Chef,
Did you end up sizing up or down w/ the Strada boot, and did you heat mold the liner?
(I couldn't agree more about hard skiing and quality golf not mixing as I found out last night)

Got a pretty good set in yesterday even though it was a little windy. Unfortunately the water hasn't warmed up too much. Air was 68* and the water is still at 58*. I ran the equivalent of 10 or so passes through the course and felt pretty good out there. No course in yet so still just skiing open water.

I heat molded the Strata liner and the boot felt more comfortable. I also kicked the toe of the boot out to the left a little (LFF skier). In looking at the boot it looked like it was toed over to the right and it kept throwing me that way when I was getting up. I didn't move it much but we will see how it performs when the course is in. I have a hard time feeling the way the ski is really performing until I start running bouys.

RS-1's are the same in this respect. When they're lined up on the plate with the arrows and lines they appear "pigeon toed" and I can't say for sure how that relates to my foot inside the boot. I just try to get my feet lined up in a way that my knee hinges correctly, that is, in line with the ski. Try standing on the plate and boots in front of a mirror and flexing your knees and ankles (don't squat) to see how they look.

I got out for three different sets over the weekend. On Friday the weather was beautiful it was high 60s temperature with no wind. The water was only about 56* and had lost a few degrees since last week. Like an idiot we didn't go check to see if the course was in (it is tucked in a cove) I went for a long free ski and Mini-chef went for a trick then I had to take Mini to lacrosse. Rayn and BB did take a peak in the cove and saw the course was in.

On Saturday morning we went out and it was very windy. I was the only one that actually skied the course. I took 4 passes at 32 mph and made two, hit the first bouy on one (into the wind didn't pull long enough) and on the final pass when I was a little tired got bounced around and barely got around five.

On Sunday we went out around 11 in Rayn's boat and he got the best water. I took 4 more passes as the wind picked up a little still all at 32 mph and made all 4 pretty easily. I was a little tired as it was my third day in a row so I quit after 4.

Mini went out at 15 off at 24.6 mph. He struggled in the first couple because he wasn't pulling long enough to get the width at 15 off. He ran long line last year but I am thinking of running him mostly at 15 off this year and then maybe stretching him back a week before tournaments. By the fifth pass he was pulling hard with good body position and made a full pass at 15 off. Mini's stated goal for the year as a first year Boys 2 skier is to make a full pass at 15 off 34 mph. That would require an increase from a best of 4@32 mph long line last year.

I am probably on the shelf until Friday. I am getting a shot of cortisone for a problem with my elbow on Monday and then I am out of town Tues-Thurs for work. I am hoping the water warms up a little before I return. I am ready to bump to 34 mph.

I think the Strada front boot is going to be good. I feel very comfortable on it, my foot doesn't move around at all and at least at 32mph haven't had any problem skiing on it. This is the complete opposite of the way I felt when I put my Reflex boot on the slalom. I felt like I was going to kill myself on that.

Got one set in last night. The conditions were a little breezy but the water was flat because of the wind direction. There did seem to be a bit of backwash.

I ran 3 32 mph passes that were a little lazy but easily made. I bumped to 34 mph for the first time and got 4, 5 then a full pull. The backwash bothered me when I wasn't patient on the offside turn.

I also find I get a little lazy at 32 mph. I need to pull harder at 34 mph and at 32 mph I can pretty much just set the edge and hang on and I am plenty early.

Mini-chef (11 year old boy) got a trick set in and is looking pretty comfortable on his ski again. We are going to start working on his trick pass next set.

Cheffette (12 year old girl) got up on her ski without the trainer rope for the first time and ran 8 passes in the mini course with drops after two passes. She was running up to 24 mph and I think she is getting ready for the full course. Cheffette has really struggled getting up on one ski so it is exciting to see her having some success and wanting to run the course.

I don't think we have anything until mini's lacrosse game at 2:30 so we should get out tomorrow. It is Mini's birthday tomorrow and there is a new to him pair of jump skis coming so I am sure he is going to want to ride those. Unfortunately no jump on our lake. I am going to reach out to someone I know with one about an hour away so hopefully I can invite us over so he can jump.

When you are a fat load like me (240 pounds right now) that is what happens.

It is a Radar Strada front. I have a Reflex on my trick ski but I didn't like it on my slalom. I do like the Strada so far.

I might as well add today's update here also. Skied one set in pretty good conditions. I ran 2 32 mph very clean then went to 34 for the second time this year. Made my first pass, messed up the gate and wheelied toward it and never got in the flow the next pass and made the 3rd through some backwash. Cut it to 22 off for the first time this year and only got 2 before I got bucked.

The backwash is particularly bad this year I don't know what is causing it. It felt good being out there today as the water is warming up some (64*) and it was the least windy set I have skied so far this year.

I am gone Monday & Tuesday this week and will try to ski Wednesday/Thursday but then will probably take Friday off as I am in a Member/Member golf tournament over Memorial day and need to get some practice in.

Frankly Laz I get lazy at 32 mph. This was early season warm ups and I don't always pull like I should because I feel confident making the pass. As the boat speeds up and the line gets shorter my position at the gates does get better.

I do agree with your point on the progressive pull though. I have a tendency to load too fast at times then I give some of it up at the wakes because I can't hold that load all the way through.

I didn't ski over Memorial Day weekend I played some of the worst golf I have played in about 20 years.

I got out yesterday before heading to Columbus Ohio for a customer event at the Memorial tournament. I skied pretty well even though it was windy. I ran 32 mph, 15 off, 22 off then took 3 cracks at 28 for the first time this year. I got 4 into a pretty good headwind and felt good about the pass until I got on the nose of the ski going into 4 and almost went over the front.

Mini skied 8 passes and missed a 24.6 then made one. Same thing at 26.8 then he took 4 cracks at 28 mph for the first time this year and had a best of 4. He is still finding his way back into working hard behind the boat but each set is getting better.

Mini also ran his trick pass a few times which right now is SS, reverse, B, F, WB, WF, RB, RF. He was making everything but the RB and RF. He really needs to learn the reverse back wrap soon as that will open up a bunch of new tricks. Russell Gay sent me a set of tricks that are 1500 points without letting go of the handle if we can get him to learn the reverse back wrap it opens that up.

Got one set in yesterday and skied so-so. I made a 32 mph 15 off then ran a really good 34/15. I cut the rope to 22 off and ran 4 fairly ugly passes at 22 off with a best of 5. I usually make 22 pretty easy but just never felt real comfortable on the ski yesterday.

Mini had his best set of the year. He ran 24.6, 26.8 and 4@28.6 mph right out of the boat. We need to get him a few sets to see if 24.6 is really solid before the opening tournament next weekend.

Mini also took a long trick set. His pass right now is SS, RSS, B, F, WB, WF, RB, RF. Everything but the reverse back and front looks pretty good.

Skied 5 passes yesterday in rollers. We had to move our course out of the cove it is usually in and if there is one boat on the lake it makes a mess of things. I ran a 32 mph, 34 mph and a 22 off pass mixed in with a couple of passes you couldn't ski.

This morning I took Mini out at 6 AM before school. We are skiing a tournament this weekend and he wanted to get a set in with calm water. He skied okay running a hot 24.6 out of the water, falling at 26 mph, running a 26 and his first full 28 mph pass of the year then had a best of 3 at 30 mph.

Going to take Mini out at 6:30 tomorrow then hopefully ski at 7.