Spesh

Apologies for the shaky captions. It's where I have used the video stabilisation function.

Please find the link to the video of the final of the Wiremill Pro slalom event below...

I'm in the process of editing the video of the final together. It's been manic for me as I was competing at the Andy Mapple pro-am all weekend at Thorpe too and have been at work in between. I'll post up a link here when it's done.

LONG LINK to event Schedule

The entry list is looking great. Should be a belter!

She's great for sure!

@Stevie Boy Not a problem. Exciting times this summer for the European pro scene.

Maybe slightly off topic and apologies if so. But how much softer is the plastic on the syndicate harsdshell as opposed to the Reflex. I've been on a Reflex setup for the last few seasons and while I love it, I have to use a heat gun on the lower section of the boot to re mould it so that is fits my enlarged ankle bone. My current boot needs replacing, so I thought the Syndicate hardshell could be worth a try as I've seen that the plastic is somewhat softer. However i would like to hear opinions from people that have used both... thanks

Should be a cracker!

Thanks again for the responses. I have taken the advice of using a heat gun on my Reflex boot which has worked excellently. I have been able to create a larger space for the bone without sacrificing any of the structure of the rest of the boot. Hopefully I'll get a chance to try it on the water this weekend, if the sun stays out.

Thanks for all the responses. On second inspection, it seems that my ankle bone is above the hinge point. I do have a heat gun, so it looks like I will attempt going down the re-shaping route. Failing that, i think I could actually just cut some of the plastic away to accommodate the bone. I'll report back with my findings in the week, when I have a had some time to play around with it.

It was always bound to trump the original by some margin. Good job though!

@mwetskier This is indeed an avenue that we explored. But the way the Reflex boot is designed means that the crucial hinge point is right where my ankle bone lies. Being a large metal hinge system, I'm at a loss as far as determining how the boot can be modified without disrupting forward ankle flex.

Thanks for the respone. The problem is, I'm already using the largest shell that reflex make. Plus the release mechanism has saved my ankle on a fair few occasions, which is why I'm loathing moving away from it. But I guess needs must. I'm back in Orlando in a couple of months so can try a broader range of boots while i'm there.

I work with carbon fibre for a living (albeit the motorsport industry). I have knocked out a few freebies for my ski on some occasions. I have thought about taking moulds from some old skis, but its seems largely pointless laying them up in carbon as the flex patterns will go out the window. It would be good to find a project to get my teeth into though. There's probably more scope in the binding market tbh. I can't help but feel that ski design has peaked. They can all be setup to turn pretty much the same. The only real gain seems to be possible through the loading phase. As has been mentioned, technique makes a far larger difference. The top guys seem to be able to get through their harder passes on skis marketed at the freeride market. Surely that says something about ski design....

Strange one this.....I'm a UK based skier that has skied on a Reflex front boot the last couple of years, with no problems at all. The season here last year ended for me me around late September. I was still skiing without issue on the Reflex boot. Around late October I travelled to Jodi Fishers site in Orlando for a couple of weeks to train. In this short period of time, It seems that my right inner ankle bone had noticeably enlarged to the extent that my hardshell Reflex boot was too painful to wear. Upon my return, I saw a specialist who acknowledged that their was a discrepancy between my left and right ankles, but after Xrays and MRI's determined that there was nothing there that shouldn't be. Both he and I are relcuctant to remove bone from the ankle via an operation, so now my only option seems to be to move away from a hardshell. I'm keen to hear recommendations for bindings that are forgiving in the ankle area. The current Radar Vapour boot looks to be a good bet, but I can't find a dealer in the UK to try one. The fact that I'm a size 14 (US) only makes matters harder.... Thank you.

@ilivetoski This is a result of the way I am finishing the turn on the 1,3,5 side. Once i'm in that stood up position with the ski underneath me, it's near impossible to generate a good lean away from the boat.

@rockdog Yes that's definitely something I need to work on.

Hi guys, Just finished a great weekend of skiing at the lake this evening. By chance, someone in the boat filmed my last pass. I apologize for the mediocre video quality, but if anyone is able to see enough to comment on my technique, I'm all ears....

@Stevie boy I would say that you would benefit from letting the ski carry back to the white water a bit more before trying to load the line. Loading early and then getting separated through the back of the boat means that you feel as though you have to work hard to get through the pass and are less able to control your speed and direction. Once i've let the ski finish the turn, I find that I actually have to do very little other than stand there and wait for the boat to carry me cross course (even on my harder passes). I think when you ski with less intensity, you are inadvertently giving up your position through the edge change.

I may be wrong, but I try to ski with the same width through all my shortenings. The natural geometry means that this should make you higher on the boat as the line gets shorter, which to my mind would generate the angle you need to get across course relevant to the line you are on. Or am I way off here?.....

I've been on the white cuff boot with the alloy buckle mod for a couple of years now. As a slalom skier, I couldn't see myself ever going back to a conventional style binding.

@gregy Thanks. Do you know if coaching is available at those sites, or would I just get a tow? I'm actually toying with the idea of making a bit of a trip of it by getting an internal flight down to Miami after the GP, for a weeks worth of sets with Chet.

It's at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, so I will be in that general area.

It is....I'll have to check and report back.