sunvalleylaw

Planes dipping into the lake to fight a big fire some knuckleheads started out a side canyon with exploding targets. Not sure if they have cut off access for boaters. Not sure I want to be out there skiing with this going on. Big planes picking up water Small Planes picking up water, near where the course was set last year

Thanks, @ALPJr . That is Dabob Bay, near Seabeck, and Bangor Sub Base, Hood Canal, WA.

Thanks, @Andre . Couple things have helped. First of all, is in person coaching from @twhisper and also study and visualization of the information on his site, both video and written. Second is more course time and practice, and entering a grassroots type tournament last year to both push me, and hook me even more in terms of wanting to improve. Hoping to build on that with the rest of my available season. and yeah, I am skiing course only at 15 off, and will hopefully be getting into 22 off soon. Freeskiing here at 28 off, I definitely did not maintain my width for course purposes. Good catch. I started pretty wide but obviously did not keep my width during my turns.

Just a freeski vid. Will try to get some decent course vid put up in the next weeks. I need to get a wakeeye or something, but until then I rely on my brothers who are as warped as I am, to video me. This vid is obviously behind an older outboard, which is NOT nearly as good as my even older Malibu Response. But it was glassy, and fun, and I was trying to put together some decent freeskiing. Ready for your comments or suggestions. Other notes. The speed was slow. 31 was the best we could do on this boat. I was a little sinky on my off side it seems. Or maybe something else was causing that extra spray off my back leg on my off side. The ARC is set up stock. I am trying to keep my hips up better by straightening that rear leg more. Also I am trying to get those hands lower more often and gain a better position. If all that is working, I might try to at least feel where the weight is on my feet on top of the ski. Anyway, here it is. I like to think I can see a little bit of progress as compared to a similar vid shot on the same trip, same location, same boat, last year. But the truth will out. As they say.

@shansen345 , would love to check that, and/or Broho out some day.

That looks like a super sweet boat! Congrats!

I have not tried it, but my brother just loved an Omni he tried. He liked my D3 ARC too, but the Omni was an easier ski for him. Reading your description of use, and considering what my brother said, I think I would try both the Carbon and the Syndicate, and lean toward the Syndicate, especially since you say you would like to try getting into the course again at some point.

Just some free-ski pics from my annual family trip to Puget Sound. These pics were taken in Dabob Bay, across from Seabeck, and near the Bangor naval sub base, at Hood Canal. Skied with my brothers behind an older Glastron outboard. No, it is not nearly as good as my even older Malibu RLX. But, it was glassy, and I had a ton of fun just ripping around with the Olympic Mountains towering over us, sea lions checking us out, and not a care in the world. Good times. PS, my youngest brother really liked my ARC and scared himself a little with the speed it would develop for him. Though he also really liked the Omni he tried the week before. My other brother was on his trusty Nomad.

Good boat. Good site. Good prior owner of boat. Glad it sold, and the new owner should be happy.

One other advantage for an outboard set up, saltwater. My younger brother and I were just talking about how he wants to get me out behind his buddies outboard Mastercraft, apparently one of the only two he knows of in South Puget Sound. And my other brother for live over there, are always keeping their eyes open for outboard Mastercraft for sale if only in interest. People do set courses out in that water too. If a two motor set up helps with tracking or any of the other issues single outboards have, it seems like it worthy consideration. I think it would be nice to have another outboard boat option. I suppose with proper care person can use a direct drive in the salt water. But outboards tend to be a small boat of choice in that environment.

Ok, I misunderstood, and thought the focus included slalom skiing in general. That portion of my comment is withdrawn. I still have questions about a swim deck, and think that is an issue, and the other stuff I said.

