jcamp

I guess the real question is: can this reasonably replace a slalom course for a serious shortline skier, or is it just a super cool thing to have some fun with? If the answer is yes to the first part, I'm in. But I'm going to need to see it and probably ski it to believe it.

I can't speak to your particular situation, but I've ordered a number of items from h2o and always had good experiences with them. More importantly they've been a consistent sponsor of the Northeast Slalom Series and Eastern Regionals so they support the sport.

I think my best ever Nationals finish was 14th. I am much more proud of that than I ever would be being crowned the "National Never Have Run 38 off Champion."

15 off you really have to generate your own speed and width. 22 off (and even more so 28) is where you have to start harnessing the speed and width the boat is giving you. Two different types of skiing. To me, skiing 15 off doesn't necessarily "warm you up" for 22 or 28 because it's a different kind of skiing. Skiing 32mph at 22 off prepares you better for 34mph 22 off.

@PurdueSkier here is one negative: you don't know if they will actually fix the problem you are trying to fix. And all previous attempts have either failed (INT) or not really gotten any traction (Class F). Again, go start your own tournaments. If they are better, that model will win out. For now the regular format is the overwhelming choice of skiers and organizers.

The INT League isn't exactly killing it (or still around) these days ...

Organizers can (and some do) hold ability-based tournaments now. But the vast majority are not. Maybe it's a case of the market has already spoken. Hold your own ability-based tournament. If people love it it will inspire more of them and eventually the market will speak again.

One of THE BEST things about this sport is that grandparents, parents and kids can compete along side each other. Once you start messing with that you are really on the path to putting the sport in its grave.

@Horton generally speaking, every single skier in the state who skis at Regionals also skis in our state championships. Same with officials. We don't have enough to hold a tournament without out-of-state officials.

My state championship was this past Saturday. I took first (two skiers in my division) my daughters finished 1st and 2nd (two skiers in their division) and my son took first (only skier in his division). Should this really qualify us for Nationals? Plus, there is not a single jump in my state (sorry jumpers, you can't go to Nationals) and our tournament is slalom only (sorry trickers, no Nationals for you either). Not to mention that to run our state championships we need officials from out of state. If states were how you qualified for Nationals instead of Regionals then all the states would be having championships right around the same time, stretching officials too thin. There simply aren't enough officials to run 50 state championships in a few weeks time. The better solution is for a number of states to band together to share resources (sites, ramps, officials) and create a tournament big enough that there is good competition in just about every division. We could call that the Regional Championships.

The old saying is never meet your heroes. Carl was my hero when I was growing up and I've had the great fortune of meeting/talking with him a couple times over the years and he is just one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.

@Jayski sounds awesome. Did those scores go onto the ranking list?

As @klindy mentioned, ability-based tournaments can and do happen now. It just takes an event organizer with a little bit of imagination. So why haven't ability-based tournaments taken off? My guess is that more people simply like the standard tournament version.

The lack of bios is because skiers don't fill them out or barely do ... not the announcers' fault.

All I know is that the people who run Nautique are, and always have been, really smart business men and women.

Renewed yesterday.

@skimtb Don't worry, it'll be for sale soon enough I'm sure. PRISTINE!

4 divisions, three age years in each is probably the better arrangement ... But age groups with four age years in them was too much. @brettmainer Not sure the example of two year M1/2/3/4/5 divisions is an applicable caparison here. Not much difference in people who are 37 and 41. Huge potential difference between kids that are 10 and 13 (the old Girls/Boys 2).

Thank you @hacker but they won't let their boats be used on Cayuga.

During normal times? 32-35K? During the Great Covid Induced Used Boat Craze of 2020? 68k if my onlyinboards, boattrader and craigslist research is any indicator.

Duct tape a brick to the end of the PCV pipe right under the turn ball. Cheap, easy to remove and works well.

Thank you @CNYStarsandStripes I tried them but they are all booked up!

The PerfectPass people are awesome. Not having them as involved with the sport any more (through no fault of their own) has been a big loss for skiing.

My family will be staying on Lake Cayuga July 26-Aug. 1. I was planning to bring my own boat but the transmission has other plans. Does anybody have a boat they'd be willing to rent me for 1 or 2 days? Maybe even the entire week? I'm an experienced boat owner and (rated) driver who is looking for really any kind of boat to pull the kids around on skis and tubes for a week and take a sunset cruise or two. Thanks.

At least it has a "bumping stereo system."