skidawg

Shane,

I ran another 1.5@41, gettin a start just not executin into two, it's comin around though, the la crew will definately make it over for some 6rnd action next yr

Bmiller,

how did ur last rnd go? Super nice site, had a great time at JJJ. Puttin it on my calander for next yr

Bmiller3536,

How's JJJ ski? Hope it's soweet, weather forcast is awesome

done

Ward McLain - I'm a 40 yr old MM slalom skier (former 3-eventer), I am self employed.  I live in Bossier City, LA.  My lake/ski club is Olde Oaks (horton recently renamed it Old Ward's Pond).  We live about 5 minutes away from JD's lake; Cottonwood.  Naturally we are a bit blessed/spoiled because of two awesome lakes one north-south, one east-west (almost always good conditions between one of the two lakes.  I learned how to slalom at five yrs old (recreational skier my whole life) on a public lake in arkansas.  I was so small my dad had to sit on the back of his fishing boat and hold the rope over his head so i could cross the wakes while my sister was driving the boat.  I learned how to run the slalom course at 18 at Louisiana Tech University (jump and trick also).  Horton, smart and several other top level skiers were at NLU 30 minutes away, but we never took advantage of their knowledge. After teaching myself for 5 yrs of college and a brief 3 years away from skiing while in grad school and first job, i have spent the last 15 plus yrs retraining my brain and body (for those of you who don't think you are good enough to spend money on quality coaching, get it if you can, much easier to start the right way). 

A little skiing back ground, (not nearly as impressive as our leader) but here it goes from memory:

skied my first regionals my last year in men I ( skied all three events, drug slalom as my weak event). Didn't qualify for nat's (1995).

First nationals was in 1996 (destin, FL) jump only-qualified on placement in regionals.  Skied overall in every nationals after that until the last one in BAKO (2001?)  I have several regional overall/jump titles in MII (even one reg trick title one year-funny because i am not a good tricker, pb prolly 3000 pts best ever).  I have placed nationals in overall, trick, jump and slalom. Senior slalom judge

My tourney PB in MensII: 165' jump (5.5-35mph), tricks 3000pts, slalom 5 @ 39'off-36mph

My tourney PB in MensIII/MM:  3@41'off-34mph.  (quit jumping/tricking last two yrs MII-still overall at regionals but was pretty much done).  I will still strap on a trick for some trick slalom action (taking JTH down at the bash).

I have skied a few Big Dawgs (lots o fun) but family/business has kept me from going at it full on.  Looking forward to hitting more of them next year with full focus.  Big thanks to JD and his crew for givin me an alternative place to ski when I shorten up.

I have a beautiful wife who skis (tourney PB 1/2 or 1 @ 35 off, not sure) and three kids, (17 yr old boy, 8 yr old boy & 2 yr old girl).  all three ski, oldest skis course occassionally (not his gig), 8 yr old got into tourneys this yr w/ a tourney pb of 4 @ 30 mph long line, and two yr old girl loves to ski down the lake when ever dad will pull her.  My wife loves triathlons, road races, adventure races, Mountain bike races, just about anything that can be raced, she loves it.  I do a few tri's early season to stay inshape for skiing. (did half ironman last yr), but I prefer MTB.  We do a 70mi mtb race in march in ARK every year (6200 feet of vertical climbing-monster ride).

I ride the 68" elite, best ski made in my opinion for 34 if you are 190lbs plus!  GO Team ELITE!

I am looking forward to the BALLER'S BASH and putting a face with the BS'ers I don't know.

The rules have always seemed to b set up for

trying to make the skier fail, this is a hard sport that always ends in failure, most judges make it worse, baseball rule, tie goes to the runner, rules should be for the skier, close or iffy, skier, huge miss cut em, my two cents?