XR6Hurricane

swc5150, I'm pretty sure I saw the red one a couple of weeks ago on the lower Fox River. I didn't know what it was, other than it was a modern boat made to look retro, but we were all staring at it when it went past. I thought it was brand new. I know it had the wood and a name that began with a "P" on the rear flanks, and it looked just like that with the square windshield. I'm quite sure it was red and not green. And we don't live that far apart so it would make sense.

Yep, the suction cup attachment is the only mount that the floaty back door won't hold up. Try as I may, I can't really find much good to say about Sony from my experience. I think their quality is highly overrated.

My dad has a Challenger slalom that looks just like the combo pair you have with the knights charging, but the bindings are a different color and I think the tail is more squared off. He bought it new in the '60s and still has it.

I don't know if it was ever something done in tournaments in his time, or if it was just something he did for fun. Just watch the show ski world. All sorts of creative stuff is done there all the time.

First wood slalom ski is the backwards slalom. I have not tried it. The guy who gave it to me was a former tournament skier who lived in Evanston, IL and practiced every morning at sunrise on Lake Michigan. Said it took him an entire summer just to learn how to get up backwards on it.

Some of my friends couldn't believe how many skis I owned, so I lined them all up when I was reorganizing the rafters in the garage a couple weeks ago. Some of the trick skis I have never been on. L-R: Penn Craft Spray King combo set H.O. Excel combo set (like new, found at curb with a "free" sign on them) Unknown brand of banana peel skis with homemade fins to double as jumpers Viking banana peel skis Thompson shoe skis Unknown brand of home-rigged backwards slalom Sears & Roebuck J.C. Higgins wood slalom Roland Hillier Li'l Monster - one of the corner pieces in my man cave Western Wood 65" XL7 Glass Competition (still had the Mike Suyderhoud sticker on it when I got it) Western 65" Funnel Tunnel epoxy glass (still has the 65" sticker under the tip) EP Superformer 67" (rear half of front binding was replaced with a generic adjustable from a combo ski) Connelly Concept 65" The Concept is my everyday ski and is the newest one (1998). The Western XL7 is my second favorite. I'm sure many of you have more than I have, and more interesting ones.

I love my GoPro Hero2. I've used it in the boat, on the motorcycle, and skiing, plus on nature hikes. As mentioned above, the fixed zoom makes the skier look distant if it is mounted in the boat, but the performance of the camera is great. It will shoot in HD quality and it also has settings for timed still shots. You do need QuickTime Pro if you are going to edit the movies. I have the floating back door for my case (it will hold it up with any mount except the suction cup mount). For the pylon, I use the roll bar mount which is an accessory you have to buy separate. It comes with a headband and I've worn it while skiing numerous times. They sell a surfboard mount which is actually two adhesive mounts. The second one is for the safety lanyard. GoPro recommends using that setup along with the floating back door and the safety lock on the case if you are going to actually mount it to the ski. Here's an example from behind the boat, and how they hold up in a wipeout (no comments on my hands' position please, lol): http://youtu.be/f2gaC4H1vWU

Nothing wrong with drum brakes and a carburetor :). I just looked at a Connelly HP yesterday and the design looks like it's along the lines of what he is used to. I've never tried one and don't know anyone who has, but the underside is a lot more like my old EP Superformer than a lot of the newer stuff.

I did one at only 30 mph on a long line back in July and was sore for 4 days. Left arm got stretched across the surface of the water as I got ragdolled into a somersault. Only good part was I had the GoPro on my head in the floating case with the one second stillshot delay. In Frame #2 you can tell my head is ahead of my hands. I think #3 is when my face is about an inch off the water. #4 is a few seconds after the crash. Somehow the ski clobbered me on the outside of my left thigh too.

Interesting replies...glad to hear some people are out there on the new ones. I'm like skibug...kind of root for the underdog. The thing I like about my Concept is I feel like I know what's going to happen, even if I screw up royally. I've been on other skis that seemed like an old doberman - you never know when they are going to jump out and bite you.

Seems like very few people either on the net or on the water really talk about Connelly anymore. Any particular reason why? I know they are big in the jump ski market and most show teams use their skis, but in the slalom world seems kind of quiet with regards to them, at least in this part of the country. I still love my 14 year old Concept and still feel like it has more potential than I'll ever be able to throw at it. I was in the local shop buying a new rope about a month ago and the sales guy just kind of looked down and said, "Yeah...people still talk about that ski". But he said it like he was afraid to admit it - even though they are a Connelly dealer and the Concept is still available. I know they make some much higher end skis as well. It's not that I'm tied to any one brand but I'm just curious.

6balls - I did experiment with the look over the shoulder and am going to do more of it this morning. You're right, the offside is what really needs the work. I've always been very uncomfortable with the offside turn and typically it has been more of a tail turn as opposed to keeping the weight further up on the ski. This is the first year in a LONG time that I've had a chance to practice on some really good water and on a regular basis. So I'm making progress, albeit slowly. I really appreciate the input from everyone. I love the sport dearly but I have very little natural ability and truthfully I'm lucky to be this far. I never established really good form when I was younger and I find that now at only 36, I'm less willing to risk a bad pileup than I was at 20. That alone is probably holding me back but I do feel like I'm gaining. Well, gotta get some gas in the boat and meet my driver and spotter at the ramp.

