inland

Kind of embarrassed in this community to discuss my PB, but having just started to slalom 2 years ago (this being my 3rd season), my seasons practice PB is making clean passes at -15, 32 MPH. For me that's an achievement. I'm working on 34 mph right now and hope to get into the local tournaments next season...... Did someone say this sport is the most addictive thing ever???? If not, allow me to say it.....THIS SPORT IS THE MOST ADDICITIVE THING EVER! But.....I love it!

While I'm no fan of the big wake boats, there is one on my lake. I'm on a "semi-private" lake that, for all intensive purposes, between Memorial Day and Labor Day is a private lake. There's only 1 wake boat that's on the lake at all times, another whose place is not a full time residence. I have a TON of respect for the guy because he's darn good at his sport and equally as respectful. If he sees me come out as he's coming out, he will run in parallel to the course so his wakes don't destroy good water. I've befriended the guy and while we're out, it's courtesy to call him when my sets are done and he'll call me when he's done. He wants the good water just as much as we do. I do think that this is a rarity among the wake boat owners though. I think I just got lucky and have one of the good guys on the water here.

Great thread! Thanks for sharing. I too have had some challenges staying stacked and have been watching some youtube vids in an effort to isolate the concept in my mind. The thought of pulling a sled backwards is about as accurate of a description as possible.

@SkiJay That's fantastic!! I've been taking my 18 month old out with me since he was 5 months old. I used to bring the infant car carrier and set it between the driver and observer seat where it opens to the bow and he was cool with it. He usually fell asleep. I take him out once a week now and he gets passed from wet skier to wet skier when we change drivers / skiers. Just this past Saturday he spent an hour and a half with 4 of us running through the course and didn't so much as make a sound. He just quietly observed. Same as the week prior and also in poor weather. Looking forward to getting him behind the boat next season. It's going to be a blast!

I wish otherwise for you. I called on it last week and it had a deposit on it. Usually gone when that happens. Detroit's not too far if you're in Toronto. It's only a 4 hour run and one I've made several times. Actually, that dealer to Toronto proper is about 4.5 hours. Still a non-issue in my opinion.

@Skoot1113....this guy's not a skier at all and I have offered him a pull. He returned the offer because I've never been on a board. I may take him up conditionally. Interesting to hear everyone say they're seeing more skiers. I'm on a small semi-private lake and can get good water nearly every evening of the week. Granted, I may only get 30-60 minutes of good water, but it's still good water. Another great thing is that the crew I ski with on weekends gets out every morning and one of them is always willing to drive for me in the evening. I'm RARELY able to get the early set due to family and work matters. Sure is nice to have lots of skiers on the lake. It IS a great time to be a skier!

@skihart...we find the same on our lake. Far more skiers than boarders. It's a super nice thing to see. I will say this though, we do have a boarder on our lake who is pretty darn good at his sport. That and he's super courteous when we're out by letting us get sets in before he tears up the good water.

Good luck in your search. Like I said before, the SSLXI is what brought me to the Malibu line. It's a great boat.

@torontoboater....did you get a boat yet? I was in your position a few years ago. I had not skied in 20 years and decided I needed a direct drive boat with room for a family, high freeboard, etc. To make a really long story short, I was out looking for a Malibu Sunsetter LXI and could not find one within my budget at the time. I settled for a 1997 Sunsetter LX. It is on the SV23 hull, which as stated before was rolled out around 1993 on the Echelon. It's a great boat, pretty versatile, but does have drawbacks. As stated before, the wake below 32 leaves somethings to be desired. That said though, in my experience, at 30 it's not bad at -15. Much better at -22. Then it feels much different at 32 and it's for the better. At 34, even better yet. I regularly ski a 2001 Sportster LX, likely to small for you, and a 1993 MC PS 205. The -15 at 30 and 32 is decent on the 205. The -22 bump is a bit of a bummer though. The above said, I love my boat, but am looking at upgrading to a more slalom friendly tractor. I hope you found what you need.

I've been using Performance Boat Candy Speed Gloss after use. Works pretty well and I only wax once a year.

I have always had problems with the pickle fork wake pigs but this is a bit different for me. It's subtle enough to not be so disturbing. I really like the fact that there's at least some photographic evidence of the R & D coming out. It's great to see that as well as all the test mules. Very, very cool! I have to give a serious shout out to the engineers and R & D team, as well as Marcus Brown. I look forward to seeing one of these in the flesh and hopefully skiing one.

While I'm not in the area that you request, we have a small club on our semi-private lake. Course is in Monday through Friday and I typically ski in the evenings. We have no public access, so that's why I call it "semi-private". Our gates are closed and locked memorial day through labor day. If you find yourself in the area, let me know. I'm happy to give you a pull. Just understand.....I don't have a TXI as I believe you do.

I like babes as well, particularly for my seats. For the gel coat, I like to wash it with a regular boat wash then follow it up with collinites fiberglass boat wax. I'll use the collinites cleaner first if the wash didn't do what I needed. Then, throughout the season I use boat bling hot sauce periodically. Seems to work well.

Chris Passeri here....38 and slalom skied for the first time in nearly 20 years last season. I just picked up an HO COX this season and hope to be able to work my way through the course with confidence at 30 mph this year at 15 off. I have 2 kids, one 6 weeks and the other 3.5 years old. I hope to get my 3.5 year old out this year in hopes that she enjoys it as much as I. Great site btw. Been lurking for a while, but don't post much.

This past season was the first time I was on a ski in 20 years. I'm 38 and could not be happier being on the water again. Ran through the course this year a few times and it was the first time in my life having done so. I didn't do well, but doing it was better than wishing I had.

Great read, Horton. Thanks for the help!

If I could pry my wife's paws away from the savings account......it would be sold! Beautiful boat and GL with the sale.

This past April, my wife and I purchased our first direct drive boat so I could get back into skiing, which I did plenty of as a kid. I borrowed a ski (HO CDX) from my neighbor this year to get back into the swing of things. It had been 20 years since skiing a single ski. I did mostly free skiing and typically 15' off at 30 MPH. In the later part of the season, I went through the course shadowing balls, just working on getting a feel for things and trying to develop a rhythm. I ran 15' off at 28 MPH the 3 times I had a chance to do this and was able to get 2 balls on my last run. Now that Christmas is coming, I plan on having the wife get me a ski. I don't mind used and am looking for something that I can ski for the next 2-3 seasons without needing an upgrade. I don't mind used. I'm 5'-10" and about 185 lbs. I've been considering an HO CO-X or Co-X (SL), a Radar Senate, or an HO Monza (2008 that I found still new). Considering that, do any of you have any recommendations for a guy like me?? Thanks.