Chet

I think the outbound trajectory is manditory for shorter lines. When you drive the very best you can see them coming out of there initial lean but you often feel little to no change in the pull. You can actually feel them slowing down( super connected). I think they do every thing in their power to come out of the pull off their outside edge. Thus maintaining pressure in th outside arm ( right arm going right and left going left). Like a gate pull out for example they begin on the left edge, come out of their pull on the left edge and end up wide and over their feet. Knowin full and well the edge will change but doing every thing in their power not to let it happen to abrupt or to fast. Trusting the final outcome to try and be more outside the ball and over their feet. By "attempting" to come out off the outside edge they can start coming up sooner with no fear of going inside early and killing their line or abandoning their feet. I've never seen a generational so good at riding their feet. Less tiping and more tracking. Their hands stay low and close for the most part. When they get late or fast anomalies begin to occur but their ambitions remain fairly constant. Outside the ball for sure and more over their feet than inside if possible.

Went from Florida To Vancouver one year. 92 degree water to 52 degree water. BC water felt good but was a lot of work and the ski did ride high even in a deep lake. Came home and over shot my first two gates dramatically. My take is cold water high drag and ski rides high. This in turn makes me work harder to achieve the same effect as a result the boat works harder and with out the ability to get the ski back deep into the water (density) I slow down less. As I progress down course the exaggerated effort on my part and the increased swing of the throttle make me feel fast. Did I mention I love warm water.

My prayers are with the family. Andy always enjoyed a good banter. I will always remember how much we enjoyed skiing and laughing. I can't remember ever being with him and not spending a lot of our time laughing. I will miss him and our sport will miss him. As my brother I look forward to bantering again.

We need you guys in skiing and I'm writing you both in as presidential candidates. The country needs you. Great ideas. George you are missing your second calling. Promoter Brilliant Congrats Don

Animal I am in agreement with several others here. That is a brilliant suggestion. We need minds like yours driving us into the future. Great idea.

On this toe side back flip make sure you keep edging and make your move away from the boat more aggressive. The boat will do more work for you bringing you to you feet instead of your butt. It will basically take over and do the work for you. Hope this helps.

Randy your son is a water ski rock star. If you look on the shelf of the greats they have areas of their homes littered with trophies, bowls, etc. Each of these signifies an accomplishment in competitive water skiing. The accolades help drive even the driven like your son. I agree with him that they should bump up the prize and give him something to set on the shelf and tell his grandkids about.

I get the privlidge to either ski with or at least discuss slalom with both Nate and Regina multiple times a year. One conversation I never hear is ....when or where to switch or change edges. The conversation is one of the boats constant and continual value. In other words not should I pull long or short but instead how do I make the boat keep pulling on me even as I am coming up and out of my pull. In my opinion good jumpers have been doing a version of this for a long time. While on one ski exiting the wake they continue to ride the boats energy as they begin rising out of their max leverage position. They use as much of the boats value for as long as possible trying to gain a mechanical (boat) advantage. In my opinion this idea gives the slalom skier more follow through at the back of the buoy and on to the wake. It pretty much lets them take as much ankle as they want and have little if any worry as to whether they will be able to hold it. The more important question they seem to want to know is can they continue to reuse it over and over again. If angle is basically where the tip of the ski is pointed and a lean is designed to hold that angle once established then body alignment must be used to help anatomically support that lean. Riding the boats energy is basically all that remains. Anatomical, directional and mechanical advantage. When I see them apply it and see how easy they make it look it just makes me hungry to go ski and try.

I am always in awe of all the brilliant and hardworking people that both surround this sport and make it happen at a competitive level. Dialogue and change when change is needed make this websie valuable and rare. I applauded you guys for your efforts and the rational thoughts that continue to push this sport onward and upward.

ToddL I think these are brilliant ideas. I hope the committee is listening.

Achems Razor All things being equal the simplest solution is usually the best. Than you are one sharp cat. I am sure the first practice step you need is something simple. Once you have an idea of what that most important first step is just wrap your mind around it. Begin to think about it off the water. When you begin to ski make your body a slave to your mind. Make yourself do that task or skill no matter the out come. You have already pushed all your chips in. You have decided to learn this skill and you won't be denied. You know it's a good skill to have and it is one you can confirm by observing the best doing it. You asset is your brain ,it can dictate the terms. For sure you can run 39. This is a sport where ordinary people can do extraordinary things and your brain is far from ordinary. Hope this helps. Chet

I was told about your post and it saddened me that for 25 years this problem has plagued you. I know that trying not to break at the waist is not the answer after all you can't do a don't. So I have a do suggestion for you to do. Your ski is going to try and go outside the ball. I would like you to try and have your head chase your feet all the way to the buoy. Don't think about how to get to the ball just have your head go where your feet go. No other rules to start. If your head stays with your feet you should have a hard time breaking. Do what it takes with your arms or your cut to achieve this goal. It's time this broken position is fixed. You can change that behavior immediately if you focus hard and specific. Hope this helps.

Personally this is something I can't wait for. It is hard to imagine getting the same pull over and over again. It is also hard to imagine getting the same and equal tournament experience boat to boat and round to round. I imagine an automated system may cost me a few balls initially but I think with time I will learn how it responds and adapt accordingly. To always get a version of Chad, Will, Chris , etc.. would be amazing. I think this would be one of the most game changing innovations ever. It might be difficult at first but with time I think I would wonder how I ever did without it. Come on those of you working on this I know your out there and I'm not getting younger. I would love to be in the generation that skis on the first fully automated ski boat.

Come on automated driving Chet

A few years back a friend filled in all 5 fin holes for me. It slid like a trick. I reopened one hole at a time and with each new hole I received better traction and grip. With each new hole came some increased drag but worth the stability and holding power. Front holes seemed to be the most critical. Five holes or more were my personal favorite at the time. I had a few fins to play with but in the end I was convinced some smart ski teck somewhere in time had a clue.

Andy is a friend and arguably the best competitive slalom skier to date. I not only welcome him but would be honored to be able to ski in an event with him. A few years ago I had the privilege of being in a head to head with Kris in Austin Tx. "After" he took me out I told him that I had always dreamed of skiing with or against him. These are men that achieved at the highest level of our sport. They are the best of their time. Those of us who watched and got mesmerized by the skills and abilities of these men should in my opinion feel honored that we would be able to take the field of battle with them and even get a shot. Most of the tournaments they won I would never even have qualified for let alone won. I know I am getting old even for masters men but I personally would consider it somewhat like a dream to ski with or against the likes of Andy Mapple. Win, loose or draw... honored.....Chet

I would love to see a very simple system with no letters and no numbers... just the speed... and we all adapt...Chet

I dream of auto driving. Wonder what it would do to the sport and to this topic. Chet

Ok so is 34 too tough or not tough enough. I am confused as to why the desire for 35 mph.

Ok so is 34 too tough or not tough enough. I am confused as to why the desire for 35 mph.

Heard you guys have been talking about the Nats. I skied there last year and the place skied great. This year might be the most difficult conditions I have skied in yet. The day before we skied the open guys rocked the place with great performances. As you all know overnight and the next day things got a bit crazy. First I would like to congratulate Greg,Todd,and Seth. They skied amazing. I am proud of my fried Bruce and all the other warriors who took their time, spent their money, dawned their boots stepped on the water. It is a tough sport and the sudden death nature of slalom makes it unappealing to some. I have been hurt before and had to sit on the sidelines wishing I could play. This week I got to play and not only do I have no regrets but I feel blessed to have had the opportunity. As has been said on that day in that moment some will shine and others will fall but I loved being with the family of waterskiing and would not trade the experience. Chet