Joeprunc

Everyone seems to say they run small. I wear a size 10 street shoe, and ordered a size 10 Vapor boot.....they were tight before heat molding them (my large toe really messes me up in boot sizing). I taped strips of neoprene to my feet when heat molding, to give me more room in the spots that I could tell would be problematic. First two to three sets on boots was somewhat painful,then as they broke in the fit is much better. I'm glad in the long run that I purchased size 10s, as I know they will pack out more. But I'd recommend that if you sometimes need a 10.5 shoe, go with a size 11.

Either "Giddyup" or "Ready When you are"

Boat driver makes a pretty big difference. There are a few in my club that are somewhat clueless, and some that are phenomenal. But you know what....I don't get paid to do this, I'm on the water because I enjoy it, so no matter who is pulling me I have a smile on my face. I wish I could let my GF drive the boat....but honestly she does not have the attention to detail that is needed. I know I'm not the most experienced driver, and usually in a foreign boat, so I am constantly asking for feed back, after -28' I never look in the mirror keep the boat straight. Gotten two club skiers into their PBs 36 mph at -38'. I take pride when they ask me to give them a pull. In teaching a new driver how to pull through the course, what are a few steps you have found to work well?

Skied there a few times too...The course isn't always set up, and there are no magnets. You can rent it on VRBO for a lot less that $1.5mm

I regularly ski behind a SN 206, and own an 06 Response LXi. I and everyone I ski with (including the owner of the SN 206) would choose hands down to ski behind the Response....granted I'm a -15'/-22' skier. I think the 206 wake is probably more comparable at shorter lengths. For your price range I'd look at the second generation Response LXI, the freeboards are higher, and boat is more spacious. It sounds like you're and open water skier, so also take a look at the Malibu Sunsetter LXI, Malibu XTI (23' DD), and possibly the 20' VTX. I've only skied the XTI once, and wasn't all that impressed with the ski wake....but these boats can hold a lot of people, and you can weight them for surfing.

US Gear Radius Spectra is my favorite handle. Call or email him and see what they have in stock. I was lucky enough to get the handle I wanted in 3 days. That Masterline Ergo handle looks very similar.

Not sure what speeds your sister skis at, but from my research last year I've heard the 07-11 wake at slower speeds and -15' off to be larger than the 03-06 LXI. I think faster and shorter the wake is comparable with less spray. I love my 06

The Berkeley Club has two sites, one in the delta, and on in SF. A few of our club members are also members of the Berkeley club. I believe they have Wednesday night ski leagues that startup after Memorial Day.

I grew up surfing, and never lived more than a 5 minute drive from the beach. I met a girl and moved to Davis, CA with her...boy was that a mistake. But being land locked I decided to buy a boat and start wakeboarding. I bought a 1995 Tige SLM from a dealer in 2008. I found my boat wouldn't produce a wakeboard wake no matter how much weight I put in it. A friend turned me onto the skinny ski around 2010 and I've slowly been getting better. Bought a house in the Delta in 2010 and started skiing a lot more. Joined a ski club in 2012. Upgraded to a 2006 Malibu RLXI last summer. First day of being a boat owner with the Tige. New to me boat last summer. http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2M5OGB9eeS0/SO5OascRHVI/AAAAAAAAAtM/3ilLOfIu0Nw/s800/IMG_1926.jpg http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/joeprunc/32FC52A9-89EA-424B-8FCD-DDA8072BF879_zpslk8508ym.jpg

@jaypro I ski with a few people that are at your level. I'd like to add something to the list above. I think a lot of people on this site are in incredible shape and may overlook one key item. If you have a bad back, and/or feel like you may be using to much energy getting up, I'd look at a shaped ski. The more time on the water and on the ski the better! If you are fit, and have no issues getting up 12-24 times a day follow the mass consensus above.

2 questions: Can she ski/drive? Is she single?

I started open water skiing...but pulled the boat out of the water to do a few late winter projects.

