RazorRoss3

Frameswitch in Hutto Aquaplex in Buda SMRR in San Marcos

I am realizing that I neglected to include the Humor to Fight the Tumor charity in my original post. This charity funds brain cancer research through its annual donations and gala events. In 2018, Jim Ross was among the four honorees who are always brain cancer patients. My Mom requested in her communications on the Facebook Page created for my Dad that contributions to this charity would be appreciated. www.humortofightthetumor.org

@6balls, I have a picture of the three of us that day at Waterloo 2007, all geared up and on the dock together. Grandpa Bud even drove out to watch us at it.

Yeah, that’s a 2015 ride, video credit to our neighbor Kevin Thayer. His last ride was somewhere at the end of 2017, he skied the entire season post diagnosis and post op. I visited from Texas over nationals weekend (I skied like crap in ‘17 so nationals wasn’t happening) and we went out to New Germany. I ran my only 35 off of the season and if memory serves he ran a 38. Driving credit that day to the best in the business, Susan Ross

@lpskier, my Mom made a post in the Facebook pave we set up asking for “toasts”, I showed her yours and she loves it. Thank you, we appreciate small reasons to smile today

Hi Ballers, Thank you to all of you for your love and support over the last 4 years and the last 4 months in particular. This morning, peacefully in his sleep, my Dad passed away ending his battle with cancer in defiant victory. The diagnosis was bleak, he fought like hell in spite of it. It stole things from him piece by piece, he held on all the tighter to what was left. In the end, he decided it was time to leave. He quit eating, and then stayed with us for over 5 weeks without food... because why not. He lived on his own terms, he fought on his own terms, and he went out on his own terms. Raise a glass to Jim Ross tonight, and the next time you hit the water, raise your ski in solute.

I think most people aren’t going to sandbag to be the best of a lower division vs the worst in a higher one and the few that do aren’t in themselves enough reason to kill the idea... maybe winning regionals/nationals is an automatic rank up for the following season so if you sandbag for a major event and then win you won’t be able to do it year over year.

@unksskis i am not aware of specific sports where ability based divisions are used. I am aware of 0 sports where gender based divisions are not used. I’m just pointing out that under ZBS scoring rules they may not be needed for our sport. Worth thinking about. Since 90 buoys is 90 buoys, does it matter who skied them?

@UCFskier i think you are misreading. I want to see ability based divisions. If a skiers average is 90 buoys, they should ski against other people who’s averages are 90 buoys. The only reason I mentioned “junior/adult/senior” is maybe the 50yr old skiing 90 buoys doesn’t want to be directly competing with the 90yr old skiing 90 buoys (props if this is you) who doesn’t want to ski against the 8yr old doing the same. So 3 very wide age tranches with ability based divisions within them. And I would be happy to say screw it to age all together. I would also be willing to end gender based divisions. If it’s ability based and zero base scoring then 90 buoys is 90 buoys. Age and gender are irrelevant.

Let’s make simple changes like ability based divisions first. If we’re desperate we could still have 3 broader age divisions of junior, adult, and senior. If our sport ever becomes marketable to the broader public again, then ESPN will surely take the time to explain the scoring to everyone, until that fantasy comes true let’s just make competition more competitive at the local class C

I grew up skiing east-west at sunrise. Going east into the sun you had to learn to spot 2,4,6 from the wakes because you’d lose them in glare moments later. You learn to live with it and I think it makes you a better skier because it forces you to learn to spot the ball early but not stare at it too long.

Thanks @mike_mapple, I know that those visits were some of his favorite ski trips. His favorite ski of all time was the Mapple 6.0, and subsequently it was my favorite ski after he made the mistake of letting me ride it. The last season he skied was 2017, he found a used 6.0 and skied it the full season running several 35s and a number of 38s after his diagnosis. I still ski on his original 6.0 and have his second on standby as my backup.

Yesterday afternoon I read the comments from this post to my Dad. Our entire family appreciates the support from this community and my Dad enjoyed hearing your posts and selling the pictures shared.

@The_MS I love that picture, Minnesota invades Florida @thager, as it relates to mathematics, it’s good that you can have a love for even without an understanding of ;)

I remember that weekend @RichardDoane When people ask me about my favorite site I’ve skied my answer is always that day at Radar Lake which without fail leads to the Deer Slayer story.

Hi Ballers this is an update on Jim, or as many of you know him, the almighty and tireless @Razorskier1 He is my Dad, @6balls older brother, and @SlalomSteve uncle The weekend of Halloween Jim had a significant 3 hour seizure event that has led to a significant set back for his health. The following Wednesday we engaged hospice and have been working with them ever since. After the seizure his left sided neuropathy and pain increased significantly and our focus has turned solely to managing that pain. When he is awake he remains lucid and is very much still himself. At the onset of this diagnosis, we were given 15 months, at 20 months he was in the gym with me benching 10s at 225lbs and we are now at 46 months fighting hard and living to our fullest. The below Facebook page has been set up for him for people to post, say what they would like to say, and share their memories with those who knew him from all walks of life. I love you Dad, and I’m so grateful for all of the memories we have together, and for everything you’ve done for me. We’ve had a lot of fun together. https://www.facebook.com/groups/366709643712167/?ref=share

If you are skiing technically well it doesn’t take much to hold on because you aren’t carrying excess load. 36mph, 22-35 off, buoys at 38 off

The only way to separate me from my 68.5" 6.0 is by force. A few too many PB's set and memories made and I don't imagine myself replacing it in the near future.

Forgot to remove the fin guard

@teammalibu @Zman thanks for the support. From May 7th even a 6 month recovery puts me in November, ice on and no skiing. Both surgeons I’ve talked to have suggested that 6 months is ok but the more current data suggests 9 months is better in terms of reducing long term risk of re-tear so with more ski seasons ahead of me than behind me I’m happy to wait the full 9 to February and make sure I’m at 100% power by the time my 2021 season starts.

I stopped drinking about a year ago in an attempt to be healthier and lose some weight for skiing. After losing 6 pounds in a couple of weeks I decided there was something to it and just never started again. I was honestly surprised because I thought I’d miss it but never really did.

@thager, would that ski come with a carbon fin?

I tore it in an obstacle course gym on March 11th, the virus got my surgery cancelled so I still haven’t had it. 9 month recovery so depending on how long this goes my recovery could eat into 2021 too which would really suck

I tore my ACL so season is toast so $0.00 going towards the sport this year

Stop hoarding TP, everybody needs to poop and no one wants to use their hand