MISkier

Thunder - for those who remember 70s music.

@UWSkier, my ski performs similarly - much better in colder water (under 70 degrees). I am just south of 150 pounds, though, so it's not a skier size issue for me. I think I will need to make some warm water adjustments next season. First candidates are less wing and fin forward. I don't want to change too much, though, as I like everything else about its turning characteristics and edge change responsiveness. I just seem to get a bit of extra load out of the buoy and before the first wake and notice it's a little more effort to ski. And, I suspect I am getting the ski stuck behind me on the offside turn, due to it sitting down more in the water at the tail and not sliding as much. All of that goes away in the colder water. Need to bring the tail up a little in the warmer water, I think, to approximate the cold water attitude of the ski.

Maybe add a degree of wing angle?

I believe there is a new rope version from S lines (possibly called X something with a gray mainline) that is going to emerge as the preferred choice. I heard a prototype is in the hands of some high end skiers for evaluation and I think one was in use at one of the last tournaments of the year here in Michigan. If it was, I skied it and it was good.

There is supposed to be a course in the Alico Lakes community as well. I have not skied either nor do I know the post-hurricane situation there.

There is supposed to be a course in the Alico Lakes community as well. I have not skied either nor do I know the post-hurricane situation there.

I store my barefoot boom, the extension, and the pylon block in the observer side gunnel and it appears to be just about the right amount of weight to level my personal boat with no observer. At our club, we have two 50 pound lead weight bags that are moved around to balance, depending on whether there is an observer or not. We typically just have them on the floor near the pylon and seats to move easily.

I store my barefoot boom, the extension, and the pylon block in the observer side gunnel and it appears to be just about the right amount of weight to level my personal boat with no observer. At our club, we have two 50 pound lead weight bags that are moved around to balance, depending on whether there is an observer or not. We typically just have them on the floor near the pylon and seats to move easily.

It is what happens between centerline and pre-turn for me.

@drmadd, the Regional record would depend on whether the Region in question allows for the buoys/points earned for speed greater than maximum age division. The only way to know for your particular Region is to pose the question to your Regional EVP. I do think that any records (should they be allowed) set using speed greater than age division maximum should receive a designation separate from any prior records set before ZBS. Also, the original record should remain until it is exceeded at the same speed or speeds allowed at the time of the original record (should the prior record be at a speed less than divisional max). It is only fair, as the option to exceed age division max speed did not exist at the time those pre-ZBS records were set. It is an open question as to what should happen after the original pre-ZBS record is broken at age division max speed (or less) when the ZBS option is available. Should that record then be able to be replaced by one achieved at a speed greater than age division max, since both skiers would have had the option to do so post-ZBS?

If you are talking about Midwest Regionals, they have typically been on a rotation between Wilmington, IL, Maize, KS, and Center City, MN. I believe 2023 would be Center City, MN. I would expect the timing to be the weekend (about 10 days) before Nationals.

Did anybody notice that the Day #2 video above says September 31st?

@75Tique, how do you get from buoy to buoy with that HUGE guy barefooting in your wake?

My memorable tournament and current 36 mph tournament PB was at my club site - Tivoli Gardens, which is also where my 34 mph tournament PB occurred a few years ago. I started tournament skiing late (age 45), and I have been setting certain goals over the last 12 years to check some things off my list of water skiing challenges. In 2021, I decided to ski a couple of L tournaments in the IM division to get a ranking (any ranking) on the World Open Men Slalom list. I also had a goal to beat my previous 36 mph tournament PB, which was 5@-28 from 2015. At the first L tournament, in 30+ mph winds, I didn't get what I wanted. At Tivoli for the last L opportunity in the Mark Boender Buoy Bash tournament, I scored 3@36/-28 in the first two rounds and the wind for the 3rd round was increasing. I already had a couple 4@36/-28 scores in some class C tournaments that summer and decided it was all or nothing to beat that 5 buoy PB. With about a 12-14 mph headwind straight down the pipe, I decided my opener off the dock for round 3 would be 36/-28 - do or die. I figured I could pull long and slam turns to do whatever to make it. Not only did I run it, but it was quite smooth and I had time left over at 6 ball. I should have been able to get 2 or 3 at -32 on the way back, but I did the noob thing - got all charged up and overcranked the gate and 1 ball for a 1/2 buoy score. My ranking peaked at 397 on the world list from those two tournament scores. Obviously not great, but that is where I am. As far as placement in that tournament, I was the only one who skied IM - so first. Below is a photo from that PB tournament. You'll notice the water is not calm - and that was the good end of the lake. Second most memorable is the Michigan 3-Event State Championship in 2020. I broke my ski in half during practice the night before and pulled my 9500 out of the closet. Hadn't skied on it in many years. My first pass on it was in round one (the placement round) of the tournament the next day.

