Shortenit

Hard to even type this but here goes....3 days before the flight to my first Nationals in 2018, I had a freak infection of severe bacterial meningitis. Lodged in my lower spine. After 24 hours of multiple IV lines of antibiotics not working I was 2 hours from dying according to my medical team. Emergency neurosurgery to clean out infection. 2nd surgery on spine about a month later when a dura leak of spinal fluid occurred that was sucking the spinal cord nerves out of my vertebra. Pain off the charts and no painkillers worked with any effectiveness. If surgery hadn't worked I planned to immediately move to Oregon..... Blessed that surgery was successful and that I had the best doctors in the world. I am left with 20% feeling in left foot, 65% in right. (I'm RFF thankfully). Also various body/digestive functions compromised. Maybe from meningitis, maybe surgery trauma. Doesn't matter, grateful to all to survive. Years of PT, nerve/epilepsy drugs, multiple doctors continue to this day with limited effect, and will keep trying everything. By the Grace of God I am alive and have a very good quality of life. On the water very carefully 1 year later for a couple runs. Have the best ski partners in the world. Skied regularly in 2020. This year back to running an occasional 32off and planning for more which remarkably is close to where I was pre-sickness. Apparently full feeling in your feet is overrated in slalom. :) Still love skiing and hope to do a tournament this year, and if not, for sure next year. Can't drink much alcohol because of constant medications but cheat occasionally with a beer, wine, margarita, or martini if available!. MRI image is spinal cord nerves being pulled out by leak.

The Masters has to improve the webcast. Pathetic in comparison to TWBC quality.

SP Skis from Cyprus

Sold and being shipped to shufflehuff today.

Brand new condition, still in original packing. Standard clamp. $100 plus shipping. From ski-doc site: Fits most recent tournament ski boats. Does not fit Wakeboard towers. Mastercraft: 1990 - 1996 - Special clamp 1-3/8" 1997 - 2020 - Standard clamp 2" Ski Nautique: 1992 - 2001 - Special clamp 2-1/2" 2002 - 2020 - Standard clamp 2" Centurion: 2000-present Standard clamp 2" The Camera Mount comes with the standard 2" clamp, if you do not select a special clamp. (smartphone and/or GoPro style adapters are not included)

Never had the privilege to meet, but an inspiring man nevertheless. Godspeed.

SOLD!!!

Just went to M7 this last season, 32 mph. Ski into 35off. Previously always rode a 67" at 165-167 lbs, 34mph. After near fatal illness just days before 2018 NATS and a lost 2019 season, my new standard weight is 153. Love the ION-S. But found I had a little better buoy count with a 66". Being lighter now the shorter ski works great and is a little more nimble. Coming off an ARC-S. ION-S is better in every way. If I weighed the same I'd have probably stuck with the 67".

2020 67" D3 ION-S. Essentially Brand New, 4 careful sets. No dings, scratches, marks, nothing. Perfect condition, photo's available on Ski-it Again or I can send. It was a little too long for me, I went with a 66". $1100 firm and I'll pay shipping to a Baller.

Appears to be a defect in all the Faria gauges for that year.

Nothing to report from here. I do have a new mechanic that insists he can put the computer on it and tell me the hours from the ECM. I’m going to see if that’s true and will post the answer. And Doesn’t help the gauge reading though. I know my boat is over 2K hours and would like to know exactly what they are. And so if I ever sell it I can have it read again for the buyer.

Check and make sure it’s compatible with your boat setup.

I have a stargazer in my ‘07 Nautique right alongside the ZO. Wife “hated” ZO when it first came out so bought and installed the Stargazer just for her. Of course eventually she got used to the ZO and never looked back. ? Been meaning to remove it for a couple years now but never got around to it. Be happy to sell it real cheap but here in the northeast the boat is in winter storage and shrink wrapped. If you are still interested in April I will take it out (actually will take it out anyway, thanks for the prod), just let me know and we’ll figure something out.

If it wasn’t for family in the NE I’d have been there long ago. ?

My understanding is there is at least 25 slalom courses within an hour of Sacramento. That may be more than in the entire multi-state New England area. Time to move I’m thinking.

Skied amazing too.

Has anyone been out there yet? Just saw that Sunset Ski Ranch outside of Sacramento has new owners but looks to be the same awesome lake and site. Now called Valensin Ski Ranch, https://valensinskiranch.com/. I loved it there, looks just as spectacular, will go back again this fall/winter and check it out. Looks like a few changes, Mastercraft boat now. And even more accommodation choices, the main house is now available to stay in, and the loft too. Apparently Paul Crawford will be coaching with Ryan Canepa and Ryan Nason doing some of the driving. I've been coached by Paul before, great coach, very insightful and down to earth. Glad that after Robby and Doug moved on it's still a premier waterski site and wasn't kept private or turned into something else.

Sorry for your loss. But clearly his presence will continue to always be felt. What a legacy he left in descendants and accomplishments. Inspiring.

I skied behind my 41' offshore back in the day. On the Hudson River no less. Went under the George Washington, Tappan Zee, and Bear Mountain bridges. (But not continuously). Wake crossings weren't as bad as you'd think, but the wakes from passing ships were another thing entirely.......

A big guy I would occasionally pull really loaded the rope on his starts. Warned him he needed to stop dragging and get up faster or I was done driving him. Very next start he pops the handle and I end up with 6 staples to close the cut in the back of my head. He did improve his starts a lot after that but it wasn't me pulling him.

Agreed.

Will let you know if I learn anything else. Still being told they are working on an answer. We'll see.

Have same problem on my 07 196. My dealer contacted Nautique and was also told to try a new gateway box. They did and there was no change so I wouldn't spend your money on a gateway box. Further inquiries with Nautique and PCM have not been fruitful except that they will investigate and get back to us if they come up with anything. Only real answer suggested seems to be a new engine ECU which is out of the question.

Nothing but class from Freddie Winter.

Sold! But I found yet another shock tube/rope/carabiner assembly, also brand new. Amazing what you accumulate and forget about. Anyone interested let me know.