6balls or anyone else - a couple of weeks into it and the baseball bat grip now feels normal! Here's a clip from yesterday. Getting more into making the edge change instead of pausing at the end of the cut - well, at least on some of them ;). Worked on that even more on my 3rd and 4th runs of the day which unfortunately I didn't film. Had another run after this that I didn't film that felt even better. I still don't feel or look like I'm at a steep enough angle backward when I come across the wake. Seems like if you don't get into that position as you complete the turn, then you aren't going to get there because you can't fight the boat enough to pull back into it once you start to accelerate? But I'm continuing to work on it every time out. Still at 15' off but kicked it up 100 rpm to get to about 31 mph. I never do throw all that much spray...maybe because I'm only 125 lbs, or because I'm just not that good :). http://youtu.be/vlvV2nQTYPA

My Facebook profile picture. On my circa 1974 Western Wood 65" XL7 Glass Competition.

Than - thanks so much for this article, I printed a copy of it a couple of weeks ago and have been studying it and practicing it as much as I can. It helps to have it written in a way that makes a lot of sense. This is the first time in several years that I've had a lot of quality time on the water. I'm already finding that if I follow what you wrote to the tee, I feel like I'm skiing a lot better and have gotten a couple of compliments that I've improved. Elbows to the body would be a work in progress. I'm a recreational, 30-31 mph free skier and I'm just thrilled to finally be kicking the problem of my body wanting to fold in half when I hit the first wake. Being 125 lbs, I've always felt powerless, particularly behind an inboard, but the pointers are really helping. Also, the description of the stage at the beginning was right on the money for me. The other thing that has gone hand in hand with this for me has been Terry Winter's 2-minute video on body alignment. That helped get me off the tail of the ski at the start of the turns and feel safer coming across the wake. Really kind of makes things go "click".

I've never been on a course so I can't really comment much. But I'd think it's more like playing baseball in an empty field with bases thrown down where they look about right, instead of measuring them off. And a home run is anything past the oak tree. Some of us never have the chance to get on a course...closest public one here has half of the turn balls in such shallow water that the boat can't even get to you if you fall. I've never wanted to do a faceplant in 18" of water so I've never skied it.

I'm trying to get back into skiing more often after doing relatively little of it over the past several years. Here in northern IL the season is pretty much May thru September unless you're really hard core. Then you might see April into October. Just wondering if there are any places in the south that are good for winter skiing, particularly where it's easy to connect with other people who are up for giving pulls for gas $$$ or just want to share the fun. Not necessarily on a course, just plain old free skiing is fine. Any kind of gatherings or places to just show up that are good? A lot of the people I ski with here are busy or long gone due to pregnancy, divorce, moving away, etc. (you know how life goes) and they probably wouldn't make the trip anyway. I might be willing to drag my boat down as well if it looks promising. Also always looking for people/spotters to ski with here in northern Illinois. I'm 10 minutes from Port Barrington on the lower Fox.

Thanks 6balls, I will try that. I have skied with a more steady flow before, but not as steady as I should be. Getting used to the new grip made me hesitant too. I'll give the look over the shoulder a try. Boat is a 18 1/2' Rapid Craft Hurricane with a stock 150 Merc. It's good for about 70 on the GPS with my other props but I ski with a 23" Trophy Plus (it will still run 64 on the rev limiter with that prop). It would pull me OK with my 26", but the 23" makes it a lot easier to hold a steady speed. It has a really good wake too. Foamier than some boats but low and soft. I remember how I learned behind a 15' Allison with a 65 hp Merc...the first time I got behind an inboard the wake looked like a jump ramp.

Some still shots too if anyone wants to analyze them.

It was about 50 degrees Friday night so the river was abandoned yesterday morning. Used the baseball bat grip the entire time and I'm getting much more comfortable with it after practicing with the handle on my porch and getting some perfect water to practice on. It does seem to improve my off-side turn (LFF). Did my best to focus on my body alignment and leverage too. I can see what is meant by some of the other things falling into place if you can master the baseball bat grip. Would appreciate any comments on the video. It's done with the GoPro Hero2 so it's not zoomed in, but you can see pretty well what's going on. This is 15 off at 30 mph on my 65" Concept. It was Run #1 of the day so I'm fully rested. Later in the day I messed around a little with disconnecting one hand in the turns, which I've never done before. Vid here: http://youtu.be/feWCcDwQnJA

Thanks for the replies guys. I am LFF and am holding it the correct way with the left palm down. Funny 6 balls should mention attaching the handle in the house...I have one on my porch that I've been practicing with! Will be interesting to see how it improves the off side, because I tend to be a tail turner on the off side. Going out Saturday morning and will practice some more.

Hey everyone, great site and am enjoying the discussions I've read so far. Looking for some input...I've been slalom skiing (just free skiing, recreational) for about 15 years and have never used or been comfortable with the baseball bat grip. I just hold the handle with both palms down. The guy who taught me has skied (very well I might add, recreationally) for over 50 years and skis the same way. I've tried the baseball bat grip a few times and am getting slightly used to it, but seem to have more trouble with balance and have wound up with more slack from not being able to follow through as hard with the cut. I know the BB grip is supposed to give you more strength but with me it seems the opposite because it is so uncomfortable. I'm trying to clean up a couple of things with my body alignment and have been told that the baseball bat grip is another important thing I should be doing at the same time. At this point I am fighting years of instinct/bad habits but am just looking for a little direction. I've never been on a course. My questions are: 1) Am I the only one who can't get the hang of the baseball bat grip? Is it really that critical at this level? 2) Any pointers to help make the transition to the new grip and make it work for me? Just some other misc. info: I'm 5'9", 125 lbs soaking wet, 36 years old. Never been on a course in my life. Skiing on a 65" Connelly Concept at 30-31 mph. I know it's on the slow side for that ski but it's where I'm most comfortable. The ski does better at 32 mph but I usually don't. Thanks for any input.