Bill Gladding

No courses I knew of when I lived there in there in the mid 80s. I used to free ski in Mud Keys and Snipe Keys just east of Key West on the Gulf side. I waterskied from Cape Romano Island to Ft Myers Beach one time behind a 34 foot lobster boat. That was a mistake because by the time I got back aboard the pony keg was afloat:( My biggest ride was a 63' commercial fishing boat that belonged to US Customs. I skied behind it off Stock Island after I put the running gear back on it. That ended in a back flip due to a two foot chop. It was a mercy fall though because my eyes were burning from the soot put out by a pair of 12 cylinder diesels that were powering the thing. Smoothest big boat ride was behind a 53 footer with only one 12 cylinder diesel. It was in the channel between Stock Island and Boca Chica by the Naval Air Station. The boat went 20 something and the wakes were huge but had no lip so it was like going over rolling hills. I made the boat so that was kind of cool too:)

It's new years so I am thinking in liters:) hic...

Neoprene sleeves with the hole over the patellae have helped me. Seems keeping pressure on it helps hold down inflammation and if there is tendinitis it holds the frayed parts together so they can mend.

I really really liked having the Radar double boots but couldn't deal with the rear after I figured my feet were probably more than an inch further apart. I tried different boot spacing with double Wileys and found close was better but couldn't get near that with double Stradas. Now have front Strada and rear wiley high wrap. Ditto on figure out where your front ankle is relative to your other boot setup and go with that. FWIW I also use a 13/14 size binding. At 6'2" 205 lbs 55K I am a little heavy for my 67 Elite. I think bigger feet probably need to be closer together so they don't get too far off the reservation and goof up ski performance. It would be sweet to be about 170 lbs with size ten feet...

It may not have been so close when it was built. Adjustable mounts have rubber insulators so the weight of the engine pushing down and water pushing up on hull may have caused the distance to shrink over time. Check your alignment and if there is room to go up do that and if you lift the engine to replace or repair the pan trim the bolt if there is any excess.

I use elbows to the vest too. Stand tall on the ski, slight knee bend and chest up gets them there. Your body is full of hinge points. If you have too many of them bent as you approach the center line of the wakes energy is absorbed not turned into acceleration. Too many hinges also makes for inconsistent skiing.

Try anothe propeller. First thing I used to do with new propellers out of the box for bigger boats when I was in that business was send them out and have them checked...

You are skiing with too much back foot pressure. Your posture and balance while you are gliding waiting to turn in for the gates is good. Lots of ski in the water and standing tall. Maintain that posture and balance as you turn in for the gates and work hard to keep it the rest of the pass. Going to your back foot is a security thing for you that you will have to work hard to let go of. It takes practice and concentration because we would all rather fall on our *** than our face and when you first start practicing it you will be out of your comfort zone.

I really like Strada bindings but after over a year of skiing them I figured out my size 13 feet were too far apart even with the two of them pushed together. I changed to using a Strada on the front and Wiley on the rear. Whatever choice you make check that you can get the same ankle spacing so you don't end up reinventing the wheel all over again:p The main reason I stick with the Strada on the front is it is the only binding I know of that allows you to rotate your front foot. Wiley rear permits the same. As far as loose and tight goes depends on your style. If you got the right moves lace them up tight. If you are like me and move around too much at times not so tight is better so the ski attitude doesn't get messed up too bad when I am spazzing out...

A good friend once quipped that: "Slalom skiers are Germans and wakeboarders are Jamaicans" I bet we can all get along though;) Not to get too carried with this whole ethnic thing but I had lunch at a Chinese/German fusion restaraunt. Two hours later I was hungry for power... Flag me if this is in poor taste!

It sure seems like something is out of sorts. Maybe figuring out how to let the engine breathe better is the solution. A bigger prop will sure slow down better so the throttle body may not be clamping down as hard when one is being used. This problem hit close to home recently and when the idea popped in my head I thought it might be a good one for discussion.

Based on what I am reading and seeing oil use is still a problem with the 200. I have an idea that may hold water. Is it possible the oil is being consumed by the fast turning engine having its throttle body snapped close during deceleration creating high vacuum drawing oil around the piston rings or valve guide seals or both? Kind of what I remeber seeing from behind a hot rod as they would chop the throttle to shift. Each shift you would see a little puff of smoke out the exhaust when the throttle body snapped shut. I don't own a vacuum gauge (yet) but it would be interesting to see how much vacuum spiked as the throttle modulated pulling a skier. This is not a criticism just an interesting thought. Previously engines were slower turning and servo modulated. Not quite as vigourous a process that goes on now with the heavier boat, faster turning engine and very reponsive throttle body. If so I would think the engine builders could provide a remedy although likely not a retrofit...

I have been in the marine business since 1979 and seen on a number of occasions where the rubber in the strut bearings will swell tightening the propeller shaft to he point it cannot be moved by hand. Since you hear it going in gear I would bet it is the shaft starting to turn with its lubricating water squeezed out. Once it starts rotating water works its way back in and the noise ceases. I have yet to have anyone explain why this happens. If itsn't causing you any grief I am not sure I would worry about it unless it continues to swell and tighten.

I have to confess I slid mine off the roof of my car and dinged the tail (it was in its bag). Little liquid steel took care of it though. Must really be steel in that stuff cause it would get little rust spots on it.

I know someone who put his ski into a ceiling fan...

I like cycling. Most of the roads a mile from my driveway have biker lanes and lots of groups to connect with around town. Better bring your A+ game depending on who you ride with. Similar to skiing in that it can be competitive, is social and the gadgets are interesting. Oh yeah, I don't shave my legs, I still ride my training wheels and keep up good:)

I meant front heel and rear toe!

I am riding a 67.5" Elite at 6'2" 205 lbs. I am using a stock fin with a few extra ventral experiementation holes. Currently running small ventral at front of fin and no wing. Tried rear ventral in addition but it was too much drag. Just knocked off my first full speed blue loop Saturday so happy with set-up. On another note I was running double Stradas but switched to Wiley rear to get my ankles closer together which has made a huge improvement in my consistency. Best I could figure the double Stradas were adding about and inch between my rear heel and front toe:(

Not exactly free skiing but I go early in the course ahead of the buoys so I can make a mistake and keep on trucking. I do this after long layoffs or when trying shorter line lengths.

I've had a slalom dream like that a few times where I have it all figured out arriving super early to each buoy taking so much angle and nobody driving the boat. It is a lot of fun until my nerdy conscious mind starts peeking in and whispering that it's not really that easy and boats don't operate themselves. Usually make it one or two more passes before I finish a pass or fall and instead of skiing again reality sets in as I watch the boat run up on the shore at the end of the lake...

Life is a chalkboard. When you can't read it for all the scribbling you slalom. Wipes your board clean so you can start fresh again...

I agree with that Dusty. Also your fin, wing and other adjustments are going to function best at a certain range of speeds. Operating out of range, expect less than optimal results...

Nate is really smooth on the water but kinda tough on the girls. Hope she recovers!

I have done some sound testing for one of the manufacturers. I don't know if the others do it too but if they are building boats to go to Europe they must. If you need to know check with their engineering departments. They will know numbers for their boats. I think the upper limit is around 75db. Tests are specific to engines and installed exhaust systems so if you have a target number you might need something other than a stock US configuration.

Probably should go ahead and get the Mastercraft out if someone hasn't stolen it already;)