MISkier

I've been on the Wiley's for a long time - can't even remember how long. I have a few brutal OTFs every year and have released well. I hit buoys, skip, and crash several times a year as well. I have only had two minor ankle sprains in the Wiley's (one front foot, one back foot 8 years ago -both OTF). Ironically, one was on Saturday (medial sprain from the ski rotating/twisting off of my feet rather than ejecting forward). The damage was minimal in both cases. First sprain only required a week or two to return. I taped the ankle on Saturday and actually posted a good score (for me) in the next round. I'm walking on it and just need to rehab it a bit. Probably a week or two as well for this one.

 

I was watching a Big Dawg qualifier a few years ago and two 20-something guys sat next to me. Both had casts on their ankles. Both were questioned by others and acknowledged PowerShell as their binding choice. I don't think I'll be going with hardshells and I can't see myself with Dual Lock.

 

By the way, my ankle felt great in the bindings on Saturday after the sprain. Very good support and comfort. I'll be continuing with the Wiley's.

My kids have tried skiing, but it hasn't stuck yet. She's on the right track and, judging from the picture, with the right attitude. Just wait until the slalom addiction/obsession really sets in. She'll wonder why she didn't get more serious earlier.

My family wouldn't mind going to a tournament if there was something to do (especially for the kids) other than watch 100% of the time. My son is autistic, so he can't just sit and watch. But, he loves the water/swimming and it is a great sensory thing for him. However, swimming into the course or even close to the boat path, starting dock, etc. is not allowed or recommended. The ultimate site would have a secondary area to the side with a beach and some other actvities.

 

Any kid, for that matter, will have a hard time sitting for a tournament. While skiing is the main focus, we need to remember that other family members may not be as obsessed as we are and need something else to occupy their time when they are not watching. If the families only know tournament skiing as the amount of time that you are away from them, they are not likely to pursue it either. Plus, watching some other kids in the tournament may catch their interest.

In Michigan, we have several class C tournaments that also serve the novice skier (guaranteed minimum 4 passes). There is also a dimension to some of the tournaments called the Ability Series, where your tournament score is also grouped according to PBs. You ski against the group and get points for your placement in the group. There are medals at each tournament and, at the end of the season, overall winners in each group receive trophies and gift certificates to boat dealer proshops. It adds to the fun. The novice (4 pass guarantee) expires when you run your first full pass at your maximum speed, but the Ability Series allows skiers at all levels to compete in that using their score from the tournament.

A switch rope mistake also happened in a Big Dawg qualifier. They were running two boats and skiers using one boat were always winning. There were suspicions about some inequality about half way through. Later, they discovered that boat's rope had a switch section and was basically 18" too long. They even had one skier take a shot at the current record and I think he might have beat it. In fact, I think that particular event caused them to measure the rope and discover the error. They had everyone using the inaccurate boat re-do their passes and the accurate boat's skiers retained their original scores. I don't remember all the results differences, but there were some. The real downer was for a local skier that smoked his PB and was really celebrating.

In addition to crossing the wake on two skis, I look for body position on two skis. Hips up, arms straight, shoulders back, vision level and looking down the lake. If they are crossing the wake bent at the waist, trailing hips, pulling in on the rope, looking down, shoulders rolled forward, then they are not ready.

A boat dealer told me that the biggest issue with the heaters is the quality of the water running through them. If it has silt or other sediment, some of that can collect and also trap some water when you are winterizing it. They cautioned me on my very first winterization that even using air pressure and RV antifreeze might not be enough to prevent freezing and failure. But, I have no issues so far. For my first year, I did have some seaweed in the shower valve screen that was preventing some flow, but there was no damage from winter. No problems since and we have changed lakes to one with much better water quality.

 

I've also seen what sediment in the raw water can do to an engine (not mine). It collects and may clog some of the channels in the block resulting in one cylinder that overheats, etc. The culprit is that the block heats and cools the gunk and turns it into a cement-like compound.

 

It's better to run in the cleanest, clearest water possible or flush it with a garden hose if you are running in a muddy location.

Wax and detail at the end of the season. Wipe down after every use. Pull out of the water overnight. Just the wipe down and removing it from the water overnight keeps it basically spotless. Don't really even need the detailing.

I had a 2000 MasterCraft Prostar 205. Great boat based on the 1995-1997 Prostar 190 hull. 15 off was decently soft. Bump at 22 off. 28 off and up was every bit as good as the 190 it inherited from. Tracked like a freight train in the course. Not as nimble as the 190 for cornering, but super solid through the course. Great storage and a lot of room in the bow. I only sold it to get a boat with Zero Off and I have missed it at various times.

The gates will receive more analysis than the Zapruder film. I hope they hold up, because he is a great skier and has really added some excitement back to the sport.

@Lucas, I was advised to abandon 15 off as soon as I could. I still consider that very good advice. I'm planning to do the same with 22. I don't even set it at 15 off those few times when I use 36 mph, whether I run it or not. The pendulum action at the shorter lengths is very different.

Goode 9500.

I am 145 lbs and initally liked it. But, I am reverting to work on some conditioning and other issues before experimenting with it again. I basically changed back to the old setting just to eliminate that variable while I start the season.

I initially liked, but I also think it was too early for me to try it. I tried on my first set of the season with a new-to-me ski and a lot of rust. I will use it again after I get my conditioning back and can experiment a little.

@Wish. Wim is 5' 7" and somewhere in the 160lb. range. I believe that video is from 2006. Here is a bunch more info;

 

http://www.schnitzskis.com/wimdecree.html

Oh yeah, I forgot, the wind has been over 20 mph for 3 days.

It snowed in Michigan yesterday. Most areas were below 40 for the high temperature. The overnight low last night was in the 20s.

I want to run 32 off in practice and get deeper into it, say around 4 ball, at a tournament.

The kids don't like the MC either. I've heard many of them complain on the dock when the round is pulled by that boat. Long line and slow speed are not good for the MC.

 

I hope MC is able to deliver on all fronts. I owned a 2000 Prostar 205 and would still have it if it could have had ZO. And, I was as brand loyal as can be. But, I just didn't want to buy a 197, due to the wake issues. Also, I happened upon a deal for my new boat that made the switch much easier. I wish MC success. I believe they build a quality boat, but one that still needed improvement.

I have my phone with the WeatherBug app in the boat at all times and I watch the forecast like a hawk when planning to ski. In fact, I just checked it this morning for Wednesday's conditions - which have changed since I checked last night at 10:00PM. Yep, I'm a little obsessive.

@AB, that east to west pattern is very rare indeed. We hardly ever see east winds and they were here for days. Yesterday, they were strong enough to make the sets very difficult - least protected direction.

 

I think it is being caused by a blocking high pressure system off the east coast. I also think that is compressing the jet stream and giving all that winter weather to WI and MN. But, I am not a meteorologist.

I think it was the driver.

Here is one in Ohio that has a great price.

 

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&category=Real_Estate&postid=20879

Here is the one near Seattle.

 

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&category=Real_Estate&postid=22574

Somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million, if I recall correctly. But, that may also have been the price tag on the site near Seattle, which was amazing.