Moggie

These handle must be amazing for so many to endure this lack of customer service. If you're running a business why would you not just hire some admin support to keep customers happy and enable him to focus on making the handles? It'll only cost him customers in the future if he doesn't.

@markchilcutt I've never really understood 'light on the line'. When I come out of a turn with good angle I always feel vulnerable to the handle pinging out of my hands (happened twice at the weekend). It's the same thing when I hit the wash, the extra load is just too much at times. If I survive it then I'm crazy early. For you is it a matter of strength or body position?

@madcityskier - I was recently told to ski as if I was pinching a coin between my arse cheeks. I guess 'flexing your glutes' is the tactful equivalent. @Joeprunc - yeah was running in 36mph two months ago but going through a bit of a rut due to lack of time on the water now it's winter. You're right about the front leg, I keep doing it when I think about standing tall. @KcSwerver - I always let go with one hand but if I'm wide and early at 15off I don't reach since it would only give me slack. Should probably get into the habit of getting the ski wider than it needs to be to use up the extra line length. Cheers for the advice all.

I guess reach is a consequence of casting the ski out wider. Really struggling to lead with the hips, I tried the straight back leg which was mentioned in another thread and had an OTF just pulling out for the gates! Very embarrassing.

Hi ballers, I'm looking for some pointers on what to focus on over the Oz winter. I'm only skiing a set a week at the moment so thought it would be a good time to work on some fundamentals. It’s the first time I've ever recorded a pass and had no idea until now just how much I ski on my back foot, particularly on my off-side. First video is 30mph 15off, second is 32mph 15off. Appreciate all your help.

I use $2 white cotton gloves underneath my radar boa's. They only last a month but they're cheap and I've not had a blister since. The slightly extra padding means you have to grip a little harder but you quickly get used to it.

The more I read on this issue the more in favour of scrapping gates I become. They add nothing to the show and only create issues with judging. Better to just use the right hand gate buoy and bring it forward by a few metres.

I ski behind both regularly and I always ski at least a speed higher behind the Txi, the wakes at lower speeds and long lines is so much better. If you can afford the Txi it's the one to have. That said, Lxi is still a really nice boat.

I open at 32mph 15off, then spend most time at 34mph 15off. I will run this 60-70% of the time in which case I have a shot a 36mph. I've not run it yet.

@Than_Bogan, @ral - can you explain why it's recommended that you remove the wing for longer lines; what changes? I'm skiing fairly consistently at 34mph 15off and getting close to running 36. I'm on a 2013 Strada.

@jeffklop99 - If this is occurring at 15off I suggest you try and get wider. I've found that when narrow through the course on a long line your angle relative to the boat, at the point you load the line, causes the acceleration phase to occur when the load on the line is near its peak. By getting wider you load the line at a greater angle meaning you can build speed more progressively and hence line load is less making it easier to maintain your stack position.

@joeprunc you don't need good communication skills to make a long distance relationship work, just put these two template messages in your phone and send them once a week; "I miss you too X" and "Sorry I missed your call I was skiing"

For me it would depend on a few things; does the job offer you the best opportunity for progression; when is the boss likely to retire; and how far apart would you be? I was faced with something similar 8 months ago, hence I now live in Australia and my fiancée in the UK (the difference is that Oz offered me more skiing!). Even management are human so chances are if you explain the circumstances they’ll be supportive if you leave, flexible if you choose to make distance work, and grateful if you stay. Just don’t surprise them.

Cheers, I'll keep it in mind. Looks like a nice spot.

@ozski, where about in OZ are you? I'm in Perth and am shocked by how many have put there ski away for winter despite the temperature remaining between 50-70 degs.

Incredible skiing. When two or three other pro's start getting 41 this consistently the score at 43 will really start to matter. Only then will we start seeing progress on the WR.

Did you order the boots as well? FYI - I'm a UK size 10.5 and ordered the XL (which is one up from standard) and they're perfect. Radar say themselves that they're not supposed to be tight, just snug. I have double boots and have only come out of them once so wouldn't want to go any smaller. They're crazy comfy by the way!

@gator1 great plan although i'm not sure why you need the GPS if you integrate with ZO (which you need for speed). Would it not be cheaper and more convenient to use the data available? I would have thought it would be more accurate than GPS since ZO is pretty good at timing progress through the course and the line will length and pylon angle will determine where the skier is. The only material variable would be slack in the line which could be compensated for using the load readings. Loving this technical exercise!

It appears to me that based on the suggestions here that boat manufacturers are missing a trick. It seems entirely feasible that by only entering the line length for a given pass, a boat equipped with a pylon that measured angular velocity and rope tension and ZO could provide useful and accurate telemetry about your pass. Coupled with a camera you could review your most efficient pulls and look at the footage to see what you did differently. Since ZO effectively knows how far through the course it is you could have your progress through the course plotted showing where you were early/late etc. Given how obsessed some ballers are at analysing their skiing (not to mention the fin-fiddlers) it seems strange such data acquisition hasn’t caught on (if only to give a manufacturer a USP).

I've never seen anyone run the course on a 75' line; I was always told to shorten to 15off then work through the speeds spending most time on the pass you can run 90% of the time. Mix it up with 22off when you start getting close to your max speed. Tournaments are good fun and a great way to motivate yourself to get better. Don't even think about being crap, every starts somewhere. My first was 5@28mph about 6 months ago and can't wait for the next one. It gives your progression a proper milestone.

I bought the 2013 Radar Strada 67' in March and had it shipped to Oz (WA) via FedEx international priority. Shipping was $191 which I thought was ok given how much more I would have paid for the ski locally. Tracking service was good. I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle of a PO box.

I started skiing again 6 months ago after 6 years away and have gone from 28mph to nearly running 36mph 15off. I've started thinking about what I'd like to be skiing by the end of the year but being in unchartered territory I was curious what other ballers are aiming for and how they’ve progressed. Obviously it’s highly dependant on current ability but thought, accompanied by a brief narrative, it may give some insight to help set realistic / achievable goals.

@ToddL Love the idea of "bump", "bump". "smooth"! I'm always being told I edge change too early resulting in me being narrow through the course.

I got my 2013 radar boa gloves a few months back and combined with a thin cotton under-glove have eliminated blisters. The ratchet is a great way to quickly re-tighten the glove after a pass so they always feel snug and comfortable. Not tried the vices but I hear they're good.

Project accountant for an engineering company (KBR). Probably should have selected 'Other' rather than 'Banking'.