aupatking

Thinking more since actually writing it down, it may not really translate without being able to see your own path with those same points 

I was thinking about this today. I’d like to see some diagram from overhead of Freddie, Nate, or Will with points of reference like handle release, Edge change, maybe end of turn. I think showing where pull out for the gate starts and turn in too. I wonder if it would be enlightening to many of us not skiing much past -32. 

I just remember hearing the story of the lake with a ton of lily pad growth where the line the normal skiers was cut through, then Andy skied it and the path was totally different, way earlier line to every buoy.

The 2002 196. I own one. Even after owning a 2014 Prostar (which I wish I still had) that 02 is still the best boat I’ve ever owned. As for Nautiques, I’ve owned a 93, 95, 97, 98, 01, and the 02. Nothing “wrong” with the 94-96 but the 97 and up 196’s were just so much better. Beginner wakeboard stuff is fine behind one, and you could weight the hell out of it (I’ve seen a local idiot do it) and the wake could be brought up, but it doesn’t sound like that’s your thing.

Get the current Perfect Pass. It’s definitely worth it. I upgraded mine to Zero Off, but it’s totally unnecessary for your purposes. Perfect Pass makes driving skiers on open water easy, and even cruising much more enjoyable.

@The_Krista isn’t that the one where your bathing suit bottom almost ended up on the lake bottom?

2nd place gets no love. What’s the saying, “2nd place is just the first loser”?

@mcskier41 he reviewed the Goode XTR Team at the end of last year. I’m betting he’ll crank out a couple this year, injury/health permitting. 

HO Works 01, D3 R3, and the new Denali

i need a 3 manufacturer, 1 year demo program.

Where does this put the ASU ski team?

Jody unleashed his 2023 ski ride this morning. Custom transom

The MOB is a great system. It will work with your current boot. You would want to replace the bungee lace with a static lace, to make certain you stay in the boot and transfer release energy to the release mechanism.  It allows for release in a sideways/helicopter type fall where a Reflex style release may not. If your ski does not have the extra set of front binding inserts you may need to use 3m double stick tape under the front of the plate. I know that used to be needed, but he has redesigned the plate since I used it, so that may not be necessary anymore. It also has an integrated mikro-just style adjustment in the plate.  
the front plate system is $495@mmosley899can answer any question you may have, and is a great guy. 

Just bought a brand new S-Lines rope for the event. I think I’m more excited about the rope than the event

@Ronny61 yes, on their page they call it “CARBON/G10 FRONT PLATE W/ ADAPTABLE MOUNTING”

@Hucklefin the plate is Radar for odd sizes. For even sizes, like Reflex does, I believe you can use either the Radar or Reflex plate. The release and toe loop are both Reflex. Reflex seems to own the Silvretta 500 (750, 840, and now the 9-something) design/rights. That may not be exactly correct but Edge/Syndicate is using them too.

@Ronny61 @mike_mapple is correct, the old style Vapor boot does not have the rigid front toe or heel block for the Reflex release. I was not thinking about the new Vapor boot being a 2023. Chris Parrish Frankensteined one to work that way, but I don’t recommend humans do what that alien does. 😂

As for the parts needed for a 2023, Radar’s site, under Boots, had the plate at the bottom of the page for $89. Reflex has the toe loop for $60 and the release for $199, both on the Spare Parts page. 

So, all in, around $350 before shipping and taxes. 

So carrying speed through the ball would seem to be non existent. So the “fastest ski” would be a ski that accelerated after the ball quickest, not one the “carries speed through the turn”?

A WHOLE LOT of info there. Am I reading it correctly that the speed AT THE BALL (or maybe better said, “at the turn”) is about the same for all line lengths shown? 

@Ronny61the new Vapor can be used with the Reflex release system. If you use the same boot size as Reflex uses (even numbers 6,8,10,12) you can even use the Reflex plate. If you have the odd size boot, you’ll need the Radar plate for the Reflex release, as well as the lower “horseshoe” toe piece of the “classic” style boot or remove the spacers of the “Supershell” horseshoe to get it lower. If you go this route, most suggest you replace the bungee lace with a static lace to transfer all release energy to the release mechanism. 

For the standard boot-to-plate mounting, forefoot static lace with upper bungee tight enough to be comfortable but loose enough to release. In the water, grab the nose of the ski and pull. It should come off without a whole lot of effort

@DavisLakeYou’ll get varying opinions based on brand loyalty, more than anything else. The top 3 seem to be the Radar Senate, HO Omni, and the Connelly V. 

The only one I have used is the Senate and it is an awesome ski. It’s super forgiving but can handle running pretty far into short line too.

With any of the 3, I’m sure you’ll be happier than an old ski. I hear nothing but rave reviews on them all

This was my buddy’s first ride in a couple years. After the description of the pain, and review of the video, we decided he was leading with his testicle

My ski partner had a 98 for a little while. It had the retrofit stuff on it. It was a great looking boat but getting it balanced took a pretty fair amount of weight. It somehow felt very light, driving it, so was a little touchy on steering correction. Otherwise, I’ve skied a lot of boats with worse wakes and really didn’t mind its -22 and -28 wakes. If it’s a good price, it’s not a bad boat, but there are better

@ColeGiacopuzziI’m in the same camp as you. I’ve been on Reflex boots since breaking my ankle in 2014. I tried Edge/Syndicate which I liked, but went back to Reflex. The new Vapor boot connects you to your ski like nothing I’ve ever used. Seriously, 1 set in and I know it’s the best boot made

That Tige is a great boat. If you do look towards DD boats, Mastercraft stopped using wood in the hulls in 1984, Malibu sometime near that an Nautique in 93. The rest, I don’t know.  That is always a major factor for me, with my ski boats and my fishing boats. 

As was stated earlier, I/Os may have a very big wake at speeds you would be teaching kids to ski, so test them out if possible. I can beach my SN on my river as long as the drop off gets deep enough to keep the running gear out of the sand and it’s usually a non-issue. 

Edit: because I/Os can trim and turn at trim, you have universal joints and gimbles that can wear excessively, therefore a lot more moving parts that may need maintenance and replacement that DDs and OBs don’t have.

I told Brooks I would tell you guys. After my first set, my advice is “BUY THE DAMN VAPOR BOOT”. It’s better than what you are using. That statement may not be fact but I’ve used enough other boots to say it’s about an 87% certainty that I’m right. 😎. 

Thin but strong WalMart/Dollar General drawer liner. I think foam would dampen feeling. Maybe not enough to matter, but when Andy said remove all foam, I remove all foam 😅. Zero binding/ski rash since going this route several years and dozens of skis ago. 

Thank you @skialex there was no strap in my box. I’ll text Brooks tomorrow