Joeprunc

I've been learning how to round 6 buoys by trial and error, and picking up tips depending what club member was in our boat. I'm a regular 15' off-er and working on bumping my speed up. Earlier this year I was able to get into 22' at 34 mph and get around 5 ball for a PB. But a few weeks later I went down hard and two bones in my foot. The past two weeks were the first time back on the ski after my doctor cleared me and I've been working on skiing balls again. I was quite pleased that I didn't loose much, still able to run -15' @ 34 mph, but they were ugly. Saturday a very knowledgeable club member helped me out tremendously. The past two years I've been watching youtube videos of skiers that are running short lines and trying to mimic their skiing and style. Most when they run their hard passes they have to hook each ball to make the pass work. That is what I was doing, even on my easy passes. This club member pointed out I was dropping the hand too early, and had no pre-turn. It didn't make sense to me at first, but after running a few passes and getting use to the new tip/technique I ran the easiest passes of my life, no slack, no hit, and stupidly early to each ball. For those that are skiing at 15' off take a look at your "pre-turn". The three things that helped make everything work was: 1) Once I came back to the handle look at the back of the boat and don't look at the ball to after you cross the second wake. This seemed to help set me wide and early to each ball, to have more time to focus on the pre-turn. 2) Ski wide and don't drop the handle till after you start your edge change (pre-turn). 3) Wait for the ski to finish its turn before coming back to the handle. Just sharing a few beginner tips for those that are in the same shoes as me.

You can also hook up a fall button timer to your PP system instead of having magnets to help set your base line and see how fast/slow you are. Actually I may have one at my house if you want to just pay for shipping.

Do what @kstateskier skier said. Switch from recreational Slalom mode to Tournament slalom mode. To do this be sure you are in slalom mode, and hold down /\ and \/ at the same time for 4 seconds. After you let go your screen should switch to show while at idle: [+00 c 190 34.2 ] Once you get to speed it will show [_+00_c_3340_34.2_] The set of numbers "+00" is where you can hit /\ to increase rpms or \/ to decrease rpms from your base line of 3340. You can increase or decrease this value at anytime (idle or at speed). You can adjust the rpms by 5 rpm increments. For my boat 100 rpms is approximately 1 mph change. Our course has tide and wind factors, and we are almost never running our standard base line RPMs. When I free ski I use the baseline rpms and adjust based on a GPS speed app I have on my phone. I highly recommend switching to tournament mode for skiing.

Not sure what size the ski is, but this may be an issue. I bought a ski for my wife's weight and speed, and didn't realize I should have bought the next longer size. This happened with me too when i started skiing the course. I weight 150 lbs and free ski at 34 mph, so I bought a 65" thinking it would work. But when I skied the course any slower the ski sank and stopped...much like what I am hearing your problems might be related to. I bought at 66" ski and picked up 8 balls in one day. I'm experiencing this with my wife this year too. I broke my foot and had her ski my ski, it was a whole new world for her. Proper equipment does make a big difference. Maybe next time you are out try someones ski that is 1" longer.

I am a fan of this rule. One of the big things for me on not skiing in any competitions is the ratio of $$ to water time is not appealing. If this rule is in effect for a beginner skier like me I might make it out to a few competitions...now I just need to convince my wife to uncommit to a few things this summer.

@Than_Bogan‌ thank you for the reassurance. It makes me laugh a little to think about how excited I was to get to a new level, but have very few people around me (work especially) that actually understand. And that is why I visit BOS is because of the common drive for one more ball no matter what level you are at. And I am part of that -15' club, and always will be, there is a special place in my heart for the red line ;). I was watching video of me skiing last year with respect to this year, holy cow did I make some improvements. Can't wait to get back on the water.

I'm finally getting a chance to get back on BOS, my new job is limiting my ability to waste (I mean spend) copious amounts of time online. I recovered from a broken wrist and first day back on a ski was June 5th. After several open water skis, and a hand full of days in the buoys I found myself tying my practice PB yesterday (3 balls at 34 mph @ -22'). I know I'm not as good as others here, but looking back 1 year ago I was inconsistently making 30 mph @-15' passes. I am excited to finally start skiing off the orange line, and really hope to get into -28' before to long.

