Nater

Kellen, I remember this. I had a pit in my stomach about it and shared my thoughts on the jump location of that event with several people. Regarding some of the other comments in this thread: “They all know it’s there”. “ They should be familiar with the site”. But, when you are in the moment or pushing the limits within the course. You may not be thinking or see the big obstacle that is in your way until it to late. We got one goal in our mind….. GET THAT NEXT BUOY! We learn from our experiences & situations. We need to keep our athletes safe! The saying of “that’s the way it’s always been”, just doesn’t sit well for me.

It’s not about “they all know it’s there” or “being familiar”. For the two months that we had our jump in that location and had a hand full of “that was close situations”. We asked our selves… is it safe? Could it interfere with the path of a skier pushing the limits with the slalom course. The answer for us was not safe and we should move it

As for me. I’m am certainly not moaning. I’m only speaking from experience. Here at our lake (Stillwaters in WI). We placed our jump in this location when the ice broke a few years back, where the left jump boat guides line up with the right hand slalom boat guides. We did this when we moved our jump to the south for the first Pro tournament later in the summer that we were hosting. After a couple of months and a handful of real close calls, we decided to move the jump boat path to the other side of the slalom boat guide which would put the jump further away from the slalom course. This is the way it’s been at the north end for years and don’t recall any close call issues in 20 plus years.

I’m not so sure about that. By the time Nate was finishing his S-turn he had already bled off a lot of his speed and looked like he still had time to complete the one because of that.

This jump was not in the same position as where it was for the Malibu Open at Michaels. At Michaels it was further away from the slalom course to where the jump boat lane guides lined up with the slalom balls. I believe at Travers the boat lane runs up on the opposite side of the slalom boat guides which would place the jump away inside the buoy line. Maybe someone here can comment if I’m correct on the Travers jump location.

It would have been even more exciting if the jump was not in play with the slalom course and we could have seen if Nate could have completed his S-turn in time to force a runoff. Definitely a dangerous situation.

200 41off’s! ….. Not to mention the the countless times he’s run it in practice….. More than AMAZING!!! It would be interesting to see how the rest of the field compares.

I have a few friends still enjoying the sport and skiing with a Goode Power Vest that have destroyed shoulders.

Nate Smith…… WOW! Runs 39 in very challenging conditions. Nate- 0@41 Asher- 0@39 TGas- 5@38 Sedlmajer- 4@38 Sasha - 3@38 Mechler - 1.5@35

It kills me how folks in this thread are chiming in about the outcome of Freddy’s situation with what should have been done, was it fair or was it not fair etc. etc. ….when there has been no clear information or public statement from either party as to what actually occurred on or off camera. Once that information is out then I think it’s fair for people to have at it on this forum.

Looks like a nice site going up. Curious, how long is the lake going to be end end? Also, wondering what the short lines are graded at??

@KelvinThe announcers during one of the broadcasts once said that there were “50k watching online”……. 🤣🤣🤣

I’m all about having the boat up to speed and settled in well before the boat hits the greens. For me, it all depends on the length of the lake whether or not to include turn around islands. For example: I wish we had them here in Oconomowoc, WI at Stillwaters in contrast to lake I used to ski at in Oregon, WI where they were not needed at all since the lake was 2600’ long. Jeff Nate

The Beast

@Woodybc62 ….. French Malibu - Nate ran 41 Off in all three rounds to take 1st. Dane took second with a score of 4@41. I think someone else tied with Dane for 2nd but not sure who.

Does anyone know if the tournament in France is webcasted? I heard some of the other pros are skiing there instead of Kaiafas.

@B_S and @UWSkier I just heard that Freddy is not skiing because of some off the water incident that occurred at the Masters. I hope there is no truth to that.

Why is Freddy Winter not skiing? He is there in the TWBC booth?

Is it just my location or the the internet feed there bad and making this event not watchable?

@Gloersen is correct!! I was about to post the same picture or a slowed down video of your front plate separating and then slapping back down. If you turn up the volume you can hear this slapping or clicking noise as well. I’ve experienced this before when during my set I kept hearing a click click noise going through the wake. I skied a few passes hearing this noise then let go after hearing it again heading from one to two. I reviewed the end course video we keep running all summer. I saw this same image of the front plate separating and slapping back down. I still use this set up and keep a close Eye on things and also have added a few short strips of either 250 or 400 in the front center. This is certainly NOT a recommendation. It’s just what I have done. * picture from my end course video…

No pylon! Put Parrish behind it and try to drive a straight line….. ???

@BS74 that podium is for the final in the Pro Waterski Tour Standing.

@Jordan Washing off Oils, lotions etc. I have seen some skiers that don’t even like the dock starter handling their handle. ?

He ran 41off at the Worlds! This shouldn’t be a debate. He did it! Call it what you want…..”He’s in the club”

@swbca However, Kris did switch his grip after that at some point in his life. I believe in his mid 30’s or 40’s.