cruznski

Skiied yesterday and today, first rides of the season.

a very good question. In ski boots it is all transferred via the front and back binding. I recall where Andy cut out a foot hole in the plate and his (front) foot was on the ski, perhaps ages ago but.. If you have an elastomer pad, an stiff or stiffer plate, a reflex type boot, maybe an orthotic or at least molded liner and then that the plate is screwed on to the top layer of the ski.. well who knows that answer. I think plateless would be great.

Delta Fall Open drone shot

@BraceMaker Ok yes I get the stainless screws into the inserts. I have the stock Reflex (large which is better as there are more screws) plate Plus the thin rubber layer that they provided when I went Reflex. My advice from better skiers than I were yes that is good. SO now you have an elastomeric material under the plate (as a lot of plates do) and then the back is a Wiley- different Aluminum plate.... but same screws and inserts. I think this is an opportunity for the industry-- make larger way more robust binding attach to ski in metric with micro- just included. And it should include a mid balance point on the top of the ski like snow skis do. So any ski shop tech could mount it up. I actually tried lock nut washers years ago. But if I have to consider blue or red loctite I am out on this discussion as a solution.

Thanks for that @aupatking I am up early as my dog got up to go out at the usual time. a couple years ago the old Leverage I had the wrap ripped. A ski pal had a very unused one and that's the one I have now. There was a funny day where I then cut the old one down to much lower to try that out. The thing was the loops and all were gone so I had a shoehorn to get it on. It was goofy and the crew thot it was pretty ridiculous. Anyway one set on that idea back then. Another question and you can see this esp with the ladies, does anyone deliberately get on their rear toes approaching the buoy? All you RTP skiers?

It does feel less restrictive.

On the Wiley as soon as I got up it was easier to hop the wake as I was going around the island and all that- it just felt like I had more ski control. Not that I am jumping the wake sort of skipping over it. Also on my on side I could just finish the turn harder or get a bit more around. On my offside first pass I turned in too early at 2 sort of like ooops. And I like the toes sticking out, the feel of that. The Leverage at this point the rubber is pretty hard, and it is a much higher wrap if you will.

And another thing that is ridiculous is that the standard screw/inserts we use you actually have to check them daily. And inserts come out a lot. This is on a product that now costs $2000. Sheeesh.

I totally agree that the 'universal' plate increments of adjust are ridiculous. And that the micro-just is a great invention.

That is a great set up and property, really nice. That there is bass fishing is a huge plus for me. The wooded surrounds look great.

I imagine this has been discussed. I went to Reflex (white cuff) in early 2020, and in August that year got a 67" D3 ion which I still have and still love. I have had an old (back lace up)) D3 leverage as the back binding since then. I never tighten the laces. Here as the season winds down one of my ski partners had a rear Wiley (Hard core) and I put that on 2nd set yesterday, and I liked it more immediately. I feel kind of neglectful for not trying more binding set ups. I like that my toes stick out more and it just seems easier to turn the ski. I have seen various rear binding set ups with Reflex front but wanted to get your all's feedback on this esp if you have tried a lot of variations. At one point I tried a kicker but it felt so weird and I was not skiing that often I did not stick with it at the time it would take to get used to it. I see some very old back set ups that people seem to like (like HO animals). And for end of season I just went to full wet suit yesterday. We still have ski time time left here.

D3 Ion first year run 67". 5+ years now I think. More ski than I need... but maybe here season end will check out the NRG and Neo.

Howdy Ballers, So this weekend Berkeley Water Ski Club and West Collegiate skiing hosted a tournament at Jovia Pond, and this was special. In addition to the great 3 event skiing the crew recreated the most famous broadcast TV water ski event ever from the 1977 Fonz Jump the Shark episode. This was no small feat, and was accomplished by Wendy Clark, former Marine World show skier as Pinkie Atascadero, Josh Johnson jumping as the Fonz and the finale Daredevil Doug Klang reenacting Evel Knievel's motorcycle shark jump. Pinky's landing.MOV Dont do it.MOV Jump the Shark.mp4 It was insane fun and too many people to thank for it. For some young first time tournament attendees were asking are all the tournament this fun? And the food was terrific too. Pinky's passby.MOV Jump the Shark Event Poster v4.pdf

This is the boat you learned to slalom behind

@lpskierNorthland Shark was groovy. I had a Cut N Jump Larry Penacho (i think ) ski - ash with mahogany stripes. Also you are an old fart if yur inboard had a chrome stick coming out of the floor that was forward neutral and reverse and a foot pedal for throttle.