My thought reading through this. skiing for me was always a 3 person max thing if done the way I wanted to. Ever since starting years ago. We were a little self absorbed and obsessive, and skiers are. BUT, skiers always watched out for their impact on other skiers (boat path, access to our public course, wake thrown when coming in around moored boats on public water, etc.). By comparison, the self absorption today seems to be social media, selfie, phone based, "Hey, look at me with my buddies cranking tunes drinking beer on a big boat! Aren't I at a great party?" Without regard to impact on others. Boat paths, massive wakes possibly damaging floating docks and piers, or banging up boats moored in a harbor or bay, massive speakers blaring whatever tunes so that anyone around is subjected to whatever musical taste the driver has, etc. And it is easier, I suppose. Though I have not done it. Other sports have moved more to an amusement park/artificial environment model as well. Surf boats create artificial waves. Mountain biking has moved to bike parks and prepared runs at resorts that have lifts to do the climbing for you, rather than billy goating up a steep trail in the backcountry or woods to get your downhill. Snowskiing struggled at first when snowboarding came along as it was easier to pick up, until shaped and wider skis make skiing physically easier. And now we have human made features in a "park" taking up lots of real estate rather than people getting further out on the mountain to explore. Seems to be part of an overall trend. (In fairness as I read before posting, waterski slalom has moved further over the years to artificial lakes that can sometimes be like private parks as well, somewhat excluding more general participants.) BUT, the there seems to be some hope with younger people starting to be interested in slalom skiing, based on things I have seen at grassroots tournaments, etc. Can't say I have seen much about barefooting though. So, those are my thoughts.

1. My first thought, having been raised on an outboard, is what about the swim step, if it is intended to be a slalom boat? Would there be an interior, elevated step in front of the motors? that could work I guess, though less convenient than a traditional swim step. 2. Not sure why some form of speed control couldn't be made to work somehow. Just has to be adapted to throttles on the twin outboards. Seems like some GPS system could be adapted. 3. With respect, I am surprised this topic had to be moved. We talk all the time about growing the sport, the sport began with outboards as pointed out, and slalom skiing is more than 3 event/tournament skiing. Moving it seems to send the wrong message to me, if we want to grow the sport. A little open-mindedness seems in order, and I don't see what discussing a different tug hurts. But, said with respect and only intended to promote reflection. Not intended to insult or start an argument. 4. Build it! I would love to see how it comes out!

@Drago go back and look at the Terry Winter quarter speed vid. X7 all the way.

@Jetsetr , one other suggestion. Sign up for Train with Terry Winter and make use of all the great info there in his coaching videos, and Q&A discussion. He has lots and lots of good tips for those of us in our shoes. Well worth the modest fee.

On @UWSkier 's point about room, I just had 5, including 3 adults, one teen, and one kid out for a pretty full day, with all in the boat for the fun. AND one being paralyzed from chest down, and requiring her huge sit ski. We did dump off the sit ski for a bit, but were able to tow everyone with reasonable wake for freeskiing, completely loaded, in my Response LX. The young girl road up front for part of it. The paralyzed skier did lay down in the rear for some of the kid skiing, but we could have just as easily towed them from the rear line hitch. I wouldn't want to go out every time like that, without a place to drop off some skiers and gear, but we pulled it off for a nice family day.

I am not that far ahead of you, getting back into course skiing last year. I am also 55. I started without the gates, and even pulling out to starboard wide of 1 ball to start, at the advice of my coach. That is my big advice, find a good coach locally, or plan a trip to a good site for some coaching. Money well, well spent. At our advanced middle age, we want to learn to do this efficiently and safely. The other advice, based on my path, is to find a way to get regular course time. I believe free-skiing is good to work out technique stuff without thinking about balls. AND I feel I still need course time to develop more familiarity, comfort, and less "OMG!! Look at those balls coming at me!!". ;)

@MISkier , I went and checked the conversion thread, looks like 2006 can be converted (please check with people such as @Jody_Seal to be sure if you are interested in that.) But might be a little more work. Will fix my post to clarify, and leave the details to members who know. ( @gregy is in a project now, not sure what year ). But my advice remains, shop and find a 2006-7 Response that you can later add Zero-off to. Careful shopping seems like that would be possible near the 25k mark, in the malibu world. EDIT: the Zero-Off FAQ's say 2007 and up works. So to be safe, I would go for 2007. And would accept a few more hours on the boat to do that. Hours don't bother me that much if the boat has been treated well. http://www.zerogps.com/faqs/

Even with my lesser knowledge, I would have put the Redline, and one of the new D3 variants on the list. I like seeing them on @Horton 's. For me personally, the big ones were my Redline, and the D3 Nomad leading to my ARC that comes from the X7. Oh, and the first big one was the Connelly Shortline, the first real fiberglass slalom ski I ever skied. It was the first time I could feel like I could "cut". The Connelly wood hook started it all for me, but I didn't get very far on that set up.

