crashman

interesting turn this thread took but this helps with a discussion I had the other night with some club members. My partner is running -15 32mph>50% and some 34 mph; another member told him to slow it down to 28mph at 28 off instead of working toward 34mph- "the course is going to go past so fast you'll create bad habits. You need to slow it down and work on body position at a shorter length." I called BS on that. Personally I'm keeping it slow and enjoying rounding #6 for a while. I think the cleanest 28.6 I ever ran last week was my best skiing ever.

@Horton what you're saying makes sense, but the problem is that addiction triggers irrational behavior. Sure I'll tell my wife I'm just going to take a pair of sets, and tell the same thing to my driver, and as the sun dips over the horizon and I'm putting on my ski for the third set or taking a "mega set" I might suppress the notion that this is a bad idea, but at the end of the day (literally) if I can still see the buoys there's no way I can resist one last tug. My ski partner is every bit as bad- we just look at each other and know what's about to happen. Addicts will sacrifice logic and their bodies for one last fix. Whether it's jumping in 40 degree water, buying a boat from California, skiing while my wife in in the hospital with our newborn son, or skiing that last set there's nothing "smart" about this slalom thing- for me at least- and the more I round buoy #6 the worse it gets.

I'm cutting my slalom teeth up at the Waterbowl in Muncie- not sure I'm quite tournament ready yet but I hope to make some of the Monday night dates.

@bdougherty that sounds like fun- say what's a CC man like yourself doing behind that MC?

hey Bill couple thoughts check out the indiana water ski association site there is an open ski at the fairland ski club on June 18th http://indianawaterski.org/schedule/nsl/Index.htm http://indianawaterski.org/clubs/fairland/fairland.htm the indy skiers have a course on the white river in downtown indy and have an open ski session June 22 http://www.indyskiers.com/

Tonight I learned that even though I wish my progress was faster, looking back at last year this time when all I wanted in the world was to run a single pass at 28.6 mph- running a bunch of them in a row feels pretty damn great.

So despite the video I posted a few weeks ago I really don't fall too often. On a typical 3 set 18 pass night I might have one pass that I'm not riding my ski into the drop zone- usually from a minor mishap; mishandle the handle or whatnot. But last night there were wakeboarders out at the club and I decided to take a "mega set" and got out of position which I blame for my first ever OTF front flip superman impression. I guess I don't need to describe it in detail since you've all done it. It was a little thrilling but mostly scary as hell- If I go many years without doing that again I'll be good. On a good note I landed on my back, didn't hurt anything, and was able to ski a few more passes. The Strada bindings released like a charm though it took me a minute to find all my equipment- I guess that's what they call a yard sale. If only I had video! Gonna slow it back down a little tonight.

call Cory at evolution covers http://www.evolutioncovers.com/

imo... for 30k the outback is a great boat for the $- you guys who got one a few years ago sound like you did well. now the price has increased (base with freight and prep for me was $40,205 + options and tax) and at 40k other options come into play @aussiemc original point stands- I would like to see somebody ski -32 or -35 and see what happens with that tower I might not ever ski those lengths but I don't want to own a boat that reminds me of that every time I look at it

I've never rung my bell skiing- I don't wakeboard anymore because of head bonks.

@OB that's awesome! is that you're friend near Indy? If so I need to meet up with him to see what his secret for rapid progression is!

@usaski1 not bashing your outback at all, just the new tower and skier's choice dealer territory system. I like the roominess of the outback's bow and the 10 person seating capacity, and moomba materials have come a long way in the last few years- but when I priced a 2012 outback with the older tower, ZO and heater it was 43-44k after boat show incentives, dealer incentives and such. I tried to buy a holdover from a different dealer and couldn't because of dealer territories. I've had no problems with my moomba "family boat" though, just couldn't stomach the depreciation on a new outback.

I think the outback with that tower is in no-man's land. Wakeboarders won't want a direct drive for the price they're asking and a skier dedicated enough to want a direct drive won't want that tower. You can buy the outback without the tower or with another tower (I tried) but it's a special order and with skier's choice you have to do so from your nearest dealer- so if you can't bargain that particular dealer down enough you can't just work with another dealer. I'm wondering how long until the outback goes by way of the Supra Comp.

aside from reading BOS, thinking about my skiing, and TRX lately my off the course activities have consisted trying to help out at home as much as possible so I can keep my marriage strong while I leave my wife at home with a 4 week old to go skiing 4 nights a week.

