GK

Our ramp used to look like this every day. The last few years we've had a plastic owl mounted to a wide plastic base (attached to a string) that we slide down to the center of the ramp when we're not using it. It works fantastic. No more cleaning off goose $hit.

Most are located 30 to 40 minutes out of town but here are a few options... https://www.lakeloreleiohio.com/ https://www.lakewaynoka.com/ https://wtownky.org/residents/lake_residents/index.php

The TXi is a great driving and skiing boat when set up properly...and you actually have some leg room as opposed to the 200. The wake is a little bit harder at 22 off then the other two boats but that's about the only complaint I've got on it.

Still no real world examples of how ZBS negatively affected someone since it was implemented. It doesn't matter if it equates to exactly 6 buoys, everyone has the same options and you can do whatever you think will get you the most buoys. I've done it a couple times (with little success) but I see almost no 34 mph skiers bumping it up to 36 mph because they can get more buoys.

I'm camping with the family at the Watkins Glen KOA Saturday thru Thursday this coming week. Any skiers on Seneca Lake or in the area willing to give some ski pulls? Would also consider renting a boat if anyone is interested (25 year tournament skier and promo boat guy). Any other tips for things to do in the area would be appreciated too. Forecast is in the 90's, it would be great to get out on the lake a bit. Please text or call to contact directly. Five One Three 885-4734 Thanks!

We've had ZBS for a few years now and in my opinion it has been beneficial at the local level. Does anyone have any real world example of how the 6 buoy difference actually negatively affected them per some of the "concerns" that people have raised in this thread?

I love my 2018! I'm told that it takes close to 200 hours for the 6 liters to break in so a new promo with low hours may have a little less power than a boat with 200. This boat is still available for sale if anyone is interested.

mcd, send me an email and I'll try to help. gk at rounding6.com

Thank you USA Water Ski for the updated medals!

I hear that the conditions are going to be brutal. Active water with heavy wind and cold temps forecasted.

That's a great picture! Plastic swans and crow are a good idea! Going to give that a try.

Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping geese off the jump ramp (and ultimately all the crap that goes along with them). A rope across the bottom doesn't work. They fly in and land on it.

This is Nationals, let's give Top 5 and all ages awards, but I agree that junior awards could be a little bigger and better. I squeaked out a 5th place overall at Nationals last year, my one and only Nationals medal (and maybe last). I proudly have that baby hanging in my office! Haha

I kind of agree with you. I was expecting a little better for the National Championships. I thought the Nationals were great this year but the Junior awards were a disaster and Boys 1 was the worst. No announcer, no lights, during night jump, beyond rushed and lot's of confusion. Hopefully it's not the only opportunity my son gets to stand on the podium and be recognized as the National Champion but we all know how difficult it is to get there and sometimes how the stars have to align if you're not lucky enough to ski on a man made site and train year round. I'm not complaining, it's not going to make any difference in the long run, it was just disappointing. A bunch of volunteers worked their butts off all weekend, did a great job, and someone with good intentions to recognize the juniors during the banquet just made a mistake. If anyone has a decent picture of the B1 awards I would greatly appreciate getting a copy. gk at rounding6.com I've got some but none are very good. Maybe we can compare and find the best of bunch for all to keep in the scrapbook. I would strongly recommend for future events that awards are done immediately after the event when the kids are in their ski gear, have their equipment, etc. If you want to recognize them a 2nd time at the Junior Banquet then by all means do that too.

I love that AWSA is continuing to try new things to make it easier on skiers. Great job!

So we had a summer of ZBS after all the hysteria this winter. I saw a good number of people at all ages shorten at slower speeds and really enjoy themselves. I know of only a couple people in our area who actually skied OVER max speed and so far as I know they also enjoyed themselves. Is there any evidence from anywhere in the country that ZBS negatively affected somebody? From my vantage point, I only see positive. The fact that it is restricted to Class C only was a good compromise. The fact that the LOC has to approve it is silly.

"Showcasing the Open skiers at the best times of the tournament." That's the best point in this discussion. Shouldn't the open and master skiers be showcased each evening? Wouldn't this be something that a host site could promote and get spectators on site? If people knew that the best skiers in the country were going off the dock at 6:00 every night then that seems like something you could promote as a "show". Make sure the food and beer trucks are on site too! Make the event prestigious and people who are qualified will want to ski in it.

Any slalom course skiers in the Minocqua area willing to give a couple ski pulls to a family on there way to Regionals this week? Email me if so, gk at rounding6.com. Thanks!

Well lucky for you the tournament can choose which rule they're adopting and Regionals/Nationals are capped at max speeds. As for the Ranking List there are variables all over the place so to say this somehow negatively impacts it is a bit of a stretch. The board made the BEST compromise they could have in my opinion.

...and skiing in FL does not equal skiing in MI, and skiing at a manmade lake does not equal skiing on a gravel pit, and skiing behind a MasterCraft does not equal skiing behind a Nautique, and skiing behind Driver A does not equal skiing behind Driver B, etc, etc. It's just another variable that skiers have the option to use if they want to ATTEMPT to ski a higher buoy count. Have fun with it.

In Ohio we like to have FUN at our tournaments. I will be encouraging all Buckeye Buoy Tour Stops to give skiers the OPTION to ski above max speed. God forbid we have FUN and get credit in the rankings list for challenging ourselves. I can't wait to move 20 spots in the ranking list over all those KY skiers who will be forced to ski at 34. Well...at least I would if KY had one single M3 skier. Come on KY!!!

If people get bumped on the bubble then that's just the way it is. Add more novice to intermediate level skiers because of ZBS and the amount of Level 8 skiers will increase with more people qualifying for Nationals. In other words, ZBS realistically could get more people into nationals than what we're seeing now. There is no point in arguing whether someone might get bumped or not because that could happen with our without ZBS. There is nothing unfair about it. Same goes for NOPS points, maybe it will help someone improve their rankings but it's not going to affect Regionals and Nationals if max speeds are restricted in "record capable" tournaments.

The biggest complaints are regionals and nationals. The best compromise in my opinion are to require the current age caps in "Record Capable" tournaments (which would include regionals and nationals). Leave ZBS for all other events and allow ZBS to be calculated into the rankings list. This satisfies both crowds. The people against get their "fair" competition at Regionals and Nationals and the crowd who wants to ski above max can try to get some benefit by improving their rankings and seeding for Regionals and Nationals. It's a win-win for both sides.

You don't pick up 6 buoys when you move to M3, you would just keep the same buoy count you have already earned. If your average is 3 @ 35 off 36 mph in M2 then your buoy count is 6 buoys higher than someone who runs 3 @ 35 off 34 mph in M3.

Anyone have good ideas for "mini-buoys" to be used for the mini-course? I'm just thinking a buoy that's about half the size of a traditional turn buoy would be a great option for the mini-course.