BG1

T3 for me.

@horton knows not to test that ski. If he did, his ski testing days would be over. He wouldn't be able to give it up after the 20 sets.

And he still got another 2 buoys after that photo was taken.

@MS

They just keep getting better! Thanks guys. Keep it up!

I would like a definitive answer also if anyone knows for sure.

I was told by a former Regional VP that taught me how to run the course in the late 1970’s that the original reason skiers were required to ski in regionals before being allowed to ski nationals was to force the open skiers to ski regionals. This would allow all the up and comers and lower level skiers to see the top skiers from their region compete. He told me they dropped the regionals requirement for open skiers when they started putting on pro events. The requirement stuck for the rest of us. I remember him complaining about it a lot because of the burden it put on a lot of the nationals competitors. I’ve never researched to find out how accurate this account is I just took his word.

I understand some of this is in place. The bar would just be lowered with more potential rewards. You have the newbie who gets to boast they qualified for regionals their first year of competitive skiing. Also, the skier that comes in 10th place at regionals every year would have a better shot at winning regionals and going to nationals for the first time. Or the next skier might show up at regionals for the first time in 8 years because they think they now has a shot. Then there is the skier who will now go to nationals because the financial/time burden has been cut in half. And still you have yet another skier that goes in hopes of taking home one of those nice trophies to show off in their boat house.

I don’t see regionals participation automatically dropping with the current “must ski regionals to ski nationals” requirement lifted if requirements to ski regionals and nationals were also adjusted. I would first suggest lowering the score to ski regionals. Then, as Bill and @Chet have suggested, have large, nice trophies. Allow the winner of each event at regionals to participate in nationals regardless of their score, which should increase national’s participation. Lastly, allow anyone who has a score at regionals above the minimal average score required to qualify for nationals to qualify for nationals even if their average isn’t high enough. This also should increase national’s participation. I see several benefits form these suggestions. New and lower level skiers would have several nice carrots to chase through regionals including a trophy and a shot at nationals. With some of the elite skiers skipping regionals, the door would be open for the mid-level skier to the lower end national’s level skier to claim the title of “Regionals Champion!” I personally know several local skiers that don’t compete now who would be drawn in to chase these carrots. The sport is dying and we need to draw in the recreational skiers, whether it be young, old, or in between. These newbie’s would bring some much needed enthusiasm and money into the sport. We also need to bring back all the ones who have left competitive skiing but still could do it if it weren’t as it is now. The status quo is killing the sport of competitive waterskiing. Look no further than the alarming rate that participation in regionals and nationals has diminished for the indisputable evidence. Just remember, all change is not bad. For our sport not to change means we will continue down the road we are on now and that road leads to extinction.

Thanks @MarcusBrown Another great video!

Tough crowd. I thought it was entertaining and informative. Would not have paid to see the whole show though. Entertainment can come in many forms. John proved he is a virtuoso with this form!

Calipers are normally sold in 4", 6", 8", and 12" or larger. I've never seen a 9" or 10" dial caliper before so the next step up from the 8" is the 12" and they are larger in every way which would take up more space in your toolbox. The 12" might also be a little harder to measure with unless you have good skills with the dial caliper because it is heaver. My 8" has always worked for measuring tail of ski to tip of fin. A 7.000" long fin plus .800" from tail is 7.800", less then 8".

Early. Wide. Stacked.

Slack

Freddie is so awesome he is the only skier out there capable of scoring the elusive three quarter buoy!

Freddie is an incredible skier who uses all of his skill and athleticism to win. Same thing with Andy, the LaPoint brothers, Jeff, Nate, Will, Chris…Or any other top athlete in any real sport. I’m sure every one of them worked/are working incredibly hard to improve in any way possible.

He should hear the rest of my act. I’d have him rolling in the floor!

@Horton I did say "or so". I was in a hurry when I typed that. Point is I think those two factors, trick mode+T3, could put him back in the hunt for the slalom WR. 3 ball is his on side so getting back to the wakes for a full 3 @ -43 might be possible for him.

Trick mode + T3? CP may bump that slalom WR up a quarter buoy or so.

@skibackwards They are going to need a bigger boat.

Understood. For me less speed swing would be great. I was just wondering what that speed swing is. Maybe-.2MPH under load and very briefly +.2MPH when the skier releases the load?

@klindy No. If the max a driver is off at their worst buoy for an entire group of skiers in a tournament is 3" or maybe as much as 4", and they are aming at center line, they are probably within 2" 95% of the time. Any driver is going to get surprised or misjudge occasionally.

So has anyone watched the speedometer while pulling slalom in trick mode to see what the speed swing of the boat is? If not, would one of you still skiing please check and post it here?

@ Wish I don’t think you’re ever going to get your questions about “pattern driving” answered because it’s a judgment call. I would bet that if the top drivers who are posting here were to separately watch videos of boat paths they would almost always agree if deviations were intentional because they have studied and practiced the art for decades and therefore know what they are looking at. I would imagine most good tournament drivers would also consistently agree. The rules clearly state that the tolerances given are for human error and intentionally using them to aid a skier is forbidden. I would hope that whoever has the authority to pass judgement on a driver regarding boat path deviations know what they are looking at and watch enough passes/skiers before passing judgment. The first time I heard the term “pattern driving” was before Zero Off when you had to guess how many rpms to add or subtract for each pass using PP. A tournament site got “called out” because their times consistently got slower as the line got shorter. Can’t remember what the “punishment” was. As far as the possibility that @Chad_Scott, @LLUSA, and @Jody_Seal could be accused of cheating because they drive Chris and Nate differently, it is actually just the opposite. Video would show the pylon very close to the center all the way through the course with both skiers. Forget the boat wagging. If it didn’t wag they would be way off center with the pylon, out of tolerance, and out of the boat watching from the bank. The rope is attached to the pylon, not the back of the boat so that is where any advantage/disadvantage has to be measured from. The difference in steering wheel movement between Chris and Nate would be split second and not obvious to the casual observer. So about every 2.5 seconds they would start their counter steer maybe .25 seconds later and every so slightly less aggressively with Nate than with Chris. In fact, if a driver drives Nate the way Chris needs to be driven and vice versa, BOTH skiers would receive an UNFAIR pull. Boat path would suffer and the tension on the line would be unpredictable. Keeping a towboat centered within plus or minis 3 or 4 inches without negatively affecting any of the skiers, which is what the top drivers do, is a remarkable feat.

Maybe some of the skiers using trick mode for slalom could get a passenger to watch the Zero Off speedometer to see what the speed swings are.