Took your advice and removed the wing. @eleeski you are right on. The difference was subtle but it seemed like I had an easier time getting in an acceptable position before I took the load from the boat which is what I need right now. Third night in a row I've skied so fatigue is a factor but I made some real nice passes (for me). I need to stay in the habit of taking advice from you guys!

I'm thinking about it... I think it's helping my skiing... it's shooting me through the entrance gate... it's not leading to more buoys... yet!

@wlskier for what it's worth I'm your exact dimensions and on a vice (same shape as strada) 66" sking at -15 mostly 30 mph hoping to speed it up this year. Hey why not take some videos and post them here for free advice and so that other 15 offers can learn from them?

well I went out yesterday for a 4 set outing- beautiful day and beautiful weather. Not sure if I skied better but I know I skied differently because my biceps and upper shoulders aren't as sore as usual. @skiing2heaven great that you chimed in. For the last 2 weeks the guy I ski with has been saying "there's some dude from North or South Dakota- you need to watch his videos" I watched them a few times Friday night and tried to put some of it to use. You are correct sir that I cannot get my hips up no matter what I do if I take the load of the boat before I'm in good position. Yesterday I also started to realize things like "I just got separated from the handle and when I pulled it towards me all that happened was that I pulled my torso forward and flattened out the ski" I worked mostly on the gate and had a few times when it worked fantastically- but your videos you show moving the handle out in front and then back to the hip as you turn in for the gate. It seemed to work a lot better when I kept the handle down the whole time and I think it's because it's like @mattewbrown said if I'm not free of the boat and I move the handle in front of me I'm toast from the beginning. Matt I think I must be slalom stupid or something because if I try to focus on more than one or two concepts per set I end up working on nothing at all. I limited it yesterday to "stand proud before the gate, elbows locked to vest, stay on handle longer." I like your idea of staying on the handle the whole time- I might give that a try next time out. I was surprised when I watched my video how early I'm coming off the handle, but I think it's because I'm generating so much load while being out of position that the boat just naturally pulls me forward. well I know a whole lot more about my skiing than I did a week ago- and now I know I can't get to the next level by just skiing harder. Hope I can get this all to translate into more buoys and of course more fun!

I'm running PP stargazer on a short lake- not quite 1900 ft. We don't currently have timing magnets but we pretty much just ski for fun so as long as the speed is about right when we hit the gates and stays there we consider that good enough. If I mash the throttle it comes in hot to the gates but if once I learned how the engine should sound and feel coming into the course it's been spot on if I just give it a progressive throttle and stop when the engine feels right. I thought about decreasing the baseline RPMs but instead I just set the crew weight a little lighter than it really is and it works great.

well how about that- after skiing 4 sets today I'm sitting around drinking beer watching Horton sitting around drinking beer. My wife just asked what I'm doing and I told her I'm working on our retirement savings plan.

wow if I could emulate her glide out and move for the gate I'd be in pretty good shape.

I would like to thank everybody for their input and suggestions, especially @brooks for the kind words and not suggesting that I cut up my ski for firewood and donate my gloves to a homeless person at the north pole! I'm hoping to hook up with you sometime for some coaching! Can't wait to get back at it this weekend and put some of this to work. I'm going to ski through the course a few times in front of the buoys and just work on position.

would love to make it out- not sure whether to take my ski partner or my wife though. What's the ski season like there- how long into fall do you ski?

what's better than video? Freeze frames! @Horton look at my rear leg/knee bend and the difference between the 2 sides. I've also convinced myself that if I straighten the back leg a bit I'll have an easier time squaring myself to the course. Based on the last frame I think I'll be shopping for a handle guard. Thanks for all the tips- best site ever!

nice! I think I've found what I'm looking for but I'll get back to you when I post the "after" video later this season. I'm trying to look at the bright side this AM- I'm making full passes at -15 and yet have so many opportunities for improvement. And no I don't usually fall like that I just figured if I'm going to post a video and ask for free coaching I should at least entertain you while doing it!