doonez

@Edbrazil yes you probably could get a bit of speed up out of that leg of water actually which significantly increases the amount of space you have.

Here is the address, Long Range Lake, Blackhead, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand It is about five minutes away vs. the current 40 minutes. No boat ramp but one could probably bull doze a dirt one. We would always be the only boat on it obviously!

Just been looking at some of the local lakes which are closer to us than the place we currently ski and have been wondering what is the absolute minimum length required for a 6 turn course? That includes time for the boat to get up to speed etc. We would be prepared to, as the skier, almost even beach start at each end. On the EZ-Slalom site they recommend at least 1600ft. There is one very close by that is just over 1400ft from end to end is this long enough? Any thoughts appreciated!

@horton where's your lake?

Just checked google earth and have seen they have updated our region to show our newly built lake! Silly but is actually quite exciting to see it for the first time from a Birdseye view! To the north there is a dedicated wetland for native wildlife and the smaller lake below has a cable on it which is soon to be joined by another one running parallel to it. I thought it would be a good idea for the baller community to put some photos from google earth or something of their own lakes or waterways up that they use - a bit of a show and tell if you like. I for one would be interested in seeing the different shapes and layouts of privately built lakes or all the little sheltered and hidden spots where slalom courses are tucked up in public waters. I apologise if there is another thread where something similar has been done! Here is ours...

@richarddoane does the cover fit over when its collapsed if you have them backwards? Will it not if we install it conventionally?

@Wish totally agree no fun being burnt

Oh I see. Do they get in the way there? What are the benefits of doing it like that?

@thager what do you mean "I attached the rear metal strap mounts in the floor"? Interesting that you put the Bimini mounts on the windscreen frame. I'm not sure if we'd be able to do that because ours is rounded but we have flat based mounts. I suppose it could be done if you sanded it to the right shape but I don't know if I'd be confident drilling into the windscreen frame!

@AB how do they attach there? Do you clip them straight to the grill?

@Wish yes looking at it I think I'd run with the red boat way (I also think it looks better and possibly more functional). Although where these boats seem to have a metal pole at the front/back we have simply got a strap which looks like it will slip down (see RHS of my middle pic (when it's the right way up)).

@AB where are these breather plates? Do you mean the slits at the base of the windscreen?

Finally installing a Bimini on our 196 and after looking at a few photos on the Internet people put them on different ways round. Which way is best and are there any tips and tricks for installing them (drilling all the holes etc)? Also at one end there are slits in the fabric to allow you to put a strap around the frame and it will hold but at the other end there is no such thing. Just looking at it I doubt if there would be enough friction to hold it in position - what are we meant to do here? Sorry for the pictures appearing upside down - I'm not sure what's going on there (no they weren't taken upside down)

Just boys slalom (under 17) got sixth

Oh and the night jump was amazing! It was super dark that's for sure

Awesome weather the whole time! My first nationals there but Piarere is a truly great venue that's for sure. Everyone put on a good performance and there were lots of gutsy efforts. See you at the basin next year!

Majority of the time it's in though because I risk pulling my hamstring the way I trail the other leg so far behind!

I do whatever depending on my mood

Yes sure am. You?

haha he hasn't driven too much and hasn't mastered the balancing act of driving straight and looking in the mirror quite yet so relies on the observer for all his info at the moment!

Interesting crash recovery going from 2 - 3 ball at 28off. Only with a rtp can you use your foot as an out rigger! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zrNwWyf9xY

Where can I get the results of the open mens slalom? The iwwfed site is now only showing the live feed of womans jump results

Have been trying to find a bit of info on what seems to be a pretty rare ski. How many of you have skied one and what do you think?

All of the above - just BEFORE you give it a crack (leaves you with something to improve on next time)

Talked to someone definitely "in the know" (top three skier) who is involved with the r and d of the prostar. Basically what he said was that they have got a hull design at the moment with the flattest wakes ever created which is good but like @scotchipman said they are after the three event crowd. They are struggling to create any sort of a ramp for tricking and jumpers are experiencing the problem of having to almost completely adjust to the new design because there is such a different feeling created when cutting across the wake. Finally he said that there is no chance of them unveiling a new hull unless it is undoubtedly the best three event boat in the market. Don't know if this is new information or not but I hope it's helpful.