the "beer" league concept (http://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/comment/215157) and the power of the internet, I don't see why this couldn't be a possibility. Having not skied in any tournaments since my collegiate days at Purdue, I would be very interested in joining and skiing for a club with the anticipation of attending tournaments competing for a team. The biggest reason I haven't skied tournaments now is because at my current level I will never be able to compete for a podium spot. Knowing my skiing abilities are less than top level, but being able to contribute points for an overall team score would greatly increase my interest in attending tournaments.

Absolutely let them ski....this sport is to small not to. The fact of the matter is a majority of skiers (collegiate or not) are no way skiing at a "professional level" and likely never will be in their entire skiing lifetime but there is also a good number of those who can compete the pros....and that is what makes it interesting. For example a deep 39.5 off pass could have easily won mens slalom and has by non-professionals in the past but the fact that (4) skiers got into 41 off just goes to show how much this sport has grown. In my opinion if anything needs to change it would be finding ways to help make collegiate skiing more affordable for all athletes. Which since money is involved this is about an impossible task. I'm not saying the scholarship programs are at an unfair advantage, because if I was of the ability to ski on scholarship I surely would try, but having skied for a school with no financial assistance it can be a financial burden for some. Example my junior year I was the #5 mens slalom and trick skier and could have skied in nationals but couldn't afford to go that year after spending hundreds of dollars already that season for entry fees, club dues, boat gas, ect...just glad I was able to partake my senior year.

Well after nearly 100 votes (or 80 but who's counting) it seems the ol' Red White and Blue seem to be the colors of choice! Coincidence? I think not!

Couldn't agree with you more @Than_Bogan its actually the whole reason behind the poll....blue i can live with, but I will refuse to buy a red boat.

What is your preferred primary boat color? Shades of red or blue seem to be the most common, which I'm guessing is due to a limited number of color choices available earlier on from manufactures. However even with all of today's options, reds and blues still seem to be the most popular. Is it that some colors are shown to have better resale values? Or maybe its some colors are easier to keep clean than others? Any thoughts behind this?

@RideTheWater Similar to @Than_Bogan I don't know a lot about ski choice but know ways you can find out people who do. Not sure where you are located but check around for local ski clubs or pro shops. I would say the best advice for picking out a ski is getting one you like after you have ridden it, whether that be demo programs or borrowing a fellow ballers (if they have something and are willing to share). If you read around I know there are a lot of threads on this topic so that might be a good place to start....I know people have suggested the newer Radar skis for guys like yourself. Also your type of ski choice could change on if your interest is just free skiing or course skiing. Not to mention budget.... If course skiing is what your after and you are looking for some advice, even though I don't know @Than_Bogan personally, he is a good one to listen too among many others on here. Happy Shopping!

Thanks for the input! As I agree, I defiantly need to spend some more time on the water. Hopefully I will see much more time on the water next year and a new to me ski (@Waternut) might seem more rational and cost effective. @Chef23 I will have to give slowing down a shot. I have often thought of trying but hadn't really had much discussion about it.

So I have not matched even my practice PB (2 @ 22off) since my collegiate days and although this summer has been the worst summer of opportunities on the water, I am frustrated that I can't seem to break the 15off/36mph hurdle. Over the past 3 years since graduation I have been trying to get on the water best I can (but has been less than desirable) and have had similar results. Typical set is open at 30, run up to 36 and usually average 2 @36mph. It is like this time and again and even after a couple sets a week throughout the summer I can't seem to increase my buoy count. (Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.) I will credit lack of water time is the biggest factor in my lack of progress but since running a course for the first time in the summer of 2009 I can't seem to get past 15off. I was hoping to have some video footage however I am not having much luck, although I will say I have been skiing with some very talented skiers who are great coaches as well, so I don't feel I am lacking on instruction. As mentioned lack of practice is obviously the biggest factor but my next thought was my ski. I am currently on a 65.5" D3 Custom X5 with double high wrap Animals. I am 6ft and a merely 150lbs. Over the last 10 years skis have come along way and wasn't sure y'alls thoughts on if a new ski would be worth a shot in helping my skiing. So I thought I would ask the question, maybe try and demo some skis the rest of this season, and get a fresh start in 2016 on a newer ski. I pray I never see a summer like the one I've been having. Between wife's school, work travel, no boat or lake/course access I have only had about 6 sets through a course all year. Wife and I are moving in April 2016, to East TN, and hope to find a place to ski a lot closer than 2 hours away. (This is one criteria come moving time.) Thanks!

