sunvalleylaw

Hi! Steve Thompson here. 49 years old for a few more months! I have skied since I was 9, beginning in the Tacoma area, mostly on Puget Sound until we moved to the Sun Valley, Idaho area in 1998. I never skied in a competition, but did ski the course for training, and attempted to copy Bob LaPoint in his video with MIke Suyderhoud, along with adding some bend to the knees from watching Mapple on TV during the 80s and 90s when I skied most seriously. From 98 until this year, I have only skied several times a year, with the focus being on my young family. Now that my kids are getting to boat driving age, I am trying to get into skiing a bit more again. I also posted an intro here: http://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/5552/newbie-intro After learning on my friends' Connelys, my gear history is pretty much in the Denny Kidder line beginning with my first Redline in 1980, through my venerable Duvall s900 that I used until the top peeled last year. I am currently on a new to me D3 Nomad RCX that I just received a couple/few weeks ago. Just spent a good chunk of the last day rebuilding the binding with new parts and attempting to set the ski back to stock so I can experiment from there. Gonna have to get an 8 inch tool and some gauges, but I think I have it pretty close! Anyway, that's me!

That is good to know about the earlier boats. I am on a budget and am looking at open bow boats to upgrade from my venerable '88 outboard. It worked fine for a family boat at sea level, but does not pull so well up above 6500 feet where we often ski. I have a thread open about what are good open bow slalom boats. the early 205s may go on the list!

I was behind a Nautique in the 90's but I don't recall the year of the boat. But you are correct that I have not been behind more recent Nautiques. My favorite comp boat wake I skied behind was a 90's Malibu euro F1. I liked some Mastercraft wakes. My brother's early 00's Tige' wake is ok. Sounds like the Malibus are pretty popular here! How old is that LXi/TXi boats line?

I am a long time skier, and have skied for years behind outboards. Originally a puget sound thing. Then it was just what I had. Looking to upgrade. Has to be somewhat family friendly, and have an open bow. Also has to be used and a decent value. I would prefer not to have a tug boat though. What open bows have good slalom wakes? I might even consider a used outboard mastercraft, just because I am use to the handling of an outboard, and because I am on and off beaches where we ski. The wake should be more for skiing though we will do some wake boarding. No wakesetter boats for me. Also, no I/Os. I have not been a fan of Nautique wakes in the past. Thoughts? Thanks in advance :-)

@Than Bogan Cool, I'll check that out. I found in the past that videos of skiers training are most helpful, rather than competition footage. It looked to me that there might be a lot of vid on the site that is helpful too. I still would like a good analytical/instructional vid regarding modern technique as well.

@Onside135 and @Wish, Ok, having just read a D3 Fusion review, I already get the Horton reference. I am sure I will learn soon about the others. :D

A newb to the forum here. Long time skier. Formed my style based on the LaPointe/Suyderhoud vid of the late 80's/90's along with some training tips from the vid Rathbun put out in the 90's. I did try to add some more knee bend from watching Mapple back then. Now, I am getting back into skiing more, got a new(er) ski to replace my vernerable Duvall, and would like to watch some vid. My ski time is somewhat limited so I rely somewhat on vid and visualization. Given the above influences, does anyone have a suggestion for some good instructional vid? I don't see myself turning into a full on west coast slalom guy overnight, but I am open to anything. I understand Suyderhoud has a west coast vid out, but am interested in what else is out there. Thanks!

@skinut, I ski magic res, sometimes Anderson, but my favorite over here in ID is Redfish Lake, particularly the inlet side against the mountains with the wind shadow. My favorite all time place to ski is still Horsehead Bay, Gig Harbor, WA followed by or maybe tied with, Hood River near Dabob Bay. I still love how a ski feels on the salt water. But Redfish before the afternoon winds come up and the lake gets busy is pretty sweet! @SDNAH20KIER, Where were you skiing in CDA? Thanks to the rest of you lot!

Hi folks! Newbie Steve here. I posted an intro here: http://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/5552/newbie-intro I have skied nearly my whole life, and am getting back into more focused skiing after only occasionally skiing the last several years due to young kids. I purchased a decent used '08 D3 Nomad RCX 68" after loving my brother's 68" 2006. I am coming off a 66" Duvall that I have had since my wife gave it to me as an engagement gift a long time ago. Before that, I was on a 65" Kidder Redline. The Duvall helped me get more ski in the water and smoothed me out a bunch. Also, I studied the LaPoint/Suyderhoud tape from the mid 90's a lot. It has been my biggest influence. Based on weight, I could ski either the 67 or 68. I have the stock set up info from D3, but have to get the proper equipment to measure so I can make sure how things are set up. Right now, as compared to my brother's ski, I feel slightly back on the ski. (update, no longer the case, got the binding dialed in. I also did the bets I could to get the fin and wing back to stock, using a metric ruler and some paper wing guides) I believe my brother raise the front of the fin a skoche. I may try that, or move the fin forward slightly. I may pull the wing off too for now until I can get a tool to check the angle, etc. Also, I wonder about this length for me. I liked my brother's white top in this length, but am 185 plus or minus in weight right now. Not sure if I should really be on a 67". Thanks!

Newbie here, Steve is my name. Living in Hailey, ID, near Sun Valley. Grew up skiing from Connelly wood hook, then Shortline days back in Tacoma. Lots of salt water skiing. Got my first Redline Slalom in '80. Skied a lot in the 90's on a newer 65" Redline then a 66" Duvall. Enjoyed me some course skiing, but not competitively, and spent most of my time pursuing more aggressive and focused freeskiing as though I was in a course, with a course pass or two thrown in during a run. Biggest influence was the Bob Lapoint/Suyderhoud video from the 90s. I watched and visualized the heck out of that tape. After skiing only occasionally the last decade due to young kids, I am now getting back into it. Hopped on my brother's '06 '68 (Discovered a week or two ago his ski is really a 67") Nomad and loved it. Given my weight, I could ski either the 67 or 68, but since I felt so good on my brother's '68, was leaning that direction. Found me a '08 Nomad RCX that I just got, along with some serviceable D3 bindings. I have binding parts on the way to adjust the fit back down to a medium, and will be doing some work setting up the ski, binding and fin. I will start a thread on that so I can get some advice. I hope to get a lot more runs in, and find a way to get back in the course a bit. There are a couple comp lakes in my area, and i have a loose invite to join some guys once in a while. I will be pursuing that for sure. Anyway, thanks!