mshaw200

@ryan @leonl We changed the rules a couple of years ago that we would run off ties for the final pair so that a winner wasn’t determined just by who went first or second

Online scoring for every Big Dawg is always available NautiqueBigDawg.com for the prelims and the head to head

@Horton omg thank you, I was really worried I might be losing my position with Big Dawg

That’s really interesting @LLUSA......did Nautique put out a press release stating that?

Not only the youngest, but the youngest by 5.5 years. Crazy good skiing.

Tentative Big Dawg list: Todd Crow Todd Kuykendall Marco Bettosini Michael Robinson Cameron White Jeff Milford Tim Henderson Mike Kusiak Jon Sink Don Aschenbrenner Eric Kolb Jay Leach Todd Johnson Tim Huston Ben Favret Jeremy Newby-Ricci Barton Rachwal George Obser Dave Goode Kyle Tate Greg Sund Thierry Malhomme Bruce Dodd Harald Hintringer Todd Ristorcelli Jason Seels Marc Shaw Kris LaPoint Chad Scott Andy Mapple Frederic Halt Dave Miller Jeff Rodgers

@MattP while the BD payout might be more then the OM Slalom that is because of the BD sponsors and entry fees. It's only highlighted this year because it's a combined event. To my knowledge, the total payout and paying down to 8th spot has been in place since at least 2009. The US Open payout was based on the money that CBS could raise (or not raise) for the event. If the Open skiers want to be upset about their payout or even the number of skiers going to the finals that needs to be directed to the right people, and complaining about the BD's isn't the right direction. This is our Finals and we just want to ski. Do I want the BD to take away from their US Open? Of course not, but I also don't want out Finals, an event that is important to us, be bashed on. While none of the BD's do this for a living but I promise you that every BD skier is just as passionate and competitive as the Open skiers. @skidawg To be accurate it isn't a two stop average and while it wasn't a guarantee this year, only 2 people that made the sweet 16 weren't ranked in the top 40 at the end of the year. And I have no doubt that as good as you are, had you gone to one stop you would have made it into the Finals. You should reach out to Nautique about last year, you should have gotten $400 I think for 8th. @Kelvin It may seem off that the BD have 16 skiers skiing on Saturday but that is our format and that hasn't changed in years. 2 prelim rounds one day followed by Sweet 16 head to head the following. Taking fewer Open skiers to the finals on Saturday was a decision made by others and isn't the fault of the BD skiers. I would personally prefer our finals to be at night under the lights.

@Razorskier1 you are correct. I can't remember the exact number of times that Nate has run 41 but it is more then everyone else combined. It's crazy the confidence he has at that and every pass. I've pulled him through it maybe 5 times and have seen him run it 6 times behind 5 different drivers in 1 week and 2 of those were tournament rounds.

@Horton that Ginsu ripped, just couldn't keep the bindings screwed into the ski lol

@MillerTime38 I'm not looking to argue. I said "automatically" and that statement is still correct. Yes, everyone that went to 2 events this year did qualify for the finals. And they still had to earn a total of 34 points. They earned their spot in the Top 40 based on the current rules. They wouldn't have done that if they hadn't gone to the events and put up scores. "Just showing up" and finishing last wouldn't cut it. Participation was exactly the same this year as last, 88 skiers

Nautique and O'Brien do want the best skiers in the Big Dawg Finals but they also want to reward those skiers for supporting the events. Them just showing up at 2 events doesn't automatically qualify them for the Finals, they still had to produce some scores and earn enough points. I can see the points system getting tweaked a little for next year but I think it will probably be around for a bit. I would venture to say that several of the skiers that went to multiple events did so mainly out of their love for the Big Dawg events. @Horton why would I have to ski at 36? I don't think I meet the requirements to be forced into those shenanigans.

Of the current Top 40, 17 of the skiers only went to 1 event. At least 16 of the 23 skiers that went to 2 events would have still made the top 40 with points from only 1 of the events that they competed in. It's certainly feasible to make the top 40 without chasing all the tour stops. Going to 2 events certainly does help though....

If it makes you feel any better @bishop8950 ....there are techincally 28 skiers after you, you just have to scroll down to see them. @Horton seems a little touchy...

The 2015 Big Dawg World Tour Points standings have been updated after the final qualifier at Broho and can be found at http://nautiquebigdawg.com/2015-overall-rankings/ The Finals will be held October 23 & 24 (Friday & Saturday) in Orlando, Florida

I have been using the Pro Locks since 2009. In my opinion the length of the strap is what causes the hangups. The longer the strap the more likely a hangup is in my opinion. I have gotten pairs that the palm strap was longer and it means you have to essentially open your hand more to get them to release. My suggestion is when you find a pair you like make a note of the length of the strap and make sure the new pair matches.

