oneski

I missed last year in Texas, so decided I’ll make the trek over to Kansas this year. What’s the skinny on Mystic Lakes? I hear wind can be an issue in August. Curious to know about the water and the site. On another note, I like the America’s Cup concept. Hopefully it will draw a crowd.

Thanks for the info Shyskier. I may try Soda Lakes on my way from Denver, but it’s a bit too far of a drive for me from Vail. Dotsero looks awesome. It be great if I could find someone to pull me as a guest. I was hoping to get in a set or two on the water that week before I get home and ski in the Southern Regionals

I saw that there is a ski lake in Dotsero, which looks to be about 30 miles from Vail. Does anyone know anything about this site?

I don’t have a place on the lake but do trailer my boat to Lake Blue Ridge. There used to be a slalom course set up on the lake in Star Creek Cove but I haven’t seen it there yet this year. I’m not sure who maintains the course. I ski at Whitestone, which is private water with two ski lakes, an is about 30 minutes away from Blue a Ridge. Unfortunately I’ll be out of town the last week of July but someone could likely pull you if you’re interested.

I’ll be in Vail on business the 3rd week in July and was curious to know if there are any nice ski sites close by. It’s a few days before I ski in the Southern Regionals and I was hoping to get in a few practice sets. Feel free to post or PM me with any suggestions.

I’ll be in downtown SD June 10-13th. Would love to be able to ski a set while I’m in town.

I’ll be in downtown San Diego in a few weeks for business and was hoping to find a place to ski a set or two while I’m in town. I’ve see Mission Bay listed on the AWSA tournament guide, but don’t know anything about the site, or know anyone there. Any help or recommendations on a good site to ski around the area would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

The site on Lake Alatoona, directly across Hwy 41, is maintained by the Atlanta Waterski Club. The club also runs an open slalom league on Wednesday evenings (beginning at 5:00 pm until sundown) at another site just a few miles away on Lake Acworth, just across the Hwy 92 bridge. It is open to any USAWaterski (AWSA) member and costs only $5 for a set of 6 passes.

jdk99, one thing you may want to consider is keeping your shoulders more level behind the boat. Many skiers have a tendency to drop the backside shoulder down. The problem is it can cause lean lock and make it very difficult to efficiently edge change. I try to keep my shoulders level as I approach the gates (a good thought is keeping the chest pointed to pylon). This really allows your hips to keep the ski moving out in front and allows for a smooth and crisp edge, and will also allow you to ride the ski outbound to the buoy. Some people also equate it to snow skiing. You want to keep your shoulders level while moving your knees and hips.

Curious to see who is planning on making the trip? I'd also like to get an idea of how the water skies at SMRR. I skied there at Nationals a few years ago but it was so windy that I never got a feel for the water.

Thanks Lyman for hosting such a great event! We couldn't have asked for a better site or conditions. I skied on Sunday and came within a buoy of setting a PB, and happened to get on the podium for the first time in over 20 years.

I've been skiing on double powershell bindings for years and now thinking about switching to a rear toe plate. Curious to hear from folks here who have made the transition on their preference. Also, I'm on a Goode N-1 with Powershells and would like to know the best way to put on a RTP. Should I cut off the Powerplate at the heel of the front boot and then attach a RTP on a separate Powerplate? (I have a spare Powerplate with double bindings, so I'm not afraid to experiment on one).

Thanks for the suggestions. I decided to leave the ski at home since I didn't have anything in advance set up....The weather is warming up back home so I'll hopefully start up the ski season when I get back.

I know it's late notice but I'll be in West Palm Beach tomorrow (Monday) through Wednesday and was hoping I might be able to hook up with someone to ski at SCPB. I'm visiting my Mom who lives only 10 minutes away from Okeeheelee. I'm open Monday afternoon and on Wednesday afternoon. Please shoot me a PM if you (or anyone you may know) is going to be at the site and doesn't mind me hitching a ride. Thanks. Richard Rones

Whitestone Lakes just outside Jasper, Georgia

I like the format for the Big Dawg. We should run tournaments in a head to head bracketed format. Winner of each bracket advances.

OB, you have my phone number. Give me a jingle anytime you need a ski partner in ATL or WPB.

As I sit back and get ready for the holidays I started reflecting on this past ski year. It was a damn good year for me. I came back from a serious neck injury I suffered a year and a half ago that kept me off the water for almost one full year. I finally started back this past May and had no idea if I would be able to ski without reinjuing my neck. I took it slow for months. Running 28' off more times than I can count. I started skiing better and feeling stronger, which meant it was time to shorten the rope. By the end of the summer I had skied in 3 tournaments and was just one buoy off my PB. Not bad considering my injury and start. I can't wait to start pushing next year and trying to pick up one, maybe two, or even three buoys at 38'. Curious to hear other Ballers goals for nex year? If I have a written down goal I'll work hard in the gym and on the water to accomplish it.

What was the scam with that site??

Texas6: In my particular case I suffered a cervical herniated disc which was probably caused by a combination of hereditary traits and years of stress/strain on the neck. (Probably one to many slack line hits). I think the key to avoiding injury is 1) conditioning; 2) training and using proper technique; and 3) good genes.