Everyone has their own opinion on this junk, so I'll pitch in mine. I usually hand wax twice a year, boat sits on a hoist exposed to the sun year round. After each time out I use a spray and wipe down. Babes worked pretty good. Hot Sauce worked better, but because it has vinegar it stripped my wax way earlier than normal last year, I have a half a gallon if you want it. I switched to Performance Boat Candy spray this year and am very happy with it. I don't see myself switching to anything else ever again. In my book the spray is expensive, but it keeps me from having to wax constantly to keep my boat looking nice. There is also Hula Boat Care which has had great reviews as well. The problem I found with most "spray waxes" is the boat needs to be dry, or near dry to get all the wax off, the towel also needs to be dry. So you have to dry, then spray, then rub off. A good spray wipe you just need to spray then wipe. A good spray should help protect your wax so you don't have to constantly apply wax.

I was able to demo a prophecy from my local wakeboard boat shop. They did not carry a single water ski item, but did carry CWB wakeboard stuff. The shop contacted the CWB/Connelly rep for me. Connelly shipped the prophecy to my house, I skied it for a month and returned it to the shop, no questions asked.

Kinda wish it was still raining and cold here. Its really killing me seeing 90 F weather with the water in the upper 60s, and I can't get wet. http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/joeprunc/DBA195D1-1320-446E-85A2-0AD1FA99F70C_zpssixe0egj.jpg

Sounds like a good idea. The floating noodles were what actually came to mind first. I like the corrugated pipe as well, reminds me a lot of swim lanes. I'm not sure how much backwash would be created from the pipe/floaties. I would think the best solution would be to devise something that would let the wake spill over, but not come back. If you could have some sort of floating triangle with say a 30 deg to 20 degree slope. This would act as a shoreline and allow for limited backwash. The wakes with more energy will spill over the side loosing significant energy and dissipate between the shore and the floating triangle. Make a few items and take them to the lake, see what works best.

@inland Ahh that is you on the other site too. Too bad this thread isn't 28 pages like the other ;). It looks like a beautiful boat you have lined up I think you and the family will really enjoy it! One thing I'd recommend is keep that black section of the gunnel out of the sun, or waxed regularly. I do agree with you and think it would look better without the tower, but if you are out with the family it is really nice to have stuff strapped to it instead of on the floor. But I'm not a skier that needs ever bit of weight savings, if I'm on the water I'm happy. I'd keep the wedge, who knows when your little ones will want to wakeboard, you could always remove it for the time being and keep it in the garage. I wish I could convince my CFO for a boat upgrade.

I'm a 15' offer and ski from 30 mph to 34 mph, and skied several sets behind all three. My vote for ski wake: (1) LXI, (2) 197, (3) 206. (my wife skis 30 mph -15' and will not ski behind the 206 because of how firm the wake is.) The LXI wake is large at slower speeds (30 mph), but very soft. LXI also feels the roomiest of the three, so if family, space, and large bodies of water are in your weekends on the water I'd say LXI is the best for you and your family. But it sounds like you are a much better skier than I, so the wake at -15' may not matter that much to you with the other boats. The 206 is the best tracking boat of the three. (though I've only been behind the wheel of the LXI for one set.) The kid that owns the 206 skis 36mph into 35' and he really likes the wake. I do like the sleek lines of the 197, and like how there is storage under the rear seat. You can also level the rear seat with the ski locker and make a sun pad for those to relax on. Felt like the 190 and 197 wakes were very much the same at my speeds and lengths. Boat handled well, but if you have more than two people aboard, the weight up front does make the bow heavier and easier to take on water.

My wife has an O'Neill Law vest, she likes it. She is a beginner buoy skier....a lot like me.

Our course is pretty sheltered, will ski in anything below 15mph unless its due west. Tides seem to be a bigger issue for us than wind.

