Bang For Your Buck Performance Gains

[ozski]

We all want to improve so where is the best place to spend your money to increase your buoy count?

 

Coaching lessons - $60 - $90 a set and more often than not good value and you always come away with something to focus on. Even if you go backwards to move forward.

 

Equipment - New ski - $1500 upwards - Getting a new ski is nice but it does not always mean better skiing, it does not hurt to skip a year here and there. $1500 = a lot of coaching

 

Equipment - New boots - $300 upwards - Boots and the way they are setup can have a big impact on how you ski and safety so investing in the best setup you can afford is a no brainer.

 

Equipment - Denali CG Fin - $150 - Possibly the best investment to performance gain in dollar terms going around right now for shortline skiers.

 

Equipment - New Boat - $100,000 ish - Nothing to see here sorry

 

Physical Conditioning - $0 - very little - For some skiers getting in shape and dropping some weight will deliver a significant gain at a low cost. Do it.

 

Private Lake - Good training conditions help a lot, a private lake is a sound investment and a must have. :)

 

Beer - It helps you forget the money you wasted so whilst not actually a performance gain it can help reset your brain after a bad day at the lake and some of us need that.

 

 

[A_B]

Liposuction. Priceless!

[BraceMaker]

A spotter.

[Rednucleus]

I find scotch works better/faster than beer

[ski6jones]

Once you have access and a well setup ski it's coaching and water time. Ski and get good instruction as often as possible.

My current boat is 17yo and not holding me back. New boats are nicer, sure, but priorities.

[jhughes]

Coaching only works if you get the right coach AND have the focus and discipline to reinforce it before you get distracted by the next shiny object on BOS, your ski crew, or wherever else. One second you’re focusing on the gate from your coaching session and then somebody posts about stack or counter rotation and you wonder why you lost another season of progress come fall.

[Chef23]

Between a gym membership and potentially a trainer getting in shape isn't free. It could still be one of your best investments though. Not as easy or as much fun as buying a ski though.

[6balls]

Listening to or reading the posts of skiers at or above your level. They may say stuff in different ways...and sooner or later something sticks to the wall and a light bulb goes off. After that it's water time...and that's fun.

This forum is free, and I've found more than a ton of good theory on it.

[Horton]

Wise guidance, professional or not, is needed by most skiers I know. Unwise guidance, free or not, is on every dock, in every boat and easy to find in this forum*.

 

Good advice is the best ROI possible.

 

*makes me sad

[Bruce_Butterfield]

1 buoy for every 5 lbs of excess body weight.

 

Still trying to figure out the buoys vs age formula.

[Horton]

@Bruce_Butterfield lighter and leaner is definitely better but that one buoy for every 5 lb rule is something somebody just made up. I mean I guess it's a good aspirational message but it's about as accurate as a horoscope.

[DW]

@ozski: Not a significant item, but a reasonably fresh rope feels much better than one that is stiff and perhaps a more comfortable handle can help. On the boat side, optimizing wake performance via proper weight balance and leaving excess stuff on the dock can help. If an older boat, you can do some mods to improve the wake or even go the ZO update route.

[Zman]

Good coaching and more video.

I have everything else except the fin.

Maybe beers after being horribly humbled by the video.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

@horton just because I made something up doesn't mean its wrong. At least within +/-4 lbs. Geez.

[gapullin]

I feel like this post started as a humorous take on performance improvement, and gradually became a bit more literal and serious than the poster intended?

[ScottScott]

Extra buoys is the only reason I'm loosing weight. Down 15 lbs so far.....counting on those 3 buoys.....ha.

[Chef23]

I lost 30 pounds a few years ago and didn't pick up 6 buoys. I picked up maybe 3 on average. I did feel much better skiing and in general though.

[ALPJr]

I found the virtual video training with Terry Winter @twhisper to be a tremendous value.

[skialex]

Ski tuning, as many as possible ski pulls and lessons and of course beer!!!

[Drago]

Fitness

Discipline

Good driving

Fin knowledge

MasterLine rope < 60 sets

[Chef23]

Skiing with better skiers than you is huge as well. It helps get some good feedback.

[powbmps]

Where can you get the Denali CG fin for $150?

[ozski]

Ok my mistake price is $199 on the fin. https://www.denaliskis.com/online-store/ Still worth it.

[DaveD]

5lbs/bout? Crap. I could lose half my weight and I'd still suck.

 

Looks like I'm going to need some coaching.

[E_T]

Adjustable submersible course by remote +12 bouys

[Horton]

@E_T Funny but no

[Zman]

Video continues to be both a good learning tool, and reason to drink.

Should have done this more a lot sooner since I usually only ski with one other.

Lately, even when I feel like my skiing was kinda good, video shows a lot of garbage going on.

And, since I'm using a pylon mount, my slack on 2 and 4 is horribly evident. No camera shake 1,3 and 5. But, I bang it bad on 2,4. And, I'm RFF.

So, during this cool season, I'm working on tight line for onside turns. Proof will be no camera shake on both sides.

[Stevie Boy]

Free skiing, learn how your ski works, learn good body position, learn how to let your ski turn, learn good balance, Lucky Lowe Style, he consistently produces good skiers by just drilling them on open water before they get any where near the course.