The guy who got into -45 has a regular slalom top score of 2@-39 and some -38 and longer scores after that. So, it seems to be different.

Cable skiing has no wake to cross and the rope is attached at a height well above regular pylon height, so it can actually lift you up like a wakeboard tower might. You'll see cable skiers basically laying on the water in the turns and then rise up to ski cross course.

For a really good pass, I have more space at 6 ball than I had at 1 ball. No slack hits. No bobbles. Good connection and cross course efficiency (not necessarily speed) is noticeable as well.

Just 5. All private, purpose-built lakes with courses. Didn't ski any public water this year and I usually hit at least 2 of those.

@LeonL, in the Midwest Region, these are the possible records: Midwest Regional Championship Records: Records based on performances at Midwest Regional Tournaments. Midwest Tournament Records: Records based on performances at any sanctioned class “C” or higher tournament held in the Midwest Region. Midwest Skier Records: Records based on performances by Midwest Region skiers at any record capability tournament regardless of tournament location. The first and third would require categories other than C, so the score in the book would reflect the division max, as you noted. To my knowledge, the second category (Midwest Tournament Records) does not recognize records achieved at higher than max divisional speed. However, I do not have definitive confirmation of this.

You get more points for skiing the same rope length at a higher speed than a lower speed. You cannot use it for a National record, as you are not allowed to receive those points in an E, L, or R tournament, which are the only classes allowed for setting a National record. As for setting a State record, that will depend on your State. In Michigan, the Michigan Water Ski Association decided not to allow that and require the records to be established at no higher than the age division max speed. The score recorded in the scorebook for a class C is irrelevant of that for setting a record. In fact, we only allow our State record to be set at the State Championship tournament in a round that is considered for placement in the respective event. As for a Regional record, that will depend on your region. Would be a good question to ask them. As for your point about running fewer buoys, I don't see how that math works out. But, it is true that the record achieved (or equaled) at the higher speed could be on a longer rope. Consider this: Skier A and Skier B are in the same division with a 32 mph max speed. Skier A could start at 32 mph and 15 off, Skier B could start at 32 mph 15 off. After they both complete their first pass, Skier A could shorten to 22 off. Skier B could speed up to 34 mph and remain at 15 off. Skier A gets 4 buoys on the second pass. Skier B also gets 4 buoys on the second pass. Their numerical score is equal according to the value given to their respective rope length and speed combinations and, in fact, they skied 10 physical buoys each. The virtual buoys they skipped and were credited via their starting speed and line length were identical. Skier B did not ski fewer buoys, they skied the same - they just did theirs on a longer rope.

Do you have any boat guides left? I would think the prop would have chopped them up. On a related note, I had SurePath flake out in the middle of a tournament I was driving a couple weeks ago. First, it wouldn't register anything. When it came back, it registered numbers similar to your display. It seemed like it lost its GPS differential and thought the course (or boat) was somewhere other than where it was. If I had actually driven what those numbers said, there would have been a re-ride and I would have been standing on the dock watching it.

@jjackkrash, here is rule 10.06 B.2, which explains the exception to the aforementioned rule 10.06 B.1: In Class C tournaments, the skier may opt to ski at higher maximumspeeds, up to 58kph (36mph) for male divisions and 55kph (34.2) forfemale divisions, excluding juniors, at their discretion. In this case, theskier shall receive credit for the buoys run at the higher speed.

@jjackkrash, that is the rule for class E/L/R, not class C. You will get the credit for buoys at the actual rope length and speed combination that was skied (even if it exceeds age division max) in a class C tournament. And, that score will factor into your ranking average for AWSA/USA Water Ski.

This record was approved on 8/5/2022.

@RichardDoane, was that for a State record, Regional record, or what?