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Almost 2 years ago to the day, I wrote a post about 34mph not being that hard. The feeling I had back then about 34mph is exactly how I'm feeling now about cutting the line in the course.
We had back-to-back great mornings on public water this weekend. Yesterday, Brian (fu-man on this site) pulled me thorogh 5 at -22 a couple of times. Today, I didn't even use the 15 loop and went around 5-ball twice, then 6. Then I hooked up -28 and got 3, first time ever in the course at that length. To be fair, I'm going 33.5mph on StarGazer (34.2 - .7mph) because I'm trying new lines, haven't skied the course much over the past 3 weeks, and the water is getting harder/faster. I'm also skiing early gates, probably cutting 2 feet short of the gates. Still. Best skiing ever.
I've been flirting with -22 in the course all season, trying it out here and there but not with any consistency or gusto. Lately, though, it's been treating me very well. I'm able to control the line consistently, eliminating the slack I was getting every time I previously cut the line in the course. And, you know what? I LOVE it. Love. It. I love hooking back up to the handle and feeling that rock-solid line. It feels like a much more direct connection to the boat than 15 and I can't get enough of it. My ski buddy Jeff almost exclusively skis -22, even though "technically speaking" the common ski collective would tell him to at least start off at -15. I get why he does it now- it really feels great.
So, how'd I get here? I think it's all about the free-skiing. I've put about 40 hours on my boat this year, and I'd say 10-15 have to be exclusively pulling me free-skiing at 34.2mph at some short line length. 10-15 hours of swerving back and fourth behind the boat at 22, 28, and 32 off. Just absolutely shredding in an an unbridled fashion. During those sessions I'm working on tons of stuff, including preserving speed and direction off the 2nd wake, handle control, advancing the ski over the wake, etc. Each free-ski pass is about 1 mile long, so when I go down and back on the lake that's 2 miles of dollar signs carved down the lake. Why? We don't have a course up there. It's all I can do. That limitation has turned into an advantage because I've really developed a passion for free-skiing now. I look forward to each session now, and just get a ton out of it. I'm POSITIVE that I wouldn't be this far along if I just threw myself at the course all summer.
Today I just felt awesome behind the boat- even just hanging out behind the boat during the turnarounds. I felt strong, solid, connected. I felt confident that I could move with the ski and slow things down or speed things up as needed. I had time to "think" about what I was doing. My back doesn't hurt and my hands feel great. It's ALMOST (and I stress ALMOST) like I know what I'm doing. A little. Amazing.
I'm starting to think that the generally popular opinion of banging around on -15 infinitely until you can run it in your sleep may not be the best medicine for everybody. In fact, I'd almost say that as soon as you can safely cross the wake at -22, you should start skiing that length every once in a while. I know when I tried to free-ski at -15 it was VASTLY different than -22-32. Vastly. The "bungee" effect in the line is just so apparent at 15 and losing that effect, and knowing how to ski without it, is a good thing IMO. Although it doesn't seem like the actual length of the rope "feels" that different at 22 vs. 15, the solid-ness, if you will, of the rope is night and day. I'd love to see somebody come out with a 15-off section made of coated stainless cable- then perhaps people working at -15 could do so minus the bungee effect. Something to think about. 60 feet is a LOT of rope.
I'll leave you guys with a couple videos, some of which I've tweeted in the past.
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Nice skiing and nice
Nice skiing and nice progress. There are plenty of people that agree with you about the 15 vs 22 thing. I do believe 22 is generally easier once you can remove the thought that degree of difficulty has incresed so I need to increase my intensity. I will tell you that the when I started my practice rides at 15, I could run 38.....hmmm, maybe I need to go back to that. When I get past these next 3 tournaments, I might go back to that. 15 can teach you so much about line control and force, if you really, really pay attention. Take a throw away pass or 2 and see how easy you can drive to the buoy line making sure to move very slow with handle and see how that feels. You see how I keep talking about trying to go easier and easier and slower and slower. I have a hard time trying to be gentle, but everytime I do it feels like a really good rhythm.
On the lean scale that runs from 1 to 10, I often end up around 8, 9 or 10 and I want to be around a 4, 5, or 6 so that when I leave the second wake, I want the boat to be pulling at around 4 or 5 instead of 9 or 10. The only way to make 15 feel good is by controlling the line. There's nothing like controlling the line whether it's 15 or 38, it feels fantastic....
You would not be the first person to get rid of 15 as soon as you can.
Way to go Joel! Keep it up!
Way to go Joel! Keep it up! I totally agree with you about the free skiing helping your progress. The trouble for me is, when the course is available, I can't resist. The early season (for me) is usually about similar, very long, open water runs which I love. Soul skiing! It really gives you a chance to work on things and I wish I had the discipline to keep it in the mix all season.
Nancy and I were discussing this yesterday. When we are only skiing the course, we get so conditioned to being late or having a mis-timed start, etc. that the bad habits of over turning and pulling hard and long become natural. We actually begin to ski different over time and it becomes baseline. Getting away from the course is like a reset. You get to rediscover things you already know but aren't doing and just plain enjoy the low pressure time on the water.
I also agree that skiers should feel free to speed up, shorten, whatever, at any time. But keep mixing it up. It's fun and I think it teaches a lot about balance and timing. Additionally, slowing down after skiing fast or lengthening after skiing short, really opens your eyes and helps smooth things out.
On the bungee effect. I can't say I have really experienced it as such. I feel the firmness and how much quicker you are picked up by the boat as you shorten the line but I haven't thought about it from a stretchy standpoint. I'll bet it is real though.
Joel, something to try... After you almost run a couple of 33/22's, why don't you knock a little speed off (32) and run a few to end your set?