jcamp

"Travel teams are the devil!" - Says this father who has kids in four of them, knows they suck, but still feels like he "has to" so his kids don't get "left behind" their peers.

Does anybody have an old PerfectPass magnet they'd like to sell me so I can do some experimentation?

@oldkier Some rapid water and debris in the spring, but things generally calm way down by mid to late June. Basically when the water starts to get warm anyway. It's a much smaller river than the Ohio (no barge or commercial traffic/fishing). The kayakers will be the biggest problem :-)

Thanks for the insights guys. Great info. Quick question: Do the PerfectPass magnets float? Or is the foam around it just for strike protection?

I'm thinking about installing a course in a river where state law would require me to float it and sink it with/after each use. Instead of pulling up the course and clicking buoys on/off each time, I'd like to try attaching the buoys with magnets. The thought is that I'd have a sub buoy with a magnet approx. 5 feet down, and another magnet dangling on 5 feet of rope attached to the buoy. To install I'd just float up next to the sub buoy (which would have a large, bright-colored disc attached underneath it for visibility) and drop the magnet on the buoy down and the two would connect. To remove after skiing it would be a easy tug. Anyone else ever try this? Is it doable? Any thoughts (besides mockery)? PS: No, I have no idea how heavy magnets are and how large they would have to be to keep buoys in place. Feel free to enlighten me.

More webcast time for old guys. EXACTLY what the sport of water skiing needs!

@shufflehuff it may say it's a 200 trailer, but it sure doesn't look like one ... Doesn't even have pole guides.

McCormick's up in Tampa, or Eden in Ft. Myers. Each place is about the same drive from Anna Maria (McCormicks might be a little closer). McCormick's is likely to have more gear on hand for you to use. Both sites are great.

I always thought the three-year rule was a way creating demand for the big 3. If they are going to scale back, or kill their promo programs, there is no reason to keep the three-year rule in place.

Awesome! Thank you Travers family.

@skibug the paupers have already been forced out ...

@Horton, by whom? Where?

@AdamCord I must admit that for a bit I thought this was the way to do things because I was taught it at the driver's clinic I attended!

@Robert_Pigozzi I do not doubt that some of that money is misused and could be put to better uses, but I don't think the amount of money is even close to enough to get water skiing back on live TV or secure the support of big-name sponsors.

Lisa defined the term "gentle soul." And she was a great, great champion too. She will be missed.

Even if water skiing was on ESPN none of us would watch it because they'd air it five days (if not more) after the event and we'd all know who won already.

@Horton @RGilmore was not advocating throwing a bunch of money at getting skiing on ESPN, he/she was simply stating that one could in fact do it if they brought enough cash to the table and pointing out they the reality that it would probably be a money loser.

LaPoint Ski Park can't be beat for it's pay/per set setup.

Back in the early 2000s I worked with Orange County Parks and Recreation (Orlando) to organize a learn to ski day for kids who went to a boys and girls club in one of the worst parts of town. Ben Favret and Lisa St. John were nice enough to volunteer their time, and even boats, if I recall. Ben worked with this little 9-year-old-ish kid who, the first time he'd ever been in a boat, shimmed out onto the boom (while the boat was under speed) and started barefooting. There is no doubt that the talent level in skiing would be way higher if we were able to draw in a more diverse crowd.

@scuppers Instead of trying to shut the conversation down, how about you just stop clicking on the link?

The problem with a ranking system based on who you beat is that some people just don't have access to tournaments with other top competitors due to where they live, financial resources, etc. I would like to think that if some dude can run deep 41s, but maybe doesn't have the $ or time to travel that they still get their due.

@ForrestGump How about big enough so that I always have a driver?

That is just unbelievably great skiing. Congrats Dorien!

I'd call their 1-888 number. They still might be able to do it for you.

Seems like a lot of people have already made their minds up on something that none of us have even seen yet.