@UWSkier said, "Other good choices would be a Malibu Response LXi, which has great wakes also but isn't quite as big as the Sunsetter LXi, and the Nautique 206, which is also a real nice boat but isn't as roomy as the Sunsetter." I agree, and would add the Response LX, which has a step over bow rather than walk-thru. I bought a '98 Lx a couple years ago in great shape for under 12. And I have kids and do some family boating. Kids don't really care about step-over vs. walk thru. More a parent preference. I love my boat. Bu, if I had it to do over, I probably would have saved a little longer and found a 2006+ LX or LXi that was ready for Zero-Off, or had it already installed. (please verify with the As your wife is a former pro, and you "give it" as you say, it is worth it. And at near 25k, you should be able to find a good 'Bu. There are lots out there if you are patient. And 2006+ can be converted to have Zero-Off (without motor replacement at least, 2007 may be easier ), and may have Perfect Pass, hopefully with Stargazer, the GPS piece, and maybe even Z-box, which is the part that tries to mimic Zero-Off. There are other threads on whether you really need/want Zero-Off if you have good working Perfect Pass, and if I were shopping now, I would take the time to check that out. But you should buy a boat that is ready to have it if you want it, without putting a new motor in. Older, and it is a more expensive and bigger project requiring a motor swap. So yeah, my vote is Response LX or Response LXi new enough for a Zero-Off conversion PS, you can make a Response make a surf wave with a velcro or suction cup wave shaper thing and some weight, especially, as @Chef23 says, if it has a wedge. Not like a surf boat (thank gawd) but it can be done. And I love, love, love the slalom wake. Example listings: http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&category=Boat_3Event&postid=47369 (no indication of PP or ZO, but new enough) EDIT: the Zero-Off FAQ's say 2007 and up works. So to be safe, I would go for 2007. And would accept a few more hours on the boat to do that. Hours don't bother me that much if the boat has been treated well. http://www.zerogps.com/faqs/

I like @BRY 's advice. I was an old out board skier too, and ended up behind an old Glastron (new at the time) for a long time. I was one leg out, LFF. But, my daughter just learned on a wider ski, using the deep vee handle. Once she got it a time or two, she was fine with the regular handle. So I think you should consider the deep v handle if you can find one. If not, go with what is comfortable to you with regard to rear foot in or out, and follow the post directly above.

Frankly, I voted A3 because someone picked that for me once. But at my level, I really don't even know which would be better. I guess what @BRY says makes some sense.

Free-skied on bouncy water yesterday, and used the time to practice coming into each turn with the rear leg tall, kinda whip drill style to really feel the tall position. Really seemed to help. And if I started the turn that way, it sure seemed like I finished/re-connected to the handle better. I am a believer. @ecno , how is it going with you?

This event was bugging me in the back of my head. My Dad was Navy, and I was certain there was at least an unwritten code regarding assisting others out on the water. And yes, there is. "It’s the first rule in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS 1.1), the International Convention Safety of Life at Sea addresses this (SOLAS chapter 5,33) and United States law requires it (46 U.S.C. Section 2304)." see first article below. This article discusses it, and how to be prepared to render aid if and when the time comes. Rendering Aid. Also, the duty is covered in any basic boating course: Boating Course, rendering assistance. Those of us out on open water may very well come across a situation, or be involved in one. We need to have each others' backs and be prepared out there for ourselves, and fellow boaters. Our sport is not just out on the local soccer pitch or track. Sorry this dude did not get the memo.

Skier or not, leaving any boater in distress out on the water is to me a violation of all sorts of unwritten codes and morals. No way we would have left you, your wife, or your boat out drifting. Unbelievable.