MI3Eventer

@Rednucleus someone always has extra beers in their truck. Not sure it would be a tournament otherwise.

Always looking for more ways to make the local Class C tournaments more fun and engaging. We all know while we love our sport, it is like a track meet sometimes if you are waiting around all day to ski. Lately at tournaments there has been a major push to make sure there are sound systems with announcers and music and the tournament vibe improves dramatically. Now our state waterski association has purchased sound systems that are made available for LOCs to help grow the sport (great use of state funds and I'd vote to spend that money 100 times over). One added benefit of the announcer is that it truly does help speed up the tournament. Between waking college kids up from their naps to ski, and making sure judges are aware of where we are in the running order the communication helps exponentially. Who else have had similar experiences? What other ideas are out there to improve the downtime??

Bent handles are now available! https://slinesusa.com/collections/handles

Generally that's a jump switch problem, might be time for a new one.

I have never been one to mess with fin settings, learning the course I took the wing off and put it back on when I started getting consistent into 32 -15. The skiers at my club seem to know ALOT about fin settings and I want to get the basics so I can at least be a bit more knowledgeable. Without a novel can someone help explain terms like: Long, Shallow, Wing Angle and what changes do what to how the ski reacts?

I'd reiterate @jgills88, my college team always did size L Wiley super jumps, big enough for the big ploppers, tight enough for those with small feet. Also the socks statement is spot on. I think we had a female jumper with a size 6 womens and she said they were plenty good for her (she was a showskier though so I guess she wouldn't complain if she was swimming in them). When we were down at Bennetts and Jay was coaching new jumpers he actually had different bindings special for new jumpers that were loose because he didn't want ankles to be broken.

Not sure if it's on google marketplace! I am a sucker for iPhone and haven't checked!

There is also an app you can download on iOS "TrickSkiCalculator"

Zip ties fix all

Just switched from an eagle to camaro this season, after trying one of my ski partners camaro vest. Love the fit and feel, but most importantly I love the padding. I tend to get some lean lock situations and my ribs have hit the wake quite a few times. The camaro padding has been the most protective vest I have used, and I love how it gives plenty of shoulder flexibility.

@bojans Have him be a secretary for a trick caller and then help reconcile pink sheets. If he can reconcile he'll pick it up so much faster. USA Waterski also has practice videos online for calling that show how the run was called. Test him on these with the link below: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Water-Ski/Three-Event-Water-Skiing/Officials

Just got my waters westuits jumpsuit this year to replace my old barefoot suit! So far so good I like the construction and design and it has a good price point.

You can get discounted Delta flights through this link. https://www.teamusa.org/usa-water-ski/about-us/our-sponsors

The best driving instruction I received was from @kurt and that was right hand always throttle, left elbow resting on your left thigh/knee and holding the wheel at about 7:00 or 8:00. When I drove with two hands I over corrected and this fixed that issue, especially in the newer MCs it's very easy to over steer with how well they hold the line. Pulling a big jumper though once I am lined up though it's two hands through the course or they will pull you out of line.

@RAWSki....will build for free lodging and sets....

Handles are now available for order! 3-4 week lead time.......very excited to try Scott has put a lot of time and thought into these to make sure they are the best! What colors are people getting?? https://slinesusa.com/products/12-competition-handle-straight?variant=43630361903352

As stated I think it always depends on how much layout you're working with, but if I were to do it I'd do no turn island even though I think they look great if done right. Rationale for me is for tournaments that adds time to every skier to circle the island instead of shooting straight into the course. I ski at a site with a pretty short setup on one end and we have plenty of short line 36 mph skiers who have time to get up and ready (helps having that 6.0L MC)

@MISkier confirmed the "prototype" was used at the last MI tournament. Our club has been using that newer model since mid-August I believe, and it was well received. I also love how bright the colors are and the grey mainline looks sharp.

What are people using for jump anchor lines? We have cranks with rope going through pulles that attach to screw in anchors. Looking to get something a bit more secure than the rope that we are using. Any luck using steel cables?

Around the midwest it seems to be a mix. We are lucky to have two MCs and 1 CC in Michigan. In other midwest states it has been a mix of club and personal boats added into that.

Quick poll on tournament participation this year. I have been involved in some tournaments and I feel numbers are down this year. Anyone else feeling this way?

@Sedge when are you gonna have me try some new stuff?

@kurt hahaha bombshell dropped.

@BigSpray not sure how saying "Frankly it just sucked" in another thread is not bashing it but I guess we have a different definition of bashing.