JohnCox

Well, my season on the ski is done...Finally looked at my daughters pics yesterday (as usual, she took some GREAT ones). The first here is going in to 2 at 35 in round 2. At the end of the turn, I heard and felt a pop in my left arm...so, naturally just held on and pulled through the wakes. When I released off the wake going to 3 (next pic), I knew it was bad, so I just dropped the handle. For the record, I got 2.25@35 that round... :) Surgery on Monday. Immobile for 3 weeks, nothing for 3 months. 3 more months of light activity. Done for 6 months on the ski. But, I'm not gone. I'll stay in the boat coaching until I can drive, and then be there for that. Skiing was my catalyst to lose 80lbs....I cannot get big again.

Great point @Ipskier. I don't plan on disappearing. I rode and coached today...will do that and drive (after surgery) as often as possible. And I do plan on working on drivers rating. Thank you. And thank you for pointing out Ricky's win! Great job!!

Had a great time at the ProAm once again. Got to see lots of folks I already know, and meet a few new ones. Thanks to @OB @webbdawg99‌ @MattP‌ @mmosley899 for putting on a great event. Nice to meet you too, @oneski. Unfortunately, I am done. Complete tear of the tendon at the base of my bicep. Surgery on Monday....3 weeks immobile, 3 months nothing, then 3 months of light..Won't ski for 6 months. My season is done...

I got off on the n-1 to get on the Mapple 6.0. The Mapple worked MUCH better for me. Always felt like I was working my tail on on the n-1, but things really freed up for me on the 6.0. Moved from the 6.0 to 6.1 in June. It seems to carry the same speed across course for me as the 6.0, but feels like I'm on a rail through the turns. I love both of the Mapples, but am really really comfortable on my 6.1.

I'm concerned...I'm posting runs in practice as if it was July or August...which either means I will have a banner season, or tank soon and come back to reality.

Welcome to the club... :)

@Horton - I'm drinking it up. And will help make it and sell it! Heck, May 1 in 74 degree water feeling like it does, I'm so excited I cannot stand it.

I have not ridden a Vapor, and I don't plan to. I have been on Andy's last 3 skis, and am now on the 6.1. I'm certain that the Vapor is a fine ski, but the treatment I have gotten from Andy over these past 2 years has made me a Mapple skier as long as he will have me. Obviously, I still need to like the skis. I don't like them, I love them. I'm just a middle aged hack chasing buoys, and I'm catching more on my 6.1. 2-1/2 years ago, I ran my first 35 off. Yesterday, I didn't miss 35, and choked at 38 at 5... 38 will go down in a tourney this year. So, I'd say just call Andy. :)

The boat path on our lake is about 1,516', and we have a 6 buoy course. There's a drop ball near the 55s, and the boat spins left at each end after you get up. When the boat straightens out, be ready to pull out. When you turn 6, pull and go to drop ball. I find it good practice. We had an 8 buoy at one point, and it made set ups easier, but the zero buoy caused some issues for some. I'm good with it either way.

I've dealt with golfer's elbow for a couple of years, to the point I had to stop skiing a while. My ortho gave me a Band-it. I since got one to wear on my other, too. Most of the braces get wet and stretch, and become useless. These have helped me a lot. At the moment, my elbows are good, but I'm wearing them as a preventative measure...

I sometimes wear a compression under armour cold gear shirt. Prefer naked..

This is great. Great for the sport. I have had the fortune of skiing with Andy a good bit over the last year and a half, and the way I have been treated by him and everyone at team Mapple has made me a Mapple skier for as long as they will allow me to be. I have known Jeff for years, but had the fortune of skiing with him quite a bit last year, and really got to know him more. Jeff is everything he appears to be. Humble, a great family man, a devout Christian, an incredible skier, and a really great friend. Often in our sport, we tend to be, well, picky. About the boat. And the driver. The conditions. Whatever. Andy and Jeff (and Chris Parrish, Aidan, Marion, Scott, and Nicole), without telling me, but by showing me, that skiing really should be fun first. I got the chance to drive for Andy in June - could not believe he asked me to pull him. I've never had the chance to pull anyone to deep 41 before, so I'm certain that it was not perfect. He told me the pull felt good, and thanked me for driving. When I had a chance to start skiing with Jeff, the experience was the same. I feel like I'm a decent driver, but there have been times pulling Jeff that I think it was the worst pull he could possibly have (let's just say Jeff can pull you around...a lot). I've apologized at the end - he smiles, and asks "for what?" He knew... BTW, it won't be the mystery black ski with a Mapple sticker. I don't know what he's riding at the moment, but I pulled him on both at the end of last year. Deep 41 on both. With me driving. I could not be happier for Jeff and for Mapple. Even more reason for me to be a Mapple skier!

That sounds so fun. Round 2 sounds particularly interesting....so, there will be buoys where they are not normally? I'm going to have to try that...

a few of ours

@Wish....I ran 32 off on that thing!

A group of us did it at the end of last year...fun times...

You can do this, @Brady. Skiing was the one thing that finally got e to start something and stick with it. I'm about 5'9", and peaked in 2008 at over 250. I got down to 162 at one point, but that was just too skinny, and I had no strength. Hovering at about 185 now, and a little leaner than I was at 162. I'm going to see what 170 with my current muscle content does by the time skiing starts back up....

I skied with Jeff a bunch this year, and there was never any discussion about putting a patch on one eye, or closing one eye. That sounds like an internet rumor.... And, @EdBrazil, you are correct, it is Rodgers, and yes, he did jump at the SC State Championships. It was at his site, and he got talked in to it......

Haven't heard of the eye patch theory...sorry.

Here's my iPhone...

I am the absolute biggest fan and supporter of Andy and his company. He (and the rest of Team Mapple) have treated me with more respect than I ever would have imagined. He has treated me as if I was a Big Dawg skier, when the reality is I'm just a guy that skis mostly on a public lake with a dream of running 38 in a tournament one day. As long as Andy is involved in making skis in any way, and I'm still skiing, I will ride his ski.

I gave my golf clubs away so it would not interfere with my skiing.

I'm not quite as pronounced doing it, but it helps me control the line instead of just dumping it out. I think.

Next to nothing.

Thank you @waterskigirl. I have to say that I am very impressed with your knowledge and helpfulness. As for the Camaro black tec, other than my bonehead maneuver when I first got the suit, is see no issues with it. Yes, it is soft, so I will be careful, and I will have someone else zip it, but other than that, I'm just going to ski. I had my third test today. Air was pleasantly in the mid 60s, and water at 58. One of my partners wore his drysuit and was cold. The other wore his and was so constricted he had trouble skiing. They each skied one set. I skied 2, and was comfortable beyond my expectations. Not just the warmth, but my ability to move freely. Back to back 35s is good in June, let alone in a wetsuit in November.... I have an eagle drysuit that I use in January and February, but I just can't go from a top to a drysuit.... I think I will talk to Robby about a top, too.