@DmaxJC_Ski In the first video which offside turn looked the best in your eyes and why? I am at the same place you are at right now. And can pick up on something that I am struggling with, especially as I start cutting line. On my offside I come back to the handle way too early. On your 1 & 3 look at when you come back to the handle. Look where your ski is pointing.....its pointing down course and you have to stand on the tail to get it to turn and generate the needed angle. Now compare that to your 5 ball (where you made up a ton of ground). You brought your ski around much further before coming back to the handle. No take a look at where you connect on your onside. Look at the angle of the ski when you come back to the handle. Focus on taking your time coming back to the handle, let the ski finish. Let the "burrito" come to the "burrito". Someone told me that the angle your ski is when you come back to the handle is the angle your are going to have moving to the next buoy. At this point you have the comfort and aggression to make these passes, have faith in your pull across the wake to generate the speed you need. I've also found running -22 @ 32 mph very helpful in running -22 @ 34 mph

Wow lots and lots of comments.... I ski behind a 2003 197 and own a 2006 RLXI. For the same price I would go with an RLXI. However I spend the last four days at a private lake skiing behind the 197....I do agree, the MC looks beautiful on the water, it pulls through the course and handles quite well. The -22' bump is noticeable, as this is where I find myself at my hardest passes. But this weekend I was blessed with running with little fuel and little weight...the wake wasn't bad (I think it is very weight sensitive). It is a great boat, and has a features that I like that the RLXI doesn't have. BUT....I think for barefooting you will find yourself underwater longer than you want to (unless you get the larger motor). Maybe its the prop but I feel like the MC is quite slow out of the hull. I feel like the RLXI pull with the 340 monsoon is much stronger, and I feel like the -22' wake with a full tank of gas (41 gals) is still better than the 197 empty. The RLXI seems to be a larger feeling boat, open bow is more user friendly. My friends boat's vinyl is needing replacement with 800 hrs, I feel like the Bu's interior tend to be better constructed (maybe its the way he treats it). Long story short I would choose the RLXI over the 197 if priced the same, but all in all I would be happy with either.

/\ /\ I know this is a ski website, but if I'm on the water and on a boat I'm happy...so I wakeboard a fair amount too ;)

Don't trick, but have wakeboarded behind mine, its decent. I have a wedge which helps, but not sure if it is "Legal" for competitions. For wakeboarding the LXI is 1000xs better than my old 95 Tige.

x2 on the polymer. Plus it matches my polymer mirror and black trim.

Ski and gloves in a bag, in one hand. Towel, vest, rope, soap, sunblock, keys, wallet...in this backpack. http://www.liquidforce.com/luggage-wet-mesh-bag.html And a full gas can in the other hand.

II took it out this weekend and picked up a ball, I made it around 3 @ -22'. I know I'll have this pass in the bag in the next few weeks. I do like everything about this boat, the wake, the build, the interior, the storage, the throttle by wire, the GPS Stargazer is dialed, the open bow, the look. And yes I think this wake is better than the RLX, even with 40 gallons of fuel in it ;). And I was able to drop the wedge on the way home back to the house and let others wakeboard ;). I am very very happy with the boat!! If only I didn't have to work.

I skied behind an 06 RLXI and really liked it. I agree with the above statements of the RLXI wake being better softer than the R CB and RLX. I still think at 28-34 mph -15' my old Tige had a better wake, but at -22' off and all the additional room the RLXI is much nicer. Well look what I found in my driveway this morning ;) http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/joeprunc/photo%202_zps7yo552ce.jpg

I don't ever plan on getting to -35'...

@NoProblem I have started contemplating if I'm going to sell the Tige or not. I absolutely love the way it drives and skis, but I may need something larger soon ;(.

I'm interested in this too. I ski at 34 mph -15 off. Life changes are potentially forcing me to get a larger boat with an open bow and a tower.... ;(. I know I'm going to compromise on the ski wake from my current boat, but lets be serious, I'm not planning on setting any records anytime soon. I've been casually looking at both the RLX and RLXI. Is the interior space that much larger in the RLXI? Is the boat wake much different between the two boats at 30-34 mph? Maybe I'll put my boat up for sale and see what happens.

I'd expect that a few people to walk away if the price increases that much. Something better would be to sit down with the members and show them the finances. Show them how much $$ you have put into it and get a feeling for if members are willing to pay more. Figure out a number and give them the option to vote for it.

My humble response being young and dumb.... 34 mph skis usually have a bit more buoyancy, width to the nose, and are a bit softer flex. All these components help with skiers as they get "older", a bit "wider", and not in the shape they were in in their younger years. The 34 mph ski will help them run multiple passes w/out fatiguing them as easily as a skinnier ski. The difference for me between skiing an A3 and S2 is night and day...but I'm young and dumb....and not that great of a skier either.