Baller_ swbca Posted January 24, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) In the history of competitive water skiing, the standards for boats, drivers and equipment have evolved from no standards to extremely high standards. A few BOS members have been top level drivers and skiers in their their lifetime. Some had this experience a long time ago and some are currently tournament driver's. Maybe someone was desperate for a practice driver and you were the only choice. Maybe it was last year or decades ago. This a poll to share your experience driving the World's best skiers at any time or under any circumstance. Edited January 24, 2023 by swbca 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 24, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted January 24, 2023 Only a Senior Worlds Slalom Champion (65+) - and only tournaments before and after, not during. I've driven a couple ranked Open Men skiers (practice and tournaments) who subsequently made it into the 2018 America's Cup Finals. Have pulled both into -41 and one with a tournament 3@-41. 2 The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted January 24, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) found this today as I get started on my post (going on 5 years) hurricane annual spring cleaning. this from when we were developing the 196 / 206 Andy was one of my our test athletes. his notes on testing. the manager of our department was adamant about documentation. Edited January 24, 2023 by Jody_Seal 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller aupatking Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 I pulled Freddie through -39 right after he won worlds @MISkier you still pulling Cale? I enjoyed skiing behind you when I was in your neighborhood. I’m hoping to get back there. I love that lake (Tivoli) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ swbca Posted January 24, 2023 Author Baller_ Share Posted January 24, 2023 I drove for two World Champs when they had no choice and it's ancient history. I had no tournament qualifications as a driver. I was attending the Roberge ski School in Florida. Tom King the water ski photographer of that era showed up to shoot photos of Karen Roberge for a wet suit manufacturer. At the time I was the only person on site who could drive. No big deal but it was fun the meet Tom and Karen. After Mickey Amsbry won the world trick title he took a real job with General Mills in Minneapolis. He needed a place to ski. He came to our place every weekday morning at 7:30am before work for two summers. I pulled him on Tricks and Slalom each day for two summers. I learned a lot about skiing and skiing "attitude from this Hall of Famer. Regarding "standards", we were skiing behind my parents Glastron IO. We both were practicing into 1@36off at 36mph back before Metric. We timed every pass, but its now hard to imaging skiing behind a Glastron IO. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 24, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted January 24, 2023 @aupatking, I haven't driven for Cale in a while. He moved on from Tivoli to another location with a couple of our former club members. I drive for @Triplettquite a bit, though. 1 The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldmanskier Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 I pulled Jamie Beauchesne a couple of times years ago when he would stay at our lake to get ready for the Masters. I pulled Nate at Sawmill several years ago due to no one else was at the dock and he asked me to pull him. To my surprise he ran 41 with me driving. I pull a lot of people at No Wake but pulling people at Jamie and Nate's level is a whole different feel than pulling your average 35/38 off skier. I knew that I was not the caliper of driver these guys were used too. But both were very nice and thanked me for pulling them. Tom Smothers (oldmanskier) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller markn Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 In tournaments, Karina Nolan, Kristy Overton, Will Asher, T-gas and practice, Andy Mapple and Chris Parrish. What a privilege it was to drive for them. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller markn Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) Opps! Forgot Joel Howley and Jon Travers (when he was a junior). Edited January 25, 2023 by markn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BKistler Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 I drove Cory Pickos a couple of times for the AWSA trick series photo shoot. I drove Ricky McCormick a few times for trick practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller kc Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 Two. Bob LaPoint in the mid-70s, and Nate, a few years ago. Both were practice sets at my, at the time, home sites, here in Indiana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted January 24, 2023 Administrators Share Posted January 24, 2023 I voted none but I bet I drove Corey once or twice the summer I was there but trick driving does not really count. I may have also driven for Jimmy Siemers on a tube. Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes ★ Baller Video Coaching System Become a Supporting Member or make a One-time Donation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 503Kento Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 I’ve driven none but my old 1985 Ski Centurion pulled Glen Thurlow a few months after he went 205’. He put on a little slalom exhibition at a novice tournament we were putting on. I could have drove but wanted to watch the skiing so let my buddy Warren do the driving. His comments after his opening -22 was (in a thick Aussie accent) “those wakes are enormous”. 1 Get high, Get fast, and do some good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Alvin_Neff Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 Helena Kjellander in practice. Adam Sedlmajer at Collegiate Regionals, Mandy Nightengale in practice and Record tournaments, Adam Pickos in a Record tournament, and Sir Andy Mapple several times in practice❤️ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ETskier Posted January 24, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2023 I would never pretend to claim I'm a great driven. I'm ok at best. However I get very few opportunities to drive really good skiers. I did have the honor of pulling collegiate champion Cale, thru 39 in practice right before he won again. Pulled Brad Brascho thru 39 in men's 3 in a pretty hard rain in a class C. Both were in the perfect pass days. The point is, for, me, it seemed easier to get in rythem and feel with really good skiers. Hats off to those who have successfully pulled guys like Freddie and Mike Kjelander. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Kelvin Posted January 25, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2023 I voted 3, but went back to count and its more like 6. Andy at one of his clinics, Freddie, Manon, Dorien, Jaimee and Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya at collegiate tournaments in the SCR. If you include U17, U21 and Senior World champions, the list gets long pretty fast with all of the collegiate talent in the SCR. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Roger Posted January 30, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 30, 2023 Andy Mapple in practice. Kris LaPoint in tournaments. Freddie Winter in practice. Nate Smith in practice. Regina Jaquess in practice. Don't think she was ever world champion, but pulled Karina Nowlan in 2011 to a tie of the Australian record (1@41 off). 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Nando Posted January 30, 2023 Baller Share Posted January 30, 2023 I originally read the poll wrong but there's a big difference between "open division" and "world champions". As far as open skiers, for me it's more than six for me but not "too many to remember". During the old days of the pro tour, I got to drive a bunch of practice rounds and some media runs. (Dating an open woman in the '80s gave me a chance to drive for her a lot😉.) I think my count of 5 world champions is close. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ DW Posted January 31, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted January 31, 2023 For those that have pulled numerous champs, your expertise and commentary would be a top read on this forum, not only that 'I pulled xxx' but adding concise descriptions and feedback on the details of the how to's. Schnitz did a nice boat driver checklist/best practices write up several years ago. Behind the wheel and holding the handle commentary would make good reads. Fun poll:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ mike_mapple Posted February 1, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted February 1, 2023 (edited) On 1/24/2023 at 11:19 AM, Jody_Seal said: found this today as I get started on my post (going on 5 years) hurricane annual spring cleaning. this from when we were developing the 196 / 206 Andy was one of my our test athletes. his notes on testing. the manager of our department was adamant about documentation. 🤣 I hated when he wrote notes for anything and I had to read. if he was really thinking you could barely read it sometimes I put to many to remember, even when I was younger, but to this day, the hardest person I have ever driven is either Tom Brantley, or Jeff Rodgers, both are strong as Bulls, and no matter how late they got the pull on the boat was crazy. A few times for Parrish he almost yanked me around. Edited February 1, 2023 by mike_mapple 6 Performance Ski and Surf Mike@perfski.com 👾 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Industry Professional Adam Caldwell Posted February 1, 2023 Industry Professional Share Posted February 1, 2023 @m_deel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LK_skier Posted February 1, 2023 Baller Share Posted February 1, 2023 I drive for Joel Howley regularly. Its pretty cool to drive for such a talented skier especially at 41. He was very patient with me learning the skills to drive consistently well. And he is so in tune with his skiing that he can feel the driver good and bad and give really good feedback. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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