Binding Adjustments by Nick Parsons Part 2

Hi Nick, 
 
It was great to read your article as i've recently purchased a new ski and feel i haven't quite got it set up right yet. Whilst i'm uncomfortable making fin adjustments as i don't have the knowledge or tools to do it i have tried moving my bindings. As a basic rule how does binding adjustments impact the performance of the ski. i.e. By moving them forward does this put more tip in the water and cause a sharper turn? Are binding adjustments similar to fin adjustments in terms of impact on ski's performance?  
Simon,

The basic rules for binding adjustments are as follows.  A forward movement with the bindings (from stock position) will add more nose pressure and make a smoother slower or longer arcing turn.  Backwards is the exact opposite.  A backward movement with the binding (also from stock position) relieves nose pressure and makes the ski carve a tighter arc with a more abrupt finish.

There are fin adjustments that can simulate binding movements.  It's almost opposite of binding movements.  Moving the fin backwards is a similar movement to moving your bindings forward and forward with the fin is the opposite.  If you are unsure in your fin adjustment abilities I'd recommend leaving the fin in the standard setting.  Try experimenting with forward and backward movements of the binding and see what works best for you.  If you are interested in increasing your fin and binding adjustment abilities I'd recommend a one on one water ski lesson here at the ranch with either Doug, Terry or myself.
Cheers,
Nick
Ski with Nick at Ski Sunset Ranch

Cypress Gardens =Legoland

WINTER HAVEN - Gov. Charlie Crist will be among the special guests in attendance Thursday when Merlin Entertainments Group Florida reveals its investment plans for Cypress Gardens and its intention to transform it into a Legoland amusement park.

News that Merlin had purchased the historic theme park from Lakeland real estate investors Rob Harper and Brian Philpot came Friday.

During Wednesday morning's Polk County Commission meeting, Commissioner Randy Wilkinson congratulated Winter Haven for getting "Legoland."

An e-mailed memo to the commissioner and his colleagues states that Cypress Gardens will become the fifth Legoland park operated by Merlin Entertainments Group worldwide and the second Legoland in the United States. The other U.S. Legoland is in Carlsbad, Calif.

Thursday's news conference in Cypress Gardens' Magnolia Mansion will begin at 10:30 a.m.

According to a news release from Merlin Entertainments Group, the speakers for the news conference will include Crist and Nick Varney, the chief executive officer of Merlin Entertainments.

Congressman Adam Putnam of Bartow, state Sen. JD Alexander of Lake Wales and Florida Attractions Association Executive Director Robert Skrob also are among the invited guests for the news conference.

Merlin Entertainments Group is the second largest attractions company in the world. Only the Walt Disney Company is ahead of it.

Counter Rotate for Leverage by Terry Winter

As I give a waterski lesson, one of my primary focuses is on a skier's body position. There's lots of different styles of slalom pulling positions, but whatever it looks like you have to have a strong, leveraged pulling position to get across the course effectively.

One way to increase your leverage, and therefore increase your ability to get across the course on an earlier line, is by counter-rotating. Counter-rotating means opening up your body so that your hips and shoulders are facing more down the length of the course as your ski is pointed across the course. For example, say you're turning and cutting to the right. As your ski is arcing around to the right you're trying to make your shoulders and hips twist a bit to the left. With a good, countered body position the observer in the boat should be able to see the fronts of both of the skier's shoulders.

What countering allows you to do is soften your legs better, and get your hips or center of gravity leaning away more from the boat. This will shift your body's weight so that you have more pressure over the ski's cutting edge, and make it possible for you to hold a better line cutting more directly across the course. This will set you up for wider, earlier turns. If you close off your hips and shoulders, making them face across rather than down the course, your legs will tend to be straighter and stiffer and your hips or body's weight will be placed more over the center of the ski. This will lessen your ability to hold your ski on a solid edge, which leads to shallower, faster approaches to your turns.

Ski with Terry at Ski Sunset Ranch

Written by Terry Winter

HO Boat Show Experience

HO Skis and Syndicate brand are ready for a great season, but before we get to warmer weather we’ll be hitting the Boat Show circuit.  Our retailers will be showcasing the latest skis and bindings from Syndicate, kneeboards, tubes and wakeskis from HO and everything to go with them. 
 
At select shows HO & Syndicate team skiers will be on hand with a stack of retro HO stickers.  Our representatives will also be there with answers to your questions on the latest trends in the sport and the equipment.  

Get this Sticker with a FREE T-Shirt Code
 
To ensure you get the most out of your Boat Show, HO is giving away a FREE Large T-Shirt while supplies last.  Some of our stickers will be coded for your FREE shirt, simply find the right representative and inquire about the promotion.  Once you have your code, register at www.HOSPORTS.com and keep your eyes on the mailbox!  

INT League is Seeking State Coordinators for 2010 Season

The INT League is hiring state coordinators for the 2010 season. INT is looking for outgoing, self motivated, disciplined individuals who would like to join the INT family. If you are a success minded, family orientated, water sports enthusiast who is financially secure and looking for an opportunity to build your own rewarding part time business INT would like to speak with you.

Read more: INT League is Seeking State Coordinators for 2010 Season

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY!! 50TH MOOMBA MASTERS!!

The Moomba Masters Championships comprises of both the Junior Moomba competition and the Moomba Masters Open tournament. These two events are run following each other and alongside Wakeboarding and Barefooting competitions and Show skiing displays.