How were the buoy distances decided?

[Taelan28]

How were the buoy distances decided? Distance from the center of the course and vertical distance (not the hypotenus) to the plane of next and previous buoy. I'm curious because i noticed when I shorten the line for free skiing I dont go out nearly as far and I tend to play the angle of the rope more than the distance from the center.

[Dusty]

Not sure if this is what you're asking, but lIke the rope lengths, they haven't always been the current dimensions. At one time the distance from gates to one ball was the same as from one to two ball. I suspect that the "English' (in feet) measurements came first as the metric equivalent of 41M., 27M., and 11.5M., etc., seem a little odd... Why not 40, 25, and 12 for example? Any ski historians out there?

[MattP]

I bet @Horton s dad would know.

[MattP]

@Brent nope we had a pretty good time. He keeps changing my signature....

[Nando]

Before my time skiing, and before the course dimensions went metric, back when skiers started at longline- 75'- the course was one rope length wide (75') and the distance between buoys was two rope lengths (150'). Some time around 1970 or so, the dimensions went to metric equivalents at the current dimensions. Not to hijack the thread, but it's seemed to me that shortening the distance between buoys slightly, say 2-5 meters, might make things more interesting- less emphasis on height and reach and more on quickness and pull. I don't know, it's just food for thought...

[Taelan28]

I think the distance between the buoys emphasizes enough quickness and pull. Height and reach i cant comment on.