sunvalleylaw

Awesome. Thanks @MarcusBrown . I was hoping you would get into this stuff soon. Appreciate it.

@BraceMaker , I think you are talking about snow ski boots and bindings? I always put the boot condoms (rubberized sole protectors) on mine to preserve proper operation of the binding and boot interface. I don't have hard crashes once a month, but I do crash occasionally, and doubt that going hard shell is the right thing for me. I don't really know the standards for water ski releasable bindings. They might be fine. But I have no real way to know. And at my level, I personally choose the rubber (T-Factors in my case) based on a similar thought process as @Horton states above, even if I don't crash hard that often. I am currently increasing boat speed, and will be shortening line lengths which will increase cross course speed, and quicken up the timing of everything. So arguably there is an increasing risk.

Ok, in the last week, I saw a good massage therapist who works on high level snow and cycling athletes (among others) in the area and who specializes in opening up the hips and lumbar issues. Did some good work on me, and gave me a little massage pressure ball and a band, and instructions for my roller, along with links to some stretching and yoga. I also saw my PT who helped me recover from L4/L5 herniation to review his program and expand. Long and short, I have a tight psoas area and hip flexors, and also gluts and the stabilizing muscles up in the upper sides of the hips. I am a little tighter on the right side (rear leg in slalom) as opposed to left side. But not horrible. Good news is the joints themselves are in good shape and have good mobility, and that I am strong. Just need to get things opened up and looser, and firing better as a result. From both practitioners, I have some suggested exercises, stretches, etc. that I will compile and share as a resource. The PT guy gave me basically five moves, including a TRX type move, in addition to my normal plank and side plank routine he gave me before. He wants me to hold off on any bicycle crunches or any lower ab type crunches for a month, to allow the hip flexors to loosen up. They both say I have very normal middle aged athlete issues, especially for one who also has a desk job (front hip, hip flexor tightness), so am thinking others may find something useful. Will probably need until into this weekend to do that. Now, the trick will be to make sure I make the time to do this stuff on a regular basis. That is also the motivation to compile the information in one place, so that I don't have to think and can just get into some of it most days. Meanwhile, here are is a link to the foam roller instructions at a publicly available website, which is part of the information the massage guy provided: Sports Medicine Institute Guides

I know they are made by a different manufacturer, but would fit, so I would consider the D3 bindings. T-Factors or even Leverages. Both provided good performance. And Nate runs the T-Factors at his level. I personally noticed a difference in control over the edges. The ski even felt edgy at first until I got used to it. I think they would work well on the Vapor. And I just like how they are built, and how you can rebuild them if a part breaks, as opposed to the Radar style bindings. And as you know, I am right in there with you in terms of course performance. Hoping move into 22 off and at least look at 28 off next year. I set my goals kinda lofty! :) Leverage vs. T-Factor T-Factor Also, I am in the camp of not planning to go hard shell. As a life long snow skier who knows about DIN settings on snow bindings, I just can't bring myself to trust the hard shell release systems. Understanding of course that weird things could possibly happen in any binding. And if a T-Factor is good enough for Nate . . . And I think I would do that instead of a ski for now, and keep saving for a ski after you get into 22. Motivation and all!! EDIT: Also, we need to support and motivate each other on this quest toward 28. @gregy has a thread he just posted a week ago or so that was very encouraging and had some good advice. I am sure you saw it. I am hoping to get a few more sets in this season, but there is a dusting of snow on the ground right now as I write this.

They are both cuter than you.

All I can really see from the vid is that your arms seem off your vest and you are pulling in on them rather than bringing them close to your body as you lean, nice and straight, or leveraging so your body is close to nice straight arms, elbows in to the vest. To me, a lot of this seems to come down to standing balanced with sufficient weight on the front foot rather than mostly on the rear (like you should be able to stand on your front foot and carve the turn from there, by tipping the ski), then leveraging away from the boat, maintaining that balance weight over your front foot, so that your arms can connect to your vest, and the tension from the boat/ski line can connect to your core/mass, and propel you. Rather than pulling against it with your strength. I cannot tell for sure from the video from the tip of your ski, but it looks to me that you are not leveraging away from the boat with a balanced stance and are instead pulling in on extended arms. It appears, but I cannot tell, that your weight and any lean you are getting, is back on your ski. But again, it is hard to tell. I would start by feeling where you are standing on your ski, by feeling where the pressure is in your feet. For me, it all starts from there, from the feet up. And from there, look at how you are creating lean/leverage as you roll the ski on edge, and make sure it is away from the boat over balanced stance over feet, rather than back on the ski fore to aft, which should help get those arms and elbows closer to the vest without pulling in on the arms. And that should help a lot of things.

Started to start my own thread but thought I would just add my thanks here. I love slalom waterskiing. Did I mention that? Thanks BOS for being a great resource for pursuing my passion and addiction to the sport. I am no shortline gawd, but I do have fun, and this fun is supported here. Things learned and/or resources tapped: Ski Reviews Ski/Fin settings Technique tips, getting current, figuring out how to prioritize my efforts to improve. Information about coaching. Boat stuff. Beer stuff. News about the industry and the competitive aspects of the sport. Classifieds both bought and sold. a cold slap in the face/aka reality check when I really need to just shut up and go out and ski Camaradarie with and from the also addicted. Thanks BOS!

Looks like a great and fun event!! Congrats! I like that sand colored Bimini over the blue and white boat. Nice look.