A_B: Excellent points. Yes, there is something to be said for going crazy fast speeds on the water, checking out the bikini's and putting up a big wall of spray. (Hmmm, that sounds kinda catchy and could be the beginning of a good Country song?!)..... And yes, it should be more about life on the water and not necessarily chasing buoys. I just hate it that a year ago (at a not so young age of 51) I felt bulletproof and was skiing at the top of my game. And now I have aches and pains in places that I didn't even know I had places, and have come to the realization that I am actually human and may have limits. The great thing about this sport is that it's a never ending learning curve.....We're striving for perfection when we know it can't be obtained. Just as I learned how to ski for the first time 40 years ago, then learned to ski the course, then every line length up to 38', I'll readjust my sights, and come spring I'll once again have a sh*t ass grin on my face as I strap on the bindings, get in the water and strive for perfection.

Horton, I'm not familiar with the Power vest and how it could help me, but I'm happy to look into in.

Ozski, very good point. Yes, I agree that technique and equipment improvements can have a huge impact on performance. Interestingly enough, I was skiing better at age 50 than I was at 35. Much of it credited to improvements in my form as well as new ski design and smoother wakes off the boat. My last PB was 2.5@38' and was set two years ago. (I didn't ski any tournaments last year due to my injury). While I'm not ruling out getting back to that level, what worries me is the impact of taking a slack line hit will have on my neck. I'm not worried about it so much at 28' or 32', but for me to run 35' or get into 38' it usually involves some degree of scrapping....and that's what worries me. While improving technique is the best way to improve your score, if you want that one extra buoy you have to fight for it.

I, like I'm sure most Ballers here, am extremely competitive. It's that drive and determination to get one more buoy that fuels me for an entire ski season. It's that elation you get when you set a PB. It's the butterfly's you get in the pit of your stomach when you're next off the dock in a tournament. So, my question is would you keep on skiing and maintain that same passion for the sport if you knew you would never PB again? I suffered a pretty severe cervical disc herniation 9 months ago, which among other things ruined my ski season last year. I've healed (without surgery) about as much as I'm going to heal. I won't know for sure until I get back on the water, but judging by my strength in the gym I feel as though I won't be as strong on the water as I was before the injury. While I'm in no way giving up or throwing in the towel (I was at the gym at 6:00 am this morning for a grueling workout), I suspect I've set my last PB. I'll continue strength and conditioning workouts and am just itching to get back out on the water, but I'm wondering if I'll maintain the same passion for skiing if I realize I'll never get that extra buoy. I'd appreciate hearing thoughts from fellow Ballers.

I met Andy once, and I can say as a result of our short time together he had both a profound and long lasting impact on my life. The story actually begins long before I met Andy. I had taken a relatively long 7 year break from skiing. Kids, home life, and work kept me from being able to ski competitively so I sold my boat, put the ski away and forgot about the sport for 7 years. I got way out of shape and was fast approaching 50 when an old ski buddy called me up out of the blue and invited me out to ski with him. So I dusted off the ski and tried to fit in my ski vest that apparently shrunk two sizes. I managed to get up and then as I was going around 1 ball my rope broke from dry rot. Despite the rocky start I really missed skiing and decided it was time to get back in shape. As I started skiing again I kept hearing voices (some in my head and many from friends and family) saying "Are you crazy? You're too old to ski!" I was really doubting that I could actually ski competitively again. Then I met Andy. I was in Orlando on business and was able to talk OB1 into flying down and meeting me at Andy's lake for a lesson. I had followed Andy's career over the years and was just in awe when I got to meet the GOAT in person. He came across as an incredibly warm and genuine person. Even though I had just met him for the first time he felt like an old friend. As we're talking Andy asks if I mind riding in the boat while Deena drives and he skis a quick set. How is anybody going to answer that?!.....Hmmm, ride in the boat and watch the greatest skier of all time?? Sure. So here I am, a guy approaching 50 and thinking I'm too old to get back into skiing, and watching a guy that's 2 years older than me run 28', skip 32' and 35', and then run 38', 39' and deep into 41'. If I was in awe by just meeting Andy, I don't have the words to describe watching him from the boat ski on such a short line that only a handful of skiers (at any age) would ever see. The humorous part is when Andy finishes and gets in the boat and says to me "You're up!" I felt like saying "No thank you, I'm good". But I got in the water and ran some 28' offs with some great coaching and insights from Andy. But what Andy really taught me was age is not a factor in skiing. He was two years my senior but was truly a much younger person at heart and an incrediblly gifted athlete. I had been thinking I'm too old to ski while he's continuing to ski at a world class level. If Andy Mapple can get deep into 41', then surely I can work my ass off and get into 35' and even 38' off. So after a year of hard work, training, and countless passes I set a PB last year of 2.5@38'. Every time I ran 35' in a tournament or practice I always thought of Andy's inspiration on me. I have no doubt that I wouldn't be skiing today if I hadn't met Andy for a brief afternoon a year and a half ago. You'll be missed Andy, but rest assured not forgotten.