@dave2ball While more Central CA the Far West Water Ski Club has been operating a course (which moves around depending on water level) at Lake Nacimiento since 1979. But yes public water courses are increasingly rare.

@dave2ball totally agree the Delta really isn't gross. This year it has been higher and more current from the incredible rain and snowfall. The photo was morning of July 4 at the Berkeley site. I don't know how many will see this but that site skis great, at times like in this photo. I know of several who have skied PBs there. Bob Hardeman set a Men 8 regional record at the site last fall.

Mid season news from the NorCal area, the Santa Clara Waterski Club Pond has been drained (again). The Pond has been drained to rebuild the dam at this pond in concert with the Anderson Reservoir Dam retrofit Project. I attach photo of the last day I skied there Jun 16 and then July 8th when a crew went out and pulled the course (all Wally buoys with custom subfloats that adjust to water depth). So the dam rebuild will take a year we are out for now but it was great while it lasted. This was the 50th year the club has operated at this site. You will find us at the Delta (Berkeley Water Ski Club) and some of the other fab ski sites in the greater area.

This video just knocked me out. I grew up back east, and came to CA in late 1978 - Long Beach- as I was out of college and after a year or two ski bumming in CO I got a job at McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach. I lived in Naples area of Long Beach , anyway there was a ski club there- Long Beach Golden West water ski Club and the marine stadium was the first place I ever water skied in CA. I know there are you out there who recall that place- we used to hold tournaments there (it's salt water). To their credit that's some awesome skiing behind an outboard. Anyone done a back barefoot step off lately? I liked the Boat O on the tricks too. At the very beginning there's a drag speed boat idling around- the Marine Stadium was a famous venue for boat racing (and speed skiing) back in the day, thanks for posting.

@michaelgoodman yes drought conditions prevented getting water to source coyote creek and the main driver is that Anderson Reservoir dam is being rebuilt so it had been drained.

After almost two years, we are back at the Santa Clara County WaterSki club pond. With a lot of in water work the course was installed last week and yours truly got the first ride on sunday. This is the 50th year of the club and we are very excited to be back. And thanks to the crew for all the work.

@lpskier so i got out the tape measure and very close to 12" it is now. I had not heard that guidance on the spread so thanks. This brings up the ski spec which we have had forever the distance from the back of the ski to the back of the binding, it is one number like 30" for example. Is that correct for all size feet? Maybe it is if the heels are the same distance apart as in the above.

first a tribute to BOS in that I knew this topic had been covered and it was easy to find and very informative. Like many on this thread, I had my rear boot so my toes were at the front horseshoe heel for ever. I even would cut the rear plate in front to get them as close together as I could. I wear size 12 shoes. I thought that was it, over the years. This season I talked with and noticed that a lot of skiers had more space than that, or distance, than none. So I tried it- moved the rear boot back one hole here in the fall and indeed it was upon getting up there was a sense of more stability. I have left it there and skied last tournament this way. Also as explained in the thread my onside is more easily aggressive. So at this point at the end of the season, I am leaving the ski as it was setup all year with that one change to start next year just as it was. I was wondering if since the time this thread started the skis have a longer or larger 'sweet spot' and maybe a bit more spacing is a good thing.Thanks to the expertise on this thread and on BOS generally and Happy Holidays. And PS I wonder if older skiers (admittedly I am M7) run more distance than they did back in their younger days?

went free skiing on the Delta yesterday to wind up the year. We found a long stretch on Old River with minimal water hyacinths. So this ends 2022 with 100 sets for the year.

@Alberto Soares You have a good point on the rear binding being held by just the two back inserts. Especially as they come today -they are enough to hold a plate when 6-8 are screwed down but the forces on that rear in a fall are great. and yes the top actual composite is thin (esp on Goodes) skied Goodes for a long while so I think your concern is warranted. Maybe Reflex has tested all this but it seems like you ought to have a better grade insert on the ski too for that set up. And the force is impulse like when you have to release- breaks stiff stuff fast.