@rodltg2 interesting and glad you started this post because I have been contemplating the same thing lately. I slalom and trick currently but have been thinking of taking up jump. I feel being a 3 event skier would encourage me to ski more tournaments, get and stay more involved...which can only help my skiing as I also don't feel competitive. Besides skiing with a few friends and BOS I have been quite disconnected from the skiing world since my collegiate days, esp this year...time to change that.

@ncskier This has been a good read. I am too, not quite ready in the market for a boat but hope to be soon and will be looking into many of the above mentioned boats....

Agreed @bbirlew, I was just looking at an 84' ski nautique 2001....the price was decent but I think I would hold out for something with a little better wake to be skiing behind.

my thoughts exactly @MISkier

About 5 or 6 years ago a couple of us where in the boat when the skiers handle popped causing it to come back and lasso around a ski in the boat which then sent it flying out of the boat when the rope tightened. More recently a rope snapped and came back and swiped a cell phone right out of a friends hand (which ultimately saved the rope from hitting her face, and somehow the phone stayed in the boat) and then whipped the driver in the back of the neck. All pretty lucky as no one was hurt beside a small rope burn on her hand and few red spots on the back of the driver.

@Ilivetoski I completely agree with you about perfect for people out of college. At 25 I can't just go out and drop $20k on a boat, let alone $50k+ but something around the $10k to $12k that i know is better than an I/O or skiing behind a friends parents wakeboard boat is well worth it to me. @jhughes I agree with the fact that the problem is access to consistent, nearby, flat water, with a course but if I could afford a boat of my own (the biggest upfront cost) I can drop a portable course in ($500 - $1000) and now all I need is a driver/spotter. If you marry the right ones (as I have) the wife can drive and friends love boat rides....even if they don't ski I would be willing to give up some time teaching them if it means they are helping me ski more.

@KcSwerver BOILER UP! Sorry I had to, but in all seriousness best of luck at IU. You defiantly picked the the right place to study music. I do know they have a waterski club/team and could help you with getting a quick set in while on campus (not sure if they have a place close to campus to ski or not). Even if you don't want or are to busy to ski tournaments the club can still offer some great water time and is a great way to meet people all over in the skiing community....at least speaking from my own experiences during my time at Purdue.

@jcamp loved the story! It kinda reminds me of myself when I got started so I sure can appreciate people like you! @kfennell I don't get the feeling that people think anything is "owed" to them....people just want to learn and get better. If you agree that people need to learn to ski then tell me how this is suppose to happen without using someones private site, or private boat, or someone else's time? It can't! If people don't want to help someone learn, at least get them in contact with someone who will. I joined a collegiate team and this was my first exposure to competitive skiing and although I am only running into 36mph I still aspire to get better. Since graduation (3 years ago) it's been like pulling teeth even trying to find a place to ski, let alone ski a course and I don't see how I will ever get better unless I get an opportunity to ski more. I am not (what I call) a "privileged skier" meaning I do not own a boat, have no quick access to water, or let alone a course. To hear stories of people who can't give up a little bit of time on the water makes me cringe. If timing is such a big deal then set some ground rules...3 falls and you're done, or 6 pass max, or last skier out, don't just cut someone out completely. I can understand not wanting to have a rookie driver pull you at -38 but not even letting someone ski on your private lake because they are inexperienced is just rude. You wouldn't tell the children that live on your lake they cant ski with you because they can't run a course. So therefore that tells me it is not about inexperience but rather just not wanting to share....