The Video 2.5@43

[Klundell]

Unreal!

[ntx]

Prett cool that Dave did that with Nate standing there holding his D3 ski.

 

[Nick Sullivan]

Yep, both are a class act. That was fun to watch.

[Than_Bogan]

Ridiculous. His gate setup didn't even really look right on the -43. DAMN!

 

The celebration while falling is an absolute classic.

[markchilcutt]

Awesome!!!

[Skoot1123]

Great Stuff Nate!!!

[bishop8950]

I am sure Nate would not have done the interview without his ski. Also pretty sure Dave would never have expected him too. I know Dave loves the sport and the idea of pushing the record almost no mater what ski. Thanks to Dave for putting that video out! Great driving Chad! Great skiing Nate, turn 3 at Diablo!

[Wish]

Nate...."I've had 38 looks at 43". ....Who is the next closest to that? To me that shows just how hard/impossible that 43 pass really is. 38 41s completed by him and how many others and 2 ball has been rounded and off to 3 only once. Wow!!! Nate ".....2 1/2 is a safe score" Safe really. There is more in the tank and he knows it.

[jipster43]

38 looks at 43! A true talent would be running it by now.

[Razorskier1]

Can't believe how smoothly he runs everything up to -43! Just an amazingly consistent technical skier.

[danspence]

Gotta agree with @razorskier there, his 32off pass was effortless, tbh he didn't look like he was ever going to miss a pass until 43. Great skiing, doing so much for the sport and pushing everyone on. AWESOME! Can't wait for Diablo now.

[B_S]

Looking at his 39.5 off pass, it's crazy how far outside the buoy line he is (and seems to actually be waiting for the ball)!

 

[Chef23]

That is crazy. Cool to see it on video and it is great that Dave Goode did the video for someone on another ski.

[Texas6]

Dave Goode and Nate Smith are both class acts. The problem with Nates 38,39,41 is that unless you really understand the sport, they look too effortless to be exciting. His 32 & 35 look like Sunday strolls in the park. Crazy how smooth he skis

[skihart]

You know what I hate about Nate Smith?..........

He makes it look sooooo easy. When I am out there at 34mph working my butt off he just cruises through 35, 38, 39, 41....at 36mph. It's effortless. It's amazing.

[B_S]

True @Texas6, but when you understand the sport, it is truly a beautiful thing to watch Nate ski.

[jipster43]

@MattP @Texas6 my comment was tongue in cheek! It's phenomenal that Nate has gotten into 43 so friggin often.

[Razorskier1]

I really notice on this video one thing that I've worked on. Nate doesn't "drop in" after the hook up. In my early years in this sport I got in a habit of dropping away from the boat at the hook up. On PP, that's fine, the boat doesn't kill you for it. On ZO it doesn't work at all!!!

 

This year Chet had me working on being taller and more on top of the ski approaching the ball, but I was still sometimes screwing up my harder passes by "dropping in" afterwards at the hook up. Recently I've really focused on staying up so that my body position/angle to the water going into the ball is the same body position/angle to the water at the hook up -- muoy bueno! Nate is the best at that!

[Stevie Boy]

Amazing ! slightly off subject, we all know Nate Smith is special, but I do not see much of a buzz around the D3 Quest, a lot on the forum surrounding HO , Mapple, Goode, I should imagine the D3 sales should pickup on the back of the video.

Your Thoughts ?

[ozski]

You would think more people will take a serious look at the Quest now, it has the runs on the board. Probably more -41's run on it than any other ski...

[rockdog]

@stevieboy @ozski, if we're honest the look of a ski is always considered. Since I'm in the graphic game, I consider the Quest to be the worst looking ski since I can't remember what. I would have sacked myself for coming up with those graphics.

[ForrestGump]

Nate is just so efficient. KLP was telling us this weekend that a good turn is defined by whether or not it puts you in a position to accelerate efficiently at the finish. Nate is ALWAYS ready to accelerate, even at 41 off.

 

@Stevie Boy and @ozski Considering he's only been on a Quest for a season, there's no way it's close to the most 41's on a ski. Also, you're not even sure that's a Quest. The Radar guys were on the vapor which still looked like a Strada long before the vapor came out. Same with the top HO guys. Willy was on an A3 that looked like an A2 long before the A3 came out. I'd never recommend buying because of what someone else is riding, but buying because you tried something and it fit your skiing style.

[ral]

@Shaneh, the Quest rocks, record or not...

 

Jokes apart, I am pretty sure it is a Quest. And I agree with you, although the arrow helps, there is an exceptional indian in this case.

[mwetskier]

@jpster43 -thanks for the laugh and the coffee i spit all over my keyboard.

[Stevie Boy]

@ShaneH Totally agree with you, I was just musing the fact that you do not hear or see much about the Quest, Top ski, Top quality ski manafacturer, D3 skis used to be everywhere, not the case at the moment.

[Steven_Haines]

D3 dominates our dock in Canyon Lake! You can't get away from them!

[Spesh]

@shaneh A little birdy told me that Nate is on a Quest, but that D3 had to make about 200 of them before he found one that worked for him at 41off

[ToddL]

I'm sure with any ski, no two off the line are prefectly alike in flex. Frustrating for those who can't have the opportunity to try 200 flex patterns before selecting the one that fits best. In general when a new ski takes a new approach to design (width, steps, rails, diff rocker, etc.), the impact that change can be pretty consistent from ski to ski. The flex (and fin settings) can be the variable that makes one ski feel better than another. All this makes it hard for average folk to predict that ski "X" will work for them based upon other skiers' reviews on the exact same make/model. Ride before you buy has to be the new norm for investing in new skis. Also, consider that you might need to think about trying two of the same model ski if you are that intense with your selection/purchase...

[ktm300]

The skis sent out for review aren't from the reject pile. One ski that comes to mind was commonly referred to as the NASCAR ski off the message boards. On the boards, it was the next best thing. The best review is your own.