Depends what you plan on using it for and what lake size. If I were on a ski lake, I'd get a cheap foam paddle board from Costco, they don't go very fast, but are very durable and safer for kids. But we are on a very large water way (and don't have kids), so we both have Tahoe SUPs which makes 10 mile paddles much more enjoyable. Having an adjustable paddle is also nice when sharing with several people.

I'm not a tournament skier so my opinions are a bit different that most here. I think @adjules said it best: For me I would be open for either, I really enjoy skiing, but also enjoy cruising on the boat, 5 mile long ski sets, hanging out with friends on the boat and tying up with other boats, traveling to other bars/resturants by boat, paddle boarding and exploring new areas, boating to a marina and listening to a live band from the comfort of your own boat. Currently we have all this in my back yard, but I can't boat to a "tournament approved" site, however there are 3 "courses" within a 30 minute boat ride. Yes we have a lot of idiots on the water, but with your boat on the water its very easy to get up early and get a ski in before everyone else. I do plan on trying a few tournaments this year, but don't think I will get serious enough to justify living on a tournament lake. I'd choose living on the water on a public lake with a ski course. Looking at the second point of adjules comment: My wife, she would not be able to live on a tournament lake. She needs that freedom of being able to get away, to explore new areas, to ski for miles. She is easily discouraged when skiing the buoys (sure living on a lake will make her better). Living at a tournament lake would take away some of her enjoyment of being on a boat. Sure we ski the buoys a fair amount but as a family boating is more of a life style as a whole, not just one aspect of it. The main selling point for me to move to a tournament lake would being able to ski without a spotter, but for me it isn't worth the trade off. Either way living somewhere your boat is in the water a stones throw from your back door is heaven.

Didn't see tanning in there.

I used about 350 gallons this past year on my boat. I work from home so I don't drive daily, but some how managed to put 20,000 miles on our truck. With a 18 mpg average = just over 1100 gallons. That's around 1500 gallons!! Oh and my wife has a company car, so I have no clue how much gas she goes through.

I'd love to keep going, but between the limited day light and cold weather/water it's proving to be difficult to find people willing to head out. Time to switch sports to motocross & snow skiing till spring.

I was just reading this and realized how right @thager is...I will forget everything I learned by next month. This being the culmination of my first season skiing buoys, I think I am going to write it all I learned down and throw it in my ski bag, so I'll hopefully start off with good habits next year. My list of things I learned this year, that I want to remember for next year: - Stacked Position at all times. - Offside Cut, focus on facing the boat, read the back of the boat if necessary. - No 'Gay Rodeo' turns allowed, (keep trailing arm in turn at hip). - Wait to come back to the handle (especially offside turn). Ski should cross rope line. - Don't blow a pass before you even get to the gates. - Progressive pull thru the gates. - Make six turns (whether you are making the buoys or not). - Smile

My wife thinks I have an addiction to this sport....I think I will show her this post and prove that she is incorrect.

Cold water effects my reaction. Though I did add a new buoy in practice last weekend with almost exact conditions as you. Guy that regularly skis into 35' couldn't get 28', I think he was cold, not the ski.

I bought 4 kettle bells (2 - 8 lbs & 2 - 20 lbs) this summer, downloaded an app on my iphone. Never felt so strong behind a boat. I ride motocross also, kettle bells have really helped my riding as well.

I ski between your level and your sons level. 34 @ 22' is my best. I would stay away from a 216 and 206. My wife skis at 30 mph and is scared out of her wits hitting that wake. Behind my friends 206 my best ski run is 12 buoys less than my personal best. This boat tracks like a freight train in the course. My friends 197 is a great boat, especially when there is 2 or 3 people aboard. With more people the wake gets a bit larger, and the bow becomes very easy to swamp. I haven't skied an R LXI, but have sat as and observer for a few sets. The wake seems to be large but quite soft and wide at 15' & 30 mph. It seems to get a lot better at 34 mph. I feel the R LXI also has the most amount of room among the three. If it were me I would go with the R LXI (03-06) or 197.