@MillerTime38 Nautique still wants the best skiers in the Finals however they are also interested in rewarding skiers for supporting the series. If I'm still on the committee next year then we'll review what occurred in 2015 and look at tweaking it if it doesn't produce the desired results. This is new and different way of approaching the Big Dawg series, until the season is complete we (you, me and everyone else) really has no idea how this will impact the series. Last year only 16 skiers went to multiple events, there's no way to know if that will change this year. Maybe it's less maybe it's more, who knows. I think it's cool of Nautique to look at how to reward skiers for supporting their events. Qualifier hosts will appreciate it as well if it helps to fill up their events. If Broho gets 45 skiers this year versus the 37 last year, I'm sure they'll appreciate the extra $1,600 in entry fees they'll get.

I guess only time will really tell but I truly feel like international skiers won't take up as many spots in the Finals as you think as I don't think they will actually come. I also feel strongly that this new points system will open the door for a lot of skiers that are in the low to mid 39 category.

@wish last year 16 skiers went to 2 or more events. @MillerTime38‌ I ran last year's qualifiers using this points system and 24 of the top 40 only went to 1 event. Granted with this new rule more people might opt to go to 2 events but we'll have to wait and see. As for the scores being different between the US and International stops, there was a decent size difference between the MS and Broho stops. In MS last year it took a combined score of 211 to make the sweet 16 (a 3 & 4 39), in Broho it was 204.5 (a 2 @ 39 and a 4.5 @ 38 for a .25 @ 39 average). Would you agree that the difference in those 2 stops was sizable? Do you think those 2 people shouldn't get the same amount of points? I won't disagree that the cut to make the Sweet 16 is traditionally lower at International stops versus US Stops but of the Europeans that usually qualify most of them don't make the trip. I would venture to say that will be even more true this year with the Finals being in October.

@Wish‌ - The rules change doesn't make it harder, it actually makes it a bit easier in my opinion. @MattP‌ - I'm more afraid of the opposite, that the BD Finals will sort of get lost in the mix of the open skiers at the US Open. I don't think this will diminish the open skiers accomplishments at all @skidawg‌ - It certainly changes things but it doesn't mean you can't go to one event and qualify. I ran this system based on last years placements in the qualifiers and 23 of the top 40 only went to 1 event. That will probably change a little this year with the new system but I bet there are more then a few skiers in 2015 that will only go to one event and still make the finals. This is a big change from the way the Big Dawg has been done in the past. But, if you think about it a little differently, I'm not aware of any sport that has a series of events culminating in a "final" championship event where you can only go to one event and qualify for the finals. On the PGA Tour, even if you win an event that won't qualify you to play in the FedEx Championships at the end of the season, Motorcross, Nascar, even all major sports have a regular season before the playoffs. It's just different. Honestly, I think that this opens the door for a lot of skiers Just my 2 cents.

@oneski - The top see gets to pick whether he wants to go first or second, ultimately he does get to choose his driver but usually it's just for the tie-break advantage. With Miller being the higher seed, he got to choose. I didn't see what Jeff saw but as someone that has skied under the lights, I know firsthand that there are distractions. In 09 there was someone on one of the trick judging towers in Okeeheelee with a flash reflector the size of a basketball. On every pass I could see it going off, not to mention the cars pulling into the area by the main road. I don't fault Jeff for asking for the re-ride, I just don't think the CJ should have granted it. I also know that while not every agrees with everything that transpired, there is a protest process when something arises that an affected skier doesn't agree with. I was in the main crowd and have no idea what occurred at the starting dock area. If half of what I heard is true it's not good and should never have occurred. I don't know if he was or was not informed of the situation but I think it was a mistake for Tyler not to inform an educated audience that there was a protest issue and the officials were working to resolve it. In my opinion it would have made a big difference to the Webcast and on shore audience to know that it was being worked on.

I've been drug tested at the last two 35+ Worlds, 2010 in Milan and 2012 in Guadalajara, so it does happen but typically only at the international level. I think the biggest reason someone would do it in water skiing would be for the recovery aspect. I know that there have been people that have pushed for it at the Big Dawg events but to my knowledge nothing is happening with that at this time.

I've been drug tested at the last two 35+ Worlds, 2010 in Milan and 2012 in Guadalajara, so it does happen but typically only at the international level. I think the biggest reason someone would do it in water skiing would be for the recovery aspect. I know that there have been people that have pushed for it at the Big Dawg events but to my knowledge nothing is happening with that at this time.

I've used nothing but the MasterLine Pro Locks exclusively since mid 2009 and I will never use another pair of gloves as long as these are available. They did go through a period where the strap got to long which made it a bit difficult to release from the handle into your preturn. The positive is that they have fixed the issue they had with the length. They were willing to shorten the length of the strap for me when I asked them to. I currently use a .940 handle and the straps on my Pro Locks are about 5.25" long. I have personally never had a pair fail and love these gloves. I've held on to some pretty crazy stuff and been able to run the pass.

@Dirt: I don't mind sharing them, sorry it took me so long. The tail rocker on my A3 is a little flatter then normal. Not sure what, if any, bearings that would have on the settings. I still don't think they are 100% where I want them to be. But this is where I am for now. Length is 6.8455 Depth is 2.487 DFT is .7665 (with slot calipers) and I'm running 8.5 on the wing. Good luck, hope these help. Let me know how they work out.

I have all but OpenID. I probably use Instagram outright more than Twitter but my Instagrams get copied to Twitter & FB