@Buoyhead69 , Yeah, I just got turned on to that blog reading the ski comparison, that Horton posted on Facebook this morning. Though I knew about SkiJay before, and about fin whispering. But also read a couple of the other blog entries. One discusses when to make fin adjustments, etc. It posits that for longer liners, stock, or pretty close to stock setting from a good reputable source, is better than tweaking too much. Or so I read it to say. I am getting the book, but more to learn than to tweak too much from stock. I want to make clear that I do NOT feel qualified to recommend any specific ski, settings, binding, etc. to anyone. Just talking about my process and info I found (including the FinWhispering blog) here. That said, I think if you demo a NRG, you should also demo an ARC. You are getting into 28 off, (which is also my goal, btw), and so your needs are changing. So your path might be different. I am using my calipers and wing gauges to make sure I am stock, and without some coaching input or input from SkiJay (you can send him some film for review), I don't plan on moving things too much from stock. But again, I am behind you in the course, and chasing you from there. The good news is it is all fun to learn about and play with. :) I am interested to see what you choose. I, myself for me personally, believe most in trying skis and going with feel. What feels best. Along with what helps you get more balls, but to me that is likely to also feel best. I am looking forward to seeing what ski you think is best for your next steps. And also tracking your progress into completing 28. Keep us posted!

Read @SkiJay 's comparison of the NRG and ARC. It is illuminating. I also spoke to Paul at D3. The NRG is not a replacement for the ARC/ARC-S. It is a different ski. I looked into it, just because I wanted to see what the next thing was. I am sticking with my ARC for what I am trying to do with my skiing. I am a stong freeskier, and a little behind you in course skiing. SkiJay's ARC/NRG comparison

I got a work flood style light and one of those metal salad bowl looking reflectors yesterday, and put it under the hood near the front of the motor, with the hood supported by a chunk of 4x4. Will replace with 2x4 and close it a bit more. We were supposed to get down right to freezing plus or minus last night (ended up being mid to high 30's) and may get a few days of that before we usually warm up again for a couple/few weeks. Not done yet, and want to keep it simple. Unlikely we will get any hard freezes. Also, my boat is on a trailer in our lean to, covered with a boat cover.

Masterline didn't have the diameter I wanted. And I liked the idea of the crossbar.

Thanks for the feedback and input guys.

I am curious as to what you guys, @jhughes , @TJO any others that have skied both a fair amount, as to the primary difference you feel with the NRG as compared to the ARC/ARC-S

Ok, I will go now. I love glass. And glass on a nice warm day is a beautiful thing. But I am starting to think I love it even more when the water is warm. If the water is colder, a little just the tiniest bit of riffle seems to break up the surface tension or something. Or, that could be all hogwash and my imagination, but how I am feeling about it at the moment.

@Hockdog , now you are acting like my brother. But, please state your preference.

Perfect glass or slight riffle?? Your favorite??

Ordered. Cross bar, wedge caps, .970 13" straight handle (haven't decided I like bent), Blue with green (Go Seahawks!), and some intermediate loops.

@UWSkier Ok, that pigeon pose is tough. I am starting out with lizard and getting to there.

@UWSkier , you hit the nail on the head. The first time I had sciatic issues I can recall is late 80's early 90's when I learned to shove that ski around, lock and load (with as good a position as I could manage) and pull. Shoulder down, back arm pressure. Looking directly across the wakes to help complete the turn. I have tight hips, often a tight IT band, particularly my right leg (and I am LFF), and I am sure from my lawyer sitting I have a tight piriformis (sp?) and front side too. I would enjoy a cross fit type of work out on shoulder seasons (spring and fall) between ski seasons, as I like that sort of practical bang for your buck fast workout. But, I would have to be really, really careful. I do NOT see myself bending over and flipping over monster tractor tires. Some form of yoga or at least yoga like stretching has to be a part of it. But I also want ways to functionally strengthen the area, as it loosens up hopefully.

Other than cross fit, which is being discussed in another thread, what resources do you all have for good stretches and core/back strengthening, and flexibility? I want to further protect and strengthen my lower back etc. Right now, I do basic core, and some basic stretching, but feel like there could be more. I also mountain bike a lot, and go hiking. Used to run, but quit that due to injury, and my IT band getting too tight. During winter, I alpine ski, nordic ski both skate and classic, and attempt to continue core. I do not stretch near enough.

I don't know. Looks kind of glarey. ;)

DOH!! Rechecked the binding measurement this morning, to see where things were when we moved the bindings one hole forward, and the move forward put me stock at 29.75 on the 67" ARC. I must have measured wrong before. Not sure how I did that. I also returned the rear binding to a more neutral place after it had shifted toes right, heel left with my right foot. That felt fine yesterday too. Hoping it will make it easier to achieve a better position on my off side with the rear foot not twisted away. Will re-check my fin settings and make sure it is stock too. I believe I did a good job there, but it has been a while, and doesn't hurt to make sure things are still where they are supposed to be. No wonder I felt better one hole forward. Seemed easier to stand properly from there too.

@Horton , "Thinking Freddy Krueger should not do the same sort of thing." Or you. Or me. Definitely not me. Interesting, and the reaction on FB was interesting. I am kinda glad it was not a woman, at least not first. Seems less chauvinistic.

For whatever reason, I love the stars and bars. Nice boat! I hope you find your crew!