dstone124

fractured my skull on that ski... promptly gave it away a couple months later once I could see and remember my name... just sayin.

In light of my current need for a new camera mount and after completing the survey @Horton has put together, I stumbled across another million dollar idea I had that someone else has produced first- Not sure about the rest of you guys, but my slack at one ball, -35 and -38 off play havoc on my pylon camera mount and using the rope to track the skier. Maybe this has been discussed before, but I thought it has good potential for everyday skiing and tournament use. $180.00 unless I'm reading the interwebs wrong.

This has been my dream project for several years now. Absolutely my answer to whenever someone says "if you could do anything, what would it be?!" I'm all for transforming that series of hull with a modern drive train and some additional amenities. My idea (without giving it completely away), think of the Nautique Paragon from the mid 90's, combined with the sweet luxurious look of the old barrel-backed Chris Crafts, but still a fiberglass hull and efficiency enough to pull an interested skier into short line... Someday... Someday... Speaking of that, if anyone in the midwest is looking to offload a 91-94 MC Prostar hull on the cheap (I don't need anything except the lower section of the part line, just the hull for now) let me know! I'm excited to see your one arm efforts during your downtime @Horton !!

You may not have gravity @skibumm , but you do have the added "benefit" of the boat pull which could be considered an amplified gravity source. Like @bbruzzese said, JB used to preach about this concept quite a bit. Kids on a swing generate height or swing higher, by pumping their legs forward and backwards. You'll notice this pump happens at the bottom of the swing closest to the ground. Same on the slalom line. In my opinion, you don't gain width on the course by pulling from the buoy line to the boat guides. Rather by working more efficiently, stacked, and with good angle, behind the boat or as close to mid-line both sides as possible. This is why finishing the turn and skiing back to the handle is so imperative. Therefore I think there are similarities that that can be transferred in concept from the playground to the course. To me, the best of which is when to work your ass off, and where to enjoy the ride.

@jrs - sorry to hear that?! I spoke with Rob on the phone after purchasing the plates to insure I was mounting everything up right. Seemed like a real solid dude. My best to his friends and family. @DuRoc I'll happily pass off the plates I have, I have your contact info, I'll circle back soon.

I purchased a G10 plate for a fogman system about 3-4 years ago from a guy on SIA, I believe his name was Rob Clark. I still have the system, complete, and am willing to part with it if anyone is interested. Before incorporating this plate I made my own adapter plate from aluminum to try it on a variety of skis. I'd caution anyone in the DIY market on the fogman system. It's a pretty precise tolerance you're working with here to insure proper release. Too loose and pre-release sucks. Too tight and you'll break your ankle from a crushing OTF fall while going around 4 ball at -35... just saying. Rob's system was / is dialed in and worked very smoothly for me. I've since upgraded to Reflex. So... complete system, G10 plate(s), boots and liners (size 12) all for the taking if anyone wants them.

fractured my skull on an offside wake crossing back when I was first getting into skiing the course. Back of my ski, still on both feet, cracked my head just behind my right ear. Had to be Airlifted from Illinois / Indiana border to Indianapolis. (6) days in intensive care. Couldn't see for (2) weeks. Once my vision came back online I was EXTREMELY dizzy. During recovery I was very much like the a scene from 50 first dates. NO short term memory. All self pay too... no insurance and was self employed. Oh life lessons learned! All better now except for that annoying twitch and the constant smell of pepper... (joking) That was about 9 years ago. Gave that ski away BTW.

All great things. I don't post much but this topic is one very close to my heart. I think the focus on attendance is the key to our sports success. Format, 3-Event, Wakeboarding, Jump, Slalom only... none of this really matters if there's nobody there to watch. Our sport, our sponsors, our enthusiasts GROW when given the opportunity to show off the fun that can be had ON and OFF the water. The festival environment that Dana Reed was creating was a good start. I think that fewer tournaments which highlight the sports better (not just the best) of our athletes is key. These tournaments can be weighted and head to head. BUT ALL FOR THE FUN. Like the Pro-AM's that exist, but for all events. A cash prize definitely helps, but that only comes with engaged sponsors who are benefiting from their involvement. This is where the reciprocal relationship becomes the reward (for sponsors and organizers). The best thing you can do for these sponsors is show a strong spectator base, even if these spectators don't know what they're watching on the water. Music, Beer, Vendors, Camping, a water skiing squirrel... whatever it takes to get people on the shoreline and beyond. Keep junior development focused on just that. Host skills clinics in place of these every weekend self promoting tournaments in which participants show up, ski, and leave. These events are LONG and GRUELING for even the most dedicated of volunteers, which, with more and more sanctioning requirements by our governing body makes it harder and harder to staff. The benefit of these tournaments for the participants is what, to increase your rating?!? Why? Focus on the fun. Focus on fostering talent. Exposing anyone who's interested to WHATEVER they'd like to try and get better at. Make it fun on the shore as well as behind the boat. Give Mom and Dad AND the kids something to look forward too. We are more than a sport, we are a lifestyle. Just my $.02, Thanks for listening!

Has Nate's record ever been made official? If not, what's the hold up or what happened?

Has anyone placed an insole in the thin reflex liner for more arch support and comfort? I've got a big foot and I'm worried if I change out to an intuition liner it may not fit in the shell? The thin liner doesn't bother me but with no support under my arch my foot begins to cramp mid set. Thoughts?

In 2010 I clipped both a duck and a goose in the same season. By that I mean contact with me and my ski. Luckily I skied away and both fowl lived to be a nuisance another day.

@AB, flex maybe while skiing, but not In a fall. For the a single plate release on an OTF fall, the rear must release first (obviously) but when the base plate bends between the feet, it gives the body the opportunity to bear the forces of the fall (mostly the front foot) before the release is initiated. At least that's what I've derived from the pain incurred and the time spent questioning why I've been hurt during recovery. I'm running the G10 plate and adapter so as not to drill my ski for the binding system. Correct me if I'm wrong?

@brewski perhaps you've answered this in an earlier thread or response, if so, forgive me. But with the differences between the applications, slalom skiing and sped skating, along with the differences in the surface area "where the rubber hits the road" if you will, do you see the absolute need for custom fit that a heat mold able liner can't fulfill? Would a generalized shell composed of your super cool designs be more cost effective with such a liner. Maybe even offer up adaptable inserts for the custom feel your obviously achieving? I think a lot of your concepts are great translations between the two sports and would be awesome to adapt to the tournament ski populous. All opinions of course, so thanks for humoring me if nothing else.

@gator1. I'm inclined to agree with what you've stated above in terms of rotational release with a fogman system and it's short comings with OTF falls. Last year I broke my front foot in such a crash. This year I've had (2) such similar falls that have resulted in severe sprains which have left me doubting the system I've come to love for the past (3) seasons. I've read your postings since you've first come on the site. I love your ingenuity. It'd be awesome to see what you and @brewski could come up with together. Hopefully one of you will hit the powerball soon to justify the labor of love that would be continuing the quest for the better binding system. To further answer your question, as technical as most skiing personalities are, I like your approach to simplify your system. The last thing I'd be looking for in a modification is something else to adjust, and something else to fail. Beyond that, $80 would be a drop in the bucket compared to the price of a lost season or multiple doctors visits as a result of the afore mentioned crashes. Let me know if your looking for more test pilots. I'm a -35 skier that is obviously doing it wrong based on my resulting injuries from the past (2) seasons. It sure is a lot of fun though!

We attempted to install an individually anchored system on the white river in Indy two years ago. FAIL. We utilized our existing cabled course to survey in the new system. We poured large concrete anchors with sub-buoys which we set at an established depth equal across the entire course. We installed the system in the fall before pulling out our cable system. The following year excited to make a quick install on all our effort from a few months prior we searched the river to find that every single anchor had washed out. We later found them in the fall when the water was down below summer pool several hunderd yards downstream and around a corner. The bottomline, Mother Nature is a powerful mistress. My recommendation, try a test bouy / anchor or (2) before you get your hopes up and spend too much valuable volunteer time and money. I commend your efforts! Good luck either way.

This topic hits very close to home for me and the group I represent. I'm definately a nobody in terms of this forum but I read much that is written here and respect and apprectiate the advise / perspective it presents. As it turns out, I'm the president of what I'll call a blue collar ski club in Indianapolis comprised mostly of beginners and inner-course skiers. We have a few choice members that represent the talent of the typical USAWS 3-event circuit a few of which placed top 25 in nationals last year. By in large, the comments that I've read thus far in this thread are exactly the mind-set and comflict which my club is met with in terms of the typical "elitist" mentality that exists in today's 3-event world. I have attended as many grassroots tournaments over the past (2) years as possible and offered within proximity of my front door. This equates to less than (10). I have not attended any INT events because up till this year there has been no local participation in this organization. (even still the closest is Northen Indiana 3hrs) I have checked out thier website for reference and love their take on division and regulation as mentioned above. A simplification to say the least but for the most part, only a few percentage of us skiers are ever going to need to split hairs over a pass we may or may not have made (ie, not going into ANY record books). So why all the pomp and circumstance? I've heard it from many on this forum as well as others; somebody needs to bring the fun back to tournament skiing! BBQ, TUNES, and beverages included! Indiana has a great heritage of water skiers and LOTS of talent has spawned out of our midwest region. IWSA, the local sanctioning body is suffering from the same strains that Horton initially mentioned in the "us vs. them" but in a different form. From dwindling numbers, loss of sponsorship, judges and officials growing old with nobody to fill thier shoes, more and more with each passing year. But on the same token, by a show of hands (webcams asside) how many of you "original ballers" grew up on, live on, or are vested in your own private ski site? How open is this site to "newbies" and visitors? OB said it best- "growning the sport take(s) water time away from us?" This sport is a reciprocal environment because it CAN NOT be performed alone. Don't get me wrong, my (5) year plan includes ownership and residence on a private lake so I to can ski (7) days a week in the spring, summer, fall, holiday's, and special occasions. I am not so proud as to say that when that day comes I too will appreciate what I've been working my whole life for and my reluctance to share may regress to childhood sandbox days. I look forward to this discussion and ANYONE willing to come join us for a set on the White River downtown Indianapolis. check out www.indyskiers.com for my contact info and drop me a line. Volunteers are also welcome during one of our twenty some events offered each year to skiers of all abilities.

no luck at Wiley's. I'm looking to fabricate something out of aluminum flat stock. I'll let you know if they turn out. If anybody has any other leads, they would be appreciated.

So I'm new here, but I've been lerking for a while now, reading a lot and learning. This topic is something that I've been pondering ever since the electric Nautique release with all it's pro's and con's. Did any of you read the WS mag article a couple years back about the German guy who constructed a trolley system with a catamaran set up that supported a pylon and rudder? He had an underwater cable system that could pull the trolley either direction, he could shorten the line length and the pull height was similar to today's 3-event boats. Seams to me you could also produce the 34 / 36mph speed required and you wouldn't have to fight the cable stretch as bad. I've searched youtube in the past hoping to find a video, and WS website looking